Reflections

  • Setting Resolutions? Let's try wellbeing instead.

    by Jessica McCracken
    A new year brings with it pressure to set resolutions, which often lead to disappointment in ourselves. Instead of setting a resolution, let's sup...
    Posted in wellbeing

  • Technology as a Tool, Not an Intervention

    by Jessica McCracken
    *Jetsons meme, unknown author “Those of us who are willing to rumble with vulnerability will not be threatened by the rise of the machines, becaus...

  • Embracing the Creative Pause

    by Katie Wade
    The past year, I've thought a lot about 'the pause' as part of creativity. It's easy to judge ourselves when we aren't in the active development pa...

  • Navigating with a Joy Compass

    by Jessica McCracken
    “What if instead of seeing aging as something to defeat and conquer, we were to embrace what gets better with age, and work to amplify these joys w...

  • Movement is Emotion

    by Jessica McCracken
    “Movement is emotion,” Alice shared as I traced her outstretched arm. She wanted a gesture that expressed joy in motion. Alice has been moving her...

  • A Virtual Living Room

    by Creative Spark
    By guest blogger, SharonM “Auntie Afrika” "The one thing that continues to resonate with me from the Creative Aging Symposium 2022 was the sense of...

  • Reflections on Blue

    by Creative Spark
    From Gayle Wanamaker Gayle wrote this poetic response to the Creative Aging Symposium 2022, where jazz composer and pianist Tammy Hall performed he...

  • A Dash of Chaos as an Antidote to Apathy

    by Jessica McCracken
    I once attended a training on care partnerships and memory loss where the trainer referred to the image of a skipping record. The idea was - when s...

  • Asking 'What if?'

    by Katie Wade
    If I could impart one critical tool for creative thinking, it would be the 'what if' mindset. What if is the ability to shift your perspective, to ...

  • Wonder of Walking (WOW)

    by Jessica McCracken

    I started being mindful about walking during the pandemic. When shelter-in-place orders came I took it very seriously and rarely left the house. It wasn’t until, after I was vaccinated, I made a trip home that I unlocked the potential in daily walks. The benefits from a regular walking routine span cardiovascular health to reduced stress. How can we enchant this already powerful wellness ritual? Libby DeLana has made it a movement…literally, with This Morning Walk. A book, an instagram sensation, and a place for walkers to connect.

    For me, I learned a lot about the wonder of walking on that trip back home. Three generations walking together, my 75 year old mother, my sister and her son. Walking is one of many incredible activities that can promote intergenerational connection. 

    My nephew is great at pointing out things of interest on our journey. Perhaps a deer, a bird, or a tractor. My mom who has lived on this road her whole life creates an amazing juxtaposition to the newness in my nephew’s eyes. Her perspective was one of history and family stories. Also great knowledge of the surrounding plants and crops. There was magic there in this family outing where it was all about the journey and the company. I remember one fall walk as the wind blew golden maple leaves in a swirling dance. My nephew cried out in joy, “wow”. Wow indeed. I brought this enchanted element back with me on my daily walks. I look with new eyes at the world around me and it deepens the already incredible benefits walking provides. 

    How do you enchant the Wonder of Walking?  What intergenerational activities do you enjoy?

    Posted in wellbeing

  • Inviting Your Creative Self to Work

    by Katie Wade
    “Creative Spark opened my mind to new ways of doing my job. It tapped into a creative area of my brain that I did not consider using for my work.”
    -Alanah, MSW Intern
    Alanah's revelation reminds me of a common experience in the workplace. We often try to hold back pieces of ourselves that don't readily fit our work. With good reason! It's vulnerable to bring our whole selves to our work. But the catch is - we bring our whole selves whether we intend to or not. So let's take Alanah's lead and be intentional about it, yeah? We can boost our productivity and happiness by infusing our creative joy in work.

     

    This year, amidst the many things to be done, a to-do list the length of a CVS receipt, pings from email, instant messaging, the phone...let's take time to invite our whole, creative selves to work. Invite the unique learnings you have from your creative efforts to influence your work to-do list. What is it about swimming, gardening, cooking, tai chi, parenting that gives you unique creative strength? How might you apply that to a spreadsheet, a process, a coworker conversation? 
    We can't wait to see your whole creative self at work!
    Posted in Creativity at Work