After the chaos and stickiness and vacations that summer tends to bring, autumn ushers in that familiar longing for knitting with wool, the urge to make soup, the welcoming back of your heavy coast and sweaters along with a healthy dose of enjoying cups of tea that much more because it warms your hands. And I’ve noticed lately that I’m not the only one stirring around more than usual now that the air is getting cooler and the days are getting longer.
So, in the spirit of creating, I’m reposting an old post (see above), along with a video that never fails to make me smile, think and devise new projects and adventures. Maybe it will inspire you, too?
Flow.
Ever have those moments when you start a new project with excitement and then the next time you look at the clock hours have passed? Although I love when that happens, I always wondered why it occurred, was I just sleepy? Or in ‘the zone?’ Then I discovered the work of Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi, the psychologist who named this passage of time “flow.â€
Below is a TED Talk that Csikszentmihalyi gave last year. Not only is it really interesting, but you also get to hear how one night in Zurich he went to a lecture Carl Jung was giving about flying saucers!
Oh, and I’ve had the following quote from Finding Flow handwritten in chalk on a tiny chalkboard of mine for the past few years:
“Within an evolutionary framework we can focus consciousness on the tasks of everyday life in the knowledge that when we act in the fullness of the flow experience we are also building a bridge to the future of our universe.â€
Who knows, maybe all this autumn activity will directly lead to amazing things far in the future? That would just be future gravy for all the present days of making, cooking, walking, dreaming and thinking.
How awesome that right after I posted a post with un-PG language, I got a job and then got the flu.
The job:
Yes, a full-time job. Score!
The flu:
Four days of not being able to hold down water followed by ginger ale, Gatorade popsicles and saltines. Also, my assistant (see below), although helpful once I taught her how to use the kettle, completely failed when it came to me needing a bendy straw. She just looked at me, sighed, and went back to sleep.
As you can imagine, one event was happier than another. One marks the end of a year and a half job search which has taught me more than I ever could have imagined. Being jobless forces you to realize what your true identity is beyond the label of a job. It strips you of any title that marks you successful, fully functioning, normal. You realize how truly close we are to the people lined up on the street for the soup kitchen, sleeping rough and/or clanking a dirty Starbucks cup hoping for a few cents from strangers. My neighbor has been asking for spare change at the metro stop near our apartment building. I pass him and don’t know what to say, even as I catch his eye as he asks for “a penny or a nickel.” I used to see him often during the day just sitting on the stoop watching people go by, always with his big hat on and his cane nearby. He always calls me “ma’am.”
And here I am in more debt that I ever could have imagined, happy that I don’t have to worry about incoming bills for the first time in 18 months. The day I was hired I went out and bought a $15 bottle of wine. I haven’t done that in forever, and even as I was carrying it to the register I was wondering if I had made a prudent choice. I was able to enjoy some of it for one night, then got the flu, making the rest of the wine undrinkable and being poured down the drain. I tried to convince myself I could cook with it or drink it because it hurt to buy something so pricey (for me) and then have to pour most of it down the drain. Good thing that there are pharmacies now, such as the Canadian Pharmacy, that offer medicines at such an affordable price.
For the past two weeks I’ve been in a sort of limbo between being “jobless” and “jobbed” (for lack of a better way to put it), thinking of all the nights I would walk around the city and look into people’s houses with all their expensive furniture and dream what it must be like to not have to worry anymore about money, not wake up in the middle of the night terrified that your health insurance is going to be cut off or breathless when you’ve bounced a check and incur an extra $20 charge… Wondering where that $20 is going to come from. The past few weeks have showed me how much I’ve been holding my breath for 18 months, never able to fully exhale because employment was always on my mind. Exhaling has meant life coming into Technicolor in the truest, most childlike sense. And, it too, is a magical lesson to pay attention to. Now when I exhale, the middle bits of me feel hopeful and happy instead of scarred and scared and desperate.
One of the things I am able to afford now? A Post Office box, for the first time ever, craftivism.com is now connected to snail mail. I’ve received a stack of amazing books over the past 6 months and now that I can breathe again, have some reviews to write and people to contact and creative work to do. Instead of waking up breathless, I’ve been waking up feeling rested and overjoyed that I can worry about what I’m going to wear vs. how I’m going to scrape together rent money. I’m more grateful for that than I can honestly express.
