Even Office Supplies Will Do

So, it was quite a week at the day job. 

You know, the day job, the place that gives us so many things in addition the means of keeping the roof over our heads: new friends! A sense of purpose! Meaningful endeavors that connect you to the larger world!  With the added advantage of unlimited access to source material for songs, haiku and artwork, and all for the one low price of...the entirety of your time, attention, and patience - not to mention physical endurance - during project season. 

So let’s say last week was the seventh of a six week sprint of 14 hour work days. I don’t say this to elicit your sympathy, I know you know exactly what I’m talking about.  I’m telling you merely so we have a starting point for this story. 

The job was done, but we still had another week or so of 12 hour days putting the project to bed.  Except now that it was over, we're running on fumes. 

Weary after yet another video meeting, this one rallying the troops for the next big project with no pause for breath from the last one, I felt very far from the process of creation, and even farther from creating anything but more "work product." 

I felt like I was losing myself. 

The difference this time was, I could see the choices before me: I could either give myself a moment of creation and come back to myself, or spiral downward into despair.  Making something would take more effort in the moment, but swirling into despair would take days to recover from. 

So, I pulled up my big girl pants...and followed the advice I have shared in my "Bringing Your Songs to Life" workshops: 

USE WHAT IS AT HAND. 
I retrieved a piece of copy paper with printing on one side from the recycling pile. 

I folded it in eighths, and placed it on a stack of other papers so that I had a nice, soft writing surface.

Then I picked up an ordinary pen from my desk. 

MAKE SOMETHING. 
I stood up, laid pen to page, and made nine different vignettes. 

I photographed the page, then applied a filter to make the nuances of the lines more available to my imagination. 

ENJOY WHAT YOU MAKE. 
I found one image compelling.  Oooh!  I thought.  Hello, feelings.

Memories, emotions, ideas began to flow and intensify. 

LET IT BE 
Then, I turned my attention to the things at work that had to be done.

Things that I now had energy to do, because I had given myself a moment to create. 

THAT'S IT!

Maybe it took all of five minutes, but you know what? 

It worked for me.

What works for you?

If you're interested, email me for upcoming workshops via jennybienemann.com.

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