Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
MOTIVATION MONDAY is here to help usher in another week! Here are some things I'm finding particularly fun to think about this week:
Something to Daydream About: Lately, I've been wishing for a chance to go on an artist retreat with some of my dearest friends from grad school that live far away. How wonderful would it be to reunite AND be creative together? Here's 8 creative havens for a retreat that are fun to dream about (personally, I'd pick the Tuscany one)! Have you ever planned a retreat with your creative circle?
Something to Listen to on Your Commute: Adam Driver may be starring in the new Star Wars film, but did you know he was a United States Marine who has found powerful healing and purpose through the arts? His TED talk is a beautiful meditation on how theatre might serve those who serve our country in the military:
"It's a powerful thing, getting in a room with complete strangers and reminding ourselves of our humanity, and that self-expression is just as valuable a tool as a rifle on your shoulder. And for an organization like the military, that prides itself on having acronyms for acronyms, you can get lost in the sauce when it comes to explaining a collective experience. And I can think of no better community to arm with a new means of self-expression than those protecting our country."
Words to Consider:
"If you want to work on your art, work on your life."
~Anton Chekhov
Don't be fooled--working on your craft as an artist can mean learning a monologue and learning new ways to deal with your anger and anxiety. It can mean taking a stage movement class and committing to eating more vegetables every day. You are both an artist AND a human. One feeds the other, always.
A Book to Read: I am listening to the new biography of Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson and am hooked. Da Vinci left over 7,000 journal pages that survive to this day, and his curiosity about everything from engineering to theatre set building to human musculature is well documented, along with sketches of animals, babies, and flying machines. He is often touted as a genius, but Isaacson encourages us to look past that label, which often implies inborn ability that no one can successfully strive for, and instead allow ourselves to be inspired by his tenacity, curiosity, and willingness to make mistakes.
A one pot meal to make: Ok, so truth be told, this isn't a meal. Or perhaps I should say, it's not supposed to be. But if you are seeking a better for you cookie this holiday season, look no further than Alaena Haber's Snowball Cookies. Made with honey, these little bites are gluten-free, and have an unexpected secret ingredient: white sweet potatoes. You can make the basic recipe and then divide the dough into a few different bowls to make different flavors that include vanilla, chocolate, cinnamon, or citrus. Efficient and delicious! I made a double batch this weekend--half vanilla and half chocolate--and highly suggest you do the same!