My new mailing address:
Betsy Greer
P.O. Box 716
Arlington, VA 22216
A few things I’ve learned along the way… (And if you’re reading this and have told me some of these things, no worries, I still love you anyway.)
Things Never to Say to Someone Looking for a Job:
1. “You’ll find something.” I know I will. Am possibly now blinded by the invisible rays of pity emanating from your mouth disguised as concern.
2. “Any job news?” If there was, I’d have told you. Let the jobseeker tell YOU about their news, if they haven’t said anything, they probably DON’T have any news.
3. “Let’s split the check down the middle.” My water and plain baked potato do not equal your sirloin with 4 glasses of merlot.
4. “But you’re so smart!” Cheers. You’ve now just made me feel stupid because, obviously, I’m not utilizing my smartness.
5. “How long has it been that you’ve been job hunting?” Are you kidding me with this question? Just paint a big “L” on my forehead now.
6. “I hear the job market’s heating up, how’s it going?” Still cold. It’s still cold, only now I am annoyed that you asked me this.
7. “My brother just got a job, that means you’ll get something.” Your brother also has 12 toes. Failing to see your point.
8. “Still single, too, I guess?” Salt, meet wound. See also: hump on my back and 3rd ear.
9. “I can’t imagine having all that free time, so many things I could do not being chained to a desk!” It’s pretty amazing how when you’re worrying about paying your bills or eating, your normal free time interests disappear.
10. “I know how you feel. I was out of a job for two weeks and I went out of my mind.” Chances are high you never starting crying because you had to choose between which bill to pay, the electricity or the gas. Or pleaded with the life insurance company to not cancel your service. Or spent an hour trying to scrounge up change hidden in your sofa for lunch. I understand you’re trying to help, but talk to me when you find yourself suddenly awake at 4am after an unexpected tax bill came in the mail.
Things to Say to Someone Looking for a Job:
1. “Hey, I hear there’s a new coffee place near that park, trail, museum.” Invite them out so they don’t hermitize, but remember their budget constraints.
2. “Can I see your resume?” The more eyeballs that see their resume the better.
3. “My old co-worker has been looking for jobs, too, and she told me about this new site to look for jobs.” Remind them they’re not alone in the boat, especially if you have new ideas for people to talk to, sites, etc. The boat is lonely.
4. “How about coming over and watching a movie?” Again, stressing the idea of doing something with them. Trust me, they’re not saying no to the invites to restaurants and movies because they don’t want to go.
5. “I saw this local animal shelter advertising they need volunteers…” Yes, we have lots of free time. Remind us to fill it with stuff we love, like volunteering with/for a cause we care about.
6. “Wanna meet for some coffee?” I have been lucky enough to have a GREAT support system through all of this, even simple invitations for coffee can mean the world, if only because you get to put something on your calendar that day. In PEN, even.
7. “Last night on the news they said unemployment went down 0.03%, great, huh?” Ok, I lied. Saying this will only make your jobless friend want to punch something. Most likely you.
8. “Fancy a trip to the beach in a few months?” Followed by specific calendar date… Having things on the calendar to look forward to when all your days are free is pretty awesome.
9. “My friend Martha is looking for jobs, too, how about meeting up with her?” Us jobless people like finding other members of our jobless tribe. We may love you, but we secretly hate that you have a job.
10. “How about signing up for a temp/contract agency?” Just get them to do this. If for nothing else than getting the opportunity to put on a suit and go interview with someone.
Things to Stop Telling Yourself When You’re Jobless:
1. “Mom was right, I should have never majored in English.” (Stop it. Atleast you know that Jane Austen wrote more than ‘Pride and Prejudice.’* And, for the record, she would think zombies are stupid.)
2. “Who needs to set an alarm, I have nowhere to be tomorrow.” You might as well start eating cold pizza, growing out your chin hair and wearing sweatpants.
3. “I’m jobless, over 30 and single.” Stop adding to the “reasons I’m boring as hell” file. And stop looking at Facebook and seeing how many of your friends live in mansions and are married with 8 million kids. Embrace your path. You are where you’re supposed to be.
