fulfilling, understanding, using
096 • 11/17/2025
…in a few words…
A Day (weekend?) in the Life…
It is 6pm and it is dark outside, with the wind beginning to flex its muscles. As I am now putting this issue of the starter together, earlier in the day I completed issue 68 of Shadow & Light Magazine (SLM), which was no small feat this time, as I was wrought with challenges. This note is not about those challenges, thankfully, it is about the creative process and about how difficult and satisfying it can be.
Each issue of SLM is scheduled to be released on the 15th of the month of publication. Since it is a bi-monthly magazine, that means I have two months between each issue. Not! As the publication date was fast approaching, I knew this weekend would be a test. A test for my patience. A test for my resilience. A test for my trust. I needed it all!
It would develop as a trifecta of responsibility. I had the starter coming up for Monday release and I had a class in photography to teach on Saturday. As Friday arrived and I had most of SLM in place I was waiting for one more portfolio. I knew I had time in the morning (Saturday) to work on it but I had a two-hour class from 10am-noon and not much time after that to complete it.
That last portfolio never showed so I had to act fast and fill its 10 pages with a different set of work. I have been doing this for a while so It didn’t take too long to find a substitute, one that seems to fit better. Whew!
Still, I had to do a bit of revamping which I definitely will not get into at this time. I’ll save that for the book. I was able to finish the issue by 9pm, Saturday evening. I know, I missed the deadline.
I could have released it at that time but after a few minutes of contemplation, I decided not to. In the past I have learned that it is better to “sleep” on it and take it up the next day with a clear mind. It was released early this afternoon (Sunday).
With that out and about, the starter began to occupy space in my mind. Writing this note and scheduling its release is about it, until next week.
The beauty of getting so much done this weekend is that for the next few weeks I can work on personal projects. I have many but recently whittled most of them down to primary, secondary, and maybe… maybe not!
There are those who don’t think the act of creativity is much of a deal. I have done many things in my life and worked at some very hard jobs but I am very happy to tell you nothing I have ever done is as challenging and fulfilling as the creative process.
How was your weekend?
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Please pass this along to others of like mind. We do need to spread the positivity around! Know that I will be working hard to make the starter better with each issue. It will come into your inbox at 8am, each Monday morning, free or paid. Comments are always welcomed! Enjoy!
“Sometimes you have to be able to listen to yourself and be okay with no one else understanding.” Christopher Barzak
Rick Rubin’s Tips for Creative Growth: Well, as you know by now, when I begin the research process for each issue of the starter I start by seeing what is available in whatever vein I am hoping to share with you. Sometimes, that process can take some time. Once-in-a-while, however, the right one for a particular topic pops right up. So it was with this video. At times when I get bogged down by responsibilities that take me away from the creative act, Rick Rubin is my guy.
For a More Creative Brain Follow These 5 Steps: “Nearly all great ideas follow a similar creative process and this article explains how this process works. Understanding this is important because creative thinking is one of the most useful skills you can possess. Nearly every problem you face in work and in life can benefit from innovative solutions, lateral thinking, and creative ideas.
Anyone can learn to be creative by using these five steps. That’s not to say being creative is easy. Uncovering your creative genius requires courage and tons of practice.. ©James Clear
Helen K. Garber, Art as Alchemy: “A talisman object, either horse tail, sage, buffalo fur or a vial of collected rain water, is sealed inside a re-purposed wood box, wrapped in proper book pages, with fine art photographic prints and handmade paper, held together with encaustic wax medium. Each one of these unique magic boxes was created with the intent to attract positive energy from the universe to allow good luck to their owner.” ©Helen K. Garber, image and text.
Poetics: Billy Collins: Billy Collins is famous for conversational, witty poems that welcome readers with humor but often slip into quirky, tender, or profound observation. Enjoy!
In the Evening
The heads of roses begin to droop.
The bee who has been hauling the gold
all day finds a hexagon in which to rest.
In the sky, traces of clouds
the last few darting birds,
watercolors on the horizon.
The white cat sits facing a wall.
The horse in the field is asleep on its feet.
I light a candle on the wood table.
I take another sip of wine.
I pick up an onion and a knfe.
And the past and the future?
Nothing but an only child with two different masks.
©Billy Collins
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The creative steps piece is interesting. Not sure I would have come upon it on my own. Thanks for including it!