​One of my favorite professors in college with whom I studied set design used to warn us against the lure of designing something so grand that it couldn't possibly be built safely onstage. While I scribbled away on a complicated set design for a theoretical production of Romeo and Juliet for class that may or may not have involved a giant staircase with enough height, twists and turns enough to make your heart beat right out of your chest, he would walk around the classroom very clamly, kindly reminded us to "KISS: Keep it Simple, Stupid."

I doubted this philosophy at first. After all, wasn't being creative about letting your imagination run wild and dream up anything it wanted? Weren't artists able to create a stable, safe set from even the most outrageous of design plans?  Wasn't simplifying my design a cop out, taking the easy route? Soon after he offered this reminder though, it was clear to see that the stairs I had designed would be way too steep, mathematically speaking, for Juliet to walk up and down in her long gown without risking a serious fall down the stairs at the Capulet's ball in the process. It turned out that my complicated, creative design was not going to serve the greater purpose of the play in a way that allowed the story to unfold. We could add some design flair to the staircase later on, but first it must be functional. Creativity should help, not hinder.  

Flash forward to the present where I am feeling all the feelings. This week, I have been helping to arrange a few new opportunities for myself to teach theatre workshops this spring and fall, conduct an interview for my new play on artificial intelligence with The Perpetual Visitors Theatre, and I enjoyed an exhilarating audition at one of Boston's Shakespeare theatre companies; so much joy. I am also still coming down from my anxiety running high last week, and feeling totally worn out. As I began my day today, I continued to construct all kinds of plans for tonite, for the weekend, the coming week, and around lunchtime, I could almost hear my professor's voice in my ear: "KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid." I was doing it again; setting up the main character to take a head first fall down the stairs right in the middle of the show, except this time, that main character is me, and the show happens to be my life. 

Creative souls like to pull out all the stops, bring the bells and whistles, and avoid taking the "easy" way out. While all these qualities make for a wonderful, challenging  creative practice, insisting on living every moment of your life doing something the "interesting" way can leave you burnt out and broken down. It's hard for us, but what happens when we try to keep it simple for our most basic of needs? What if we put function first?

For me, this means abandoning my plans of cooking an elaborate meal tonite and making breakfast for dinner instead. It means not trying to rev myself up and push through more book edits or trying to answer emails and allowing my evening to be unstructured. It means that after I eat dinner, I am going to put myself to bed early to get the rest I am craving today.  Not easy to do, but simple.  Sometimes there is no creative hacks for the most basic of human needs. Flair is of no use without function. 

Thirsty? Drink some water.

Hungry? Get yourself something to eat.

Tired? Sleep. (No, the answer is not more coffee.)

Feel like you need to wash away the energy of the day? Take a hot shower. 

Frazzled? Get quiet and breathe. 

Lonely? Call a friend and connect. 

Energetic? Get some exercise outside in a way that is fun for you.

Don't let your incredible, colorful creative spirit keep you from keeping it simple.  Sometimes it takes the most imagination to see what it is that you really need in order to be good to yourself, and the most motivation to get up and actually go do it.  

How about you? Are you like me, and struggle to Keep It Simple? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

I can hardly believe another Monday is upon us! If I'm honest, I have spent the last week in a heightened state of anxiety; I am someone who has long suffered with anxiety and I'm trying to talk about my experience with this more with people I know in my life and more with all of you here because I know the power of hearing someone else's story about this and feeling permission to suddenly share my own, and I'm hoping that in writing a bit more about it on the blog, someone who needs to see it will, and the cycle of passing permission along from person to person to be open and honest and real can continue.

Call it the tail end of the winter blues or being slightly overscheduled recently coupled with our sweet cat who was feeling under the weather--after a week of being in high gear with worry and unease, today finds me a bit like I just woke up from a long nap; certainly coming out of slumber but still groggy and not fully ready to join the waking world just yet. This evening when trying to think of what I would post for Motivation Monday, I decided I would post a letter to myself to help me get ready for a brand new week and thought I'd share it here in case you needed a little note to self to let you know that a new week can bring new possibilities and that no matter where we find ourselves right now, we are all going to be alright.

Dear Melissa,

I know how much you have suffered this week from anxious thoughts, worry,  and all sorts of monsters that your mind has dreamed up. I know how tiring it can be to worry about what is, what might be, if you are capable enough, creative enough, strong enough, savvy enough, and not too crazy to handle what comes and keep putting one foot in front of the other. On anxious days, this feels especially difficult to do. The anxiety is made worse by fearing that you are alone in these experiences. You are not alone.  

I want to tell you that it's ok to hit pause and take a break from life in these moments. It's ok to not feel like making anything, to not feel like you want to be around people, and to stay in your pajamas all day with your cat curled up next to you. Part of a creative life is about getting creative with your own rules and routine. Remember that you alone are in charge of what you feel is best for you.  Embrace and exercise that right to be your own best guardian in these moments.

Hang tight and ride the waves of the storm. Drink a glass of water and eat something that sounds good to you. Don't underestimate the power of a hot shower and clean sheets. Call a friend and tell them how you feel. Feel afraid that they might think you're being over-dramatic or that you are, as you fear, crazy. Call them anyway. Clear your schedule if you need to and take the time that is yours to treat yourself sweetly so that you can make space to breathe, to rest, and to take care of yourself. 