4. “Maybe I should apply to that job at Jiffy Lube…” There’s nothing wrong with working at Jiffy Lube, but if you have a degree in Greek Literature, you might want to consider other avenues. Like, ones not involving things that could blow up, have lots of scary important wires and/or make you deal with said things in under 30 minutes.
5. “Hmm…. Let’s see what my ex is up to…” Unless you want to end up living in your sweatpants, avoid this at all costs. Especially when wine, late nights and bank account checking are involved.
5a. “What was it that I said wrong on our last date?” Serious danger zone. Abort! Abort!
6. “I’m going to have the best Match profile ever!” Mastering your online persona in ways unrelated to career/life development is kind of like trying to become the best ninja in Second Life. It’s just sad.
7. “Maybe I should go all Jack Kerouac. Y’know, ‘On the Road’ style.” While sometimes a good thing, it’s generally a bad life decision when faced with unemployment. Unless you want to work on a fire watch tower in the middle of nowhere or learn cooking skills from hobos. In that case, go for it. And send me a postcard.
8. “I totally can take my own press shots.” Another ill-fated idea with most likely the following results: a) you will look like you tried, which equals FAIL, b) you will try and convince yourself you look awesome when you don’t and c) NO ONE cares. However, if you think the results are ridiculous and amusing, GO FOR IT. See above, which I am calling “The Tracey Emin.”)
9. “Maybe Tori Amos has a new album.” Stop before you get so sad you just want to eat cake. Tori Amos = instant SAD when you’re already on the edge.
10. “I am useless.” The truest, most honest thought of all that stabs and reverberates. No, no, no, you are not.
And finally, what’s the best thing to do if you’re unemployed?
Wake up at a reasonable hour. Shower. Wear something that makes you happy. Do your hair. Put on lipstick. Breathe. Learn. Remember you are just where you need to be. Go outside, take a deep breath. Now go kick some ass.
Yours in finding your breath and soul and peace and creativity again,
betsy x
I’m going to be speaking in Oslo in November, followed by a few days in London in early December. Got a project, idea, notion you want to talk about that’s craftivism-related in either Oslo or London?! I’d love to meet up, there are always so many jaw-droppingly amazing things going on in Europe. So get in touch, why don’t you?
This post is a little different than the usual, but no less important. It was originally posted on the now-defunct and sorely missed, Make and Meaning, a project started by Diane Gilleland and Paul Overton with help from Alice Merlino, Pip Lincolne, Kim Werker and myself. I’m happy to report that despite lack in sales, I am still able to find my lucky pens!
I have this pen. Okay, actually a specific type of pen. And by specific, I mean it must be this one brand, must be medium-point, and it must be blue. Without it, something inside me gets cranky. Although I’ve been known to jot down notes in eyeliner, nothing still really rolls until I’ve got my pen.
In a pinch, I’ve tried black ink or fine-point, thinking that I can fool my brain into believing I have the right equipment at hand. But no, it’s not my pen, my special favorite pen that I absolutely, positively must have. And while technology has helped our lives a great deal, it has also meant finding a modern version of that damn pen.
When I’m typing instead of writing, pens don’t matter. Typing on a computer, of course, involves another thing that I must have. I can’t start working on my computer in the morning until I have a cup of coffee or tea at my side. If I’m out of both at home, I have to go buy some. If I’m feeling bold and just drink orange juice instead, all attempts at being productive end up deleted and shot.
It’s not unlike that compulsion you have to close the closet door when you’re lying in bed at night all cozy and realize you left it open. It taunts you from across the room until you have get up and close it. Then, and only then, are you able to fall asleep. As adults we know there aren’t any monsters in the closet, yet still, it must be closed in order for us to fully relax. If we leave it open, it’s like some sort of perversely juvenile form of water torture in that it bothers you (immensely) until, finally, it’s shut.
It’s also like that one baseball player who wears the same socks every game without washing them because his team is undefeated. It’s just a crutch, right? Something silly that we believe we must have in order to do well? One of the grand prizes we get from being adults is that since every children’s movie seen since birth has force-fed us the lesson that, “You’ve had [whatever you need] in you the whole time,” we know we’re being silly and possibly dramatic. But… what if you still need it?
