Saturday, January 10, 2009

Faith and Sudden Flashes of Inspiration

My Inner Cheerleader

First, to all my fellow book blogging group members, I apologize for not linking directly to the specific post about the book. It just dawned on me when I began this one. Next time I'll remember.

Yesterday I had the job interview. I was interviewed by four people. It was kind of intense. It went well and I think they'll offer it to me.

However, I am not going to take it.

I was excited before and during the interview. But something happened. I was sitting in the manager's office and she was asking me if it was ok that they couldn't offer many hours. My mouth opened and I couldn't believe the words that came out. "Yes, that's great because I'm an artist and I still want to have time for that." She got it because she said, "it's probably more of a need than a want, isn't it?"

Seconds later, she took a phone call and as I sat there with my own thoughts, I felt my eyes tearing and I wanted to run out of her office. I felt so sad.

When I got home, I started doing the math and realized how little money I would make vs. how much energy I would be giving. I felt desperately sad.

I decided to let it go and listen to this interview with Jennifer Lee of Life Unfolds. Right in the middle of it, I hit the pause button and googled our Parks and Rec center for the number. I called them, told them that I am a SoulCollage facilitator and that I would like to offer a program for their children. There seemed to be interest and the gentleman gave me very detailed instructions for writing a proposal letter to the Superintendent of Youth Services.

I had no huge plan. I just felt compelled so I did it.

I love working with children. I was a preschool teacher, once upon a time. I love the idea, also, of going into some of the more estranged areas of the city to give voice to the children there.

That is about as far as I got directionally.

This morning, I was reading some of the amazing posts by other people who are reading the book by Gail McMeekin.

I was struck by how many of us began to recognize and embrace our creative selves later in life.

We talk about the way it healed us and changed our lives and sometimes we wonder what our lives may be had we embraced that creativity earlier.

And then it hit me.

There is a thought that runs through my mind at least once a day, yet I've never thought of it as more than an observation really.

"If only we could show little girls what they're capable of now so they don't have to wait until they're our age to find their creative selves."

This morning, I realized "we" is "me" and whomever would like to join me.

I want to work with children to help them feel empowered from within, no matter what things are like outside of them.

Creativity can be stifled in the richest suburbs and the poorest inner workings of the city or in the tobacco fields, for that matter.

But the good news is, Creativity can also be nurtured and strengthened in the same places with the right support; with inner and outer cheerleaders that drown out our inner and outer critics.

I want to be a cheerleader for creativity in children!

So welcome to my journey.

It's going to be fun and serious and filled with businessy things and spiritual things and fun things; more ups than downs, more smiles than tears.

I'm so glad to have this incredible blogging circle of friends.

I am thinking of ordering Jennifer's ebook, A Right Brain Business Plan. Because numbers pretty much make me cry but I want to do this right and thoroughly.

I feel peaceful and excited.


16 comments:

Tracy said...

How wonderful! I hope it all works out perfectly for you.

And I do agree that we need to encourage out children's creativity. :)

Stacey said...

WOW!!! Good for you for believing in yourself - for just going for it. I am so excited to see how your plan unfolds. Just awesome!!!

Shell said...

I love how you just followed your intuition and made the call. See you just created a job for yourself out of your own creativity. Awesome. Children need to see artists so they can know: yes they can do this too.

lisa said...

amazing idea!

Natalie said...

Fantastic Lisa! Your soul got through just in time, it seems. Good job you! :D

Caroline said...

Wow - this feels amazing - good luck!

Lisa said...

Thank you so much! The support here is amazing. We are all in this together.

Rowena said...

That is beautiful. There is nothing like watching creativity blossom in children. When I was teaching HS, I love to watch the kids get lit up by their own creation.

Anonymous said...

This is so wonderful! You were inspired in the moment and went with it, that is how miracles happen. So happy for you.

J C said...

Amazing post Ms. Froggy. It's interesting how soul collage comes in and out of your life. These new inspirations of yours remind me of that movie....can't remember the name....but it was Merle Streep teaching violin to a bunch of inner city kids and everyone thought it was a hopeless waste of time and they ended up doing a performance at Carnegie Hall. This movie was based on a true story, and is a lesson in itself. It's amazing too how these inspirations just come to you and you are able to take them up and carry them forward. UGOGIRL!!!xoxoxo

Diana S said...

Your journey sounds wonderful. I wish you the best of luck with your childrens class. It sounds fantastic.

Sophie said...

Yes yes! Too often kids don't even know the possibilities that art can bring to them.
How wonderful that you carved your own path with just one phone call!
*hugs*
Sophie

Kathie said...

Very Powerful Vision Lisa, I wish you well xxxx

Connie Carpenter Macko said...

...it's like that poem about "when I am an old woman" that the red hat people have ruined. only you can be creative and free at any age - no need to wait! cheers to teaching that concept.

Lisa said...

Thanks everyone! Judie, that is one of my fave movies. Music of the Heart, I think, is the name of it.

Kate Robertson said...

LIsa,

This post resonated with me so much. do you read the Dancing Mermaid's blog? She does these art camps for girls that really look so great. I could see you doing something like that. http://dancingmermaid.com/blog/ You will we want to back to posts in the summer posts to see what I mean.

Kate