Your superpower as a kid was your imagination. It still is. Imagination is not just for making up a play from think air or improvising dance moves to Queen in your kitchen. Oh, no. Imagination can do so much more--it can allow you to see the possibilities that might manifest themselves tomorrow or next week or next year. Imagination will help you to believe that tomorrow can be different from today, that this thing you feel now might recede and allow you to feel the joy and wonder that can seem so elusive in these moments.  Imagination can also help you to see a world where worries are not in fact banished never to return, but come in waves like the ocean, and that the rhythms of worries, joy, isolation, connection, fear, and trust are as steady as the sun rising each day and the gravity that holds you to the earth.  Imagination can help you to see that this kind of life can be comforting and beautiful and know in your heart that while moments of carefree joy eventually give way to worry, in time, that worry will pass and give way to something gentler and you will be able to imagine that great joy is just around the corner as well.  Imagination can help you believe in the comfort of such constant change. 

It's a brand new week and I know that there will be joys and play and things to think about and make and do, sprinkled in among the anxieties like tiny pieces of gold among the stones. Collect them when you can and know that life isn't about building a house of gold, but taking the precious glittering strands you find each day and weaving them into the very fabric of yourself until they become YOU.  Life is not about seeing the while picture yet, but taking it piece by piece and continuing to know deep down in your bones that it's worth putting together. 

Take care, my Sweetheart. I will always be right here, to celebrate with you when things are good, and to sit in the trenches when they get tough. We are in this together. I know you can do this. 

Love,
Melissa 

Wishing you all a week of caring for your awesome selves, wherever you are. 

For today, I'm simply sharing my own Play List for this week, a list of things I want to do just for fun, no perfection or productivity required. I do so much thinking and writing about being creative and a Monday is the perfect day to start DOING. I give you five simple things you can DO right now at home, wherever that is for you, guaranteed to free your creative soul.  If you're seeking permission to play, consider this your permission slip!

​1. Improvise a wholehearted interpretive dance to a favorite song.  I'm going for broke with Sia's Chandelier for this first item on my Play List, as it always makes me feel like I might just jump out of my own skin to express all the BIG FEELINGS it brings up for me.  Rocking tunes required for this Play List item, but keeping the blinds open so that your neighbors get a free performance is optional. 

2. Read a favorite line or two from a book aloud to someone. Reading aloud to yourself or your pet counts. I am reading Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman now, and the language is so lush and provocative that I couldn't help but reading a short passage  aloud to my husband this weekend at the breakfast table. 

There is something to be said about borrowing someone else's words for awhile, and something that makes me feel so rich for getting to speak a beautiful passage aloud to someone I love, for free.

3. Sing a favorite song loudly. It doesn't have to be for anyone else at all; the cliche setting of the shower will do just fine. Singing was one of my first loves and too often I get hung up on if it sounds "good" or not. You don't have to be on pitch to reap the physical and emotional benefits of singing. My current song of choice:

4. Use a creative prompt to try something you have never tried before. This week, I found a wonderful creative prompt courtesy of Visual News: "If your favorite musician/filmmaker/author commissioned you to create something based on their work, what would you make?" Speaking of Nada Surf from #3 above, I think I might compose song lyrics that respond to their song "Weight is a Gift", which always makes me think of how my dance with anxiety might be a gift in some small way. I have no idea how to write song lyrics, but I'm pumped to try.

5. Draw a cartoon panel depicting your day. I'm breaking out the sketch pad, pens, colored pencils, and markers this week to do a little doodling and to remind me that anything can be turned into art, even your rough day at the office or your trip to the supermarket.  What's the point of this exercise? There is no point to this playful activity, and that is precisely the point.  Stick figures and slinky shaped hair encouraged. 

Wishing you a week of being free to play without fear of needing measure up, compare yourself, or stress about if it's "good" or not. If it feels good to you, it's all good. 

I am so proud to share this debut episode of the Everyday Play podcast series with all of you, where I will be talking to creative souls of all stripes about what creativity, curiosity, and play look like in their lives! This new series of creative conversations is a love letter to finding the joy in the everyday moments of our lives, letting loose and being silly, and being unafraid to be play, every day.

For today's conversation I sat down with Kate Marple, my dear friend and theatre company partner. Kate is a documentary playwright who serves as the Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of The Perpetual Visitors Theatre, and co-creator of BIG WORK, an original documentary play that explores the role that work plays in our ability to build a life and connect with those around us. In addition, Kate is a professor of strategic communications for nonprofit organizations at Northeastern University and a storyteller through and through who is endlessly fascinated by what shapes who we are and where we belong. 

Kate and I have known each other since high school and playing together ever since, and I am so grateful that we were able to come together for a conversation to share our unique definitions of creativity in their own lives, as well as plenty of tips to help break the habits and patterns we all get stuck in. Get a cup of tea and cozy  up for a creative conversation that will kick start your imagination!

​As always, I'd love to hear from you in the comments. What does creativity look like for you in your own life?