In order to get around this profound age-old dilemma, sometimes I have to remind myself that this is all part of my “process.” That’s one of the lucky things about being creative, you’re allowed to have this magical “process” which you must complete before working/creating properly. I have lucky pens stashed all over the house and always know where the nearest coffee shop is. I might not need them now, but one day, these precautions might save my entire productivity from jeopardy!
These are the things I need in order to enter a clear head space to work. I must have them, even though I know I hold the key/strength/courage/whatever Yoda/Big Bird/that weird magical elf tries to tell me inside and don’t need my pen or my caffeinated hot beverage.
What about you? What do you absolutely have to do/have in order to feel like you can let your creativity really rip? Or is that all just a bunch of poppycock?
So it turns out, yes, there are are apps for everything! Curious, I decided to road-test a handful of apps that have come out recently claiming they help make the world a better place.
The first time I opened this app the screen said, “Got a few minutes? Do something extraordinary” while also mentioning it was looking for opportunities for you to “micro-volunteer!” (Sounds so much better than armchair activist, doesn’t it? Plus “micro” is just fun to say.) Excitedly, I continued on… Until I got a big “DATA FORMAT ERROR” followed by a big loud exclamation mark followed by a quiet tiny “Please restart the application.”
So I did. A lot. While it was thinking about working, it kept giving me lovely little ideas like:
“Riding on the bus? Tag some photos!’
“Standing in line at the post office? Give website feedback!”
“In an airport? Help build a map of airport heart defibrillators!”
There’s a reason why there symbol is a giant Superman-styled E, because in a teeny tiny second you’re ready to take over the world thinking “YES! I DO want to help! Pick me! Pick me!”… Until it doesn’t work. Again. And again. And again. Hopefully it will work one day and I can save the world while riding the train. Just think of the possibilities! In the carpool line! Waiting for rice to cook! In line for the bathroom where there’s only one ladies room! Genius! Until it didn’t work.
Remember those emails you used to get that said something like “For every click on this page [some foundation, Bill Gates, whatever] will donate 1 [dollar, cent, banana] to [some type of cancer, demographic in need, poor helpless kittens?]” Well this app has been created so you don’t have to individually go to The Breast Cancer Site, The Animal Rescue Site and The Hunger Site to click for good.
“You have the power to make a difference at your fingertips. Touch to Give- it’s FREE. Touch an icon to select an issue.”
So I clicked to help the helpless little kittens.
Touch to Give bar popped up along with some merchandise for “The Animal Rescue Site,” and a notice you should “Touch to Give” daily and that any financial sponsors to this charity will “pay for treats” and “100% of sponsor money goes to charity.” One hopes they mean treats for the sweet pups with mange instead of the people who made this app.
Now… who are CharityUSA.com, the website linked at the bottom of all three sites? According to Wikipedia:
The Hunger Site was started by John Breen, a computer programmer from Bloomington, Indiana, in June 1999. Originally a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, the site became popular rapidly. Faced with increasing costs, Breen sold the site to GreaterGood, “a Seattle-based online shopping mall that gave part of its sales to charity” for an undisclosed amount in February 2000. [1] In July 2001, following the dot-com bubble crash, GreaterGood ceased operations after losing $26 million dollars in venture capital. In 2001, CharityUSA.com, LLC, a privately held, for-profit company based in Seattle, assumed control of the company for one million dollars[2]. CharityUSA owns and operates various click-to-donate-sites. CharityUSA currently claims that 100% of the website’s sponsor advertising revenue is paid to the aforementioned non-profit partners. [3] The Commercial Fundraiser Profile Report page on the Secretary of State’s web page for the state of Washington [4] calculates the percentage that CharityUSA returns to its charity clients as being 17% of the company’s total revenue (labeled as contributions, although the company’s explanation on the same page defines this as mix of contributions and sale of products).
Hmm… Not sure what to think of that? That’s A LOT of trading and changing names, don’t you think? And 17%? Think of all the abandoned ferrets that need homes.
This awesome little app won’t open for me. It crashes, but it’s so cute! And inspired by Free Rice.
Happily, however, there is an article over at Addict3d.org that explains how you can actually play the game. Since I am really great at spelling 3-5 letter words, I can’t wait to play so I can dominate… While saving the world. Win win!
