The Creative Seed

2. I focus on the success of my process.
It's not so much about, "how did I fail?" I take the flow of moving toward the goal as part of the success. I am able to record the process and see that I move towards my goals and they become reality slowly but surely.

3. I enjoy the process more.
I remind myself that I am doing the unpleasant task in the service of freedom and achievement. I remember how the prospect of researching, writing multiple drafts and completing a Shakespeare paper had seemed 2 years ago, during a crushing schedule. I recall how Penelope helped me find pleasure in it. "How many people can be lucky enough to say, that today their job is to immerse themselves in the beauty and poetry of A Midsummer' Night's Dream?" I got it. I learned to "get" that lesson over and over.

6. I balance work with home and pleasure.
One feeds the other. This is challenging because I tend to compartmentalize my life. Often I'd get too anxious about creative work, and claim writer's block. Penelope said, "Just look outside the window, Suzanne. Relax and let what you see write the poem." It allowed me to let go of my orderly controlling side that demands perfection.

7. I let connections happen between different projects.
Poetry and literature. Work and friends. When I was in a funk over a Medieval Literature course, Penelope suggested I write a poem using the voice of the Wife of Bath. I'll never get over how that lit a path for me to see how I can mix pleasure with "pick and shovel" work. Another time, I was convinced I had put playwrighting aside, in favor of poetry. Penelope said, "how about constructing a play using the first person dramatic narrative poems you've written?" I did and the play was produced as a finalist in the first playwrights' festival I ever entered.

8. I see all my skills as transferable, expanding my choices rather than limiting them.
I'm much better at this as I've tried out many skills in different settings. Now, whether I substitute in upscale prep high schools, parochial elementary or crowded public schools teaching girls, boys or varying ratios of both, teaching subjects other than my focus as in Science and Math, I think to myself: what a great opportunity to learn how these students learn and behave. I'm on an adventure today, to discover how I can help these kids connect to something in school. I've gotten the chance to teach all kinds of classes and age groups and settings because I am able to see that what I offer isn't limited to my "specialized" area of teaching, or even what I think I can teach.

9. I don't take rejection personally.
If I call people who are too busy to speak to me, I am able to use my skills to help them find the time to speak with me.

10. My greatest shift has been the discovery and living of my mission statement:
Take you on a wonderful journey; spark the fire in you to learn and create!

* My first draft included an occasional "I try to" before the statement. Penelope's coaching included removing the "trying" and acknowledging that any shift includes recognition, doing and growth. I do not practice these shifts in every single moment of my life. But I practice these shifts in many moments and my practice grows daily. My life is more creative and joyful because of it.

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