Image: I have been playing with Black Out Poetry. You take newspaper articles and find the words to create a poem. I love it. It is more centering and focus creating than I expected, plus - it's fun!

Seth Godin was talking on Tim Ferris’ podcast about an initial online classroom that had been created from an audience who already supported him -  but people were leaving. When he looked closer he realized - and I am paraphrasing, you can listen here - that ‘Without the social pressure to perform, when it got hard, people left.’

That really got me thinking. The presence of pressure, or the presence of social accountability does not have to be utilized as a task master of fear, yet it is a presence we respond to and sometimes aspire from.

Corey and I were talking about how we are held together by pressure - atmospheric pressure. Without it: poof. Gone. Without a focal point we drift, and one of the most potent horizons to fix your life upon is service, in some way not just chasing for our own selves, but in service to some thing. Even if that is our creativity or beauty making -- it is still an offering.

I was in a recent meeting about what skill sets are missing in the workplace, and resoundingly, whether in schools, boardrooms or zoom rooms, the missing herb is resilience. The stick-with-it-ness to make ourselves grow. The commitment to be carved (asDawn Smelser phrased) - staying long after the initial high, the initial ease;  this is what we are missing.

And I would argue we are missing it so much some of us have cut out enjoyment as a measurable element altogether.  Meaning we don't have the stick-with-it-ness to believe that it can create enjoyment in our life, so we either forgo enjoyment or flit from flower high to flower high - without staying long enough to gather nectar.

I was recently talking with a coaching client, an educator and aspiring writer, and when we were aiming to address why she cannot find time to write, she said : “Well, enjoyment isn’t enough of a reason to schedule it.”

And then she heard herself.
And then we made a plan.
And now she was been writing 10 days going.

And guess what, she said: “It’s harder than I thought, some days I didn’t even like what I wrote - and it is going really fast and I love it.”

That’s resilience.

Keep going - or help someone else up. Same same.

“The world is always going to be dangerous, and people get badly banged up, but how can there be more meaning than helping one another stand up in a wind and stay warm?” - Anne Lamott
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"A lot of creativity is about being in a network and... not so much about being this lone genius; it's much more about being connected." - Austin Kleon

I decided to spend more time developing my artist self this summer - in an easy, simple and just for myself kinda way. I did have my friend Damini Celebre's book Painting the Landscape of Your Soul  as my chosen guide. One reason I picked her book was that she told me to get kid's supplies, and the other was it is beautiful, like her, and the third - I respond to outside motivation and structure - plain and simple.

Guess what? It's fun.

Opening back to Art inspired me to invite a few new guests, add some sparkles and a little restructuring to re-open What's Your Story?: An Online Experiment in Creativity, starting August 6th - 22nd.  Registration is open  (see below).

In the spirit of gratitude and inspiration,  here is a varied list of creative resources for you. It's summer for most of us, and Mother Nature is in her full strength and playful grace -- what beauty are we creating and sharing along with her? Let the Creative Muse whisper into your ear and - have fun.

- Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. I am rereading it. She invites you to stop complaining - it chases Inspiration away, say "I enjoy my creativity" instead and see what happens.
-  And there is the podcast On Being that I find exquisite.
-  If you are in Philly, you can go to my friend Mira + Shakti Devi's kirtan, here.
-  If you are in Kaua'i, you can go to my friend Kim Murriera's Form Drawing class, here.
-  For a week long creativity retreat, catch my friend Ann Randolphthis August at 1440 Multiversity.
-  If you want a Netflix to watch, Iris
-  You could watch this Marie Forleo interview of Sarah Jones  - what a creative genius! or one of her TedTalk performances here.
- And when you doubt, you can read this 
- Or dance to this.

"You may forget but 
let me tell you this:
someone in some 
future time will
think 
of us." - Sappho

We only get one go around - so make sure you are there for it,
Kate

I'm ready sign me up, to scroll less, create more + be a little nicer (optional but appreciated).
Enroll in What's Your Story? + a portion of each enrollment goes to New Leash On Life.