Apparently with this I have to “complete a task” and “the same task is assigned to a marginalized person in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or Haiti. When your answers match and the task is verified, this person gets paid for the work you did together.” Seeing that I’m currently looking for writing jobs, I figured it would feel pretty good to help fill someone else’s wallet while mine is bleeding out.
So I clicked on “Tasks,” where I see “Tasks Available,” where I’m able to:
*Get 5 points for “How much do people like The Karate Kid?” [YES! I LOVE THIS ALREADY!]
“We are trying to analyze trends though statements on Twitter. Below are some things people have said on Twitter regarding the movie The Karate Kid. Please tell us if the statement is positive or negative.”
The tweet just said “Cool kid!” and I was given the choice to rate it either Positive, Negative, Neutral or Can’t Tell. So I clicked on my answer, clicked “Give work” at the bottom of the screen, advancing me to the next question where I could do more helping. Yay! Helping! Easy peasy…
Next up I had to analyze a tweet from Chris Brown (who I want to punch) AND Fred Durst (Are you KIDDING me? What f*cked up algorithms are being used here?). Now I’m getting stressed as I want to pick the answers these displaced people pick so they can earn money. Mini panic attack, as the whole point of trying this app was to help. Judging tweets by my least favorite “celebrities” wasn’t making it any easier. So to distract oncoming anxiety, I started counting the number of questions I answered. 40.
40? Will it ever end? How do I get off this ride? So I clicked again to review yet another tweet and up pops up:
RT from ralphmacchio “wax on, f*ck off” whoever RTs it “wins a ’84 Karate Kid DVD signed by me!”
Ah, saved by Ralph Macchio. Seeing this as a sign, I took a break (after so much clicking it was needed) and watched the Ralph Macchio masterpiece Wax On, F*ck Off as mentioned in the above tweet. I will warn you it does have some, ahem, adult language. There is also Molly Ringwald, so it evens things out.
Even though I was feeling refreshed after this interlude, after 40 questions, I caved and hit the “next” button at the top of screen… Which takes me MORE questions! So in desperation to stop the madness, I clicked on Stats, which told me “The more you work- the more you help.” (Yes! I know this already!)
*Points you’ve earned 270.
*5 points: 1 tomato, 1 large banana, a small bunch of greens
*500 points: 1 week of cell phone data plan (enabling access to email)
So I’m guessing this means I earned something like a cabbage, a cinnamon stick, a yo-yo and 4 bananas. But, wait, wasn’t I supposed to be GIVING WORK? NOT FOOD? Eh? Not so sure, but at least I’m giving something to someone, no?
So to recap. Who’s the winner* here?
I really wanted it to be either The Extraordinaries or Sproutster because they seemed like they would be awesome. I’m sure they will be awesome, once they work. [UPDATE! According to the people behind The Extraordinaries, it’s working now. Yay!] Which means that Give Work was the clear winner here, mainly by default with thanks to Ralph Macchio.
As for the click-and-donate apps? Just make sure you learn how much of your money you’re donating to charity before you click, okay?
*Clearly the real winner is Ralph Macchio, but I’m not writing about him, so will have to default to the apps instead.
ETA: Tweaked some words, added some links and pics. Posting while sleepy = dangerous.
It’s no secret that I ::love:: koalas. Ever since the fires in Australia last year, I’ve had the photo below on my fridge because 1) it’s a koala, 2) it’s cute and 3) it’s time to start seriously helping the planet when a koala comes to your house to hang out in your laundry basket.
Well, recently it’s made me jealous. Not because the little dude was fleeing from imminent danger and all of his little furry friends were scattered about running for safety. But because he’s hanging out in a pool looking like he needs a PBR in one hand. And during this heat wave in the East Coast, a sooty laundry basket with shedding fur floating in it sounds pretty good. Refreshing, even.
So thinking about refreshing things had me thinking about how beaches used to be, which is where I found the photo* below. The links below are quite useful photos for when you’re dreaming up a new project, wanting some new inspiration, or just want to escape the heat for awhile yourself. If nothing else you can marvel at how fantastically stylish everyone looked… even without central air.