Author: Christine

Christine http://www.mombie.com I'm a writer/storyteller/director/creativity & lifestory coach with a black belt in ITF Taekwon-do. I read voraciously and I write like my fingers are on fire. I'm the founder and Co-Chair of the Association for the Arts in Mount Pearl and I'm the current president of the St. John's Storytelling Festival. I bake a mean chocolate chip cookie.

Small Bits of Art

I’m doing the Index Card A Day art practice again this year and I’m having fun with the prompts.

And it’s so very true that creativity thrives under constraint…or at least that you can have a lot of fun when you have to channel your creativity in a specific way.

Here’s my response to the ‘snapdragon’ prompt:

A drawing of a fire breathing dragon in a flowerpot.
Image description: a drawing of a fire-breathing dragon growing out of a flowerpot. Text next to the drawing reads ‘Well, I was going to draw snapdragons but all those little seed packs look the same, you know?’

Taking better care of myself

Like everyone else, I find that I frequently have a stiff neck. This is, in part, because of bad habits while texting, reading, or using the computer, but it’s also definitely related to the fact that I ‘brace’ when I am trying to concentrate.

My ADHD meds help me a lot but but I still have a little extra trouble focusing at times and I fall back into old habits – pushing my hand on the desk or clenching my jaw or holding very still – to hold myself ‘in place.’

Luckily, I stumbled on this video a while back and it is very restful and fun way to help find some ease in my neck.

Writing & Planning

I’m still figuring out how I want to organize my writing time this summer.

For a change, I have a lot of control over my own schedule. And my ADHD meds are at a level that allows me to plan out my projects and make the most of my time in a whole new way.

I have a novel and a bunch of short stories to revise and it feels great to know that I have the time and the capacity to reshape them into the stories I want to tell.

I haven’t figured out my schedule yet but I know that I can, and I am just going to enjoy this feeling for a few more days before I make myself decide.

After all, I don’t want to let all of this marvellous time slip away from me.

A person’s hands unrolling a rolled ‘battle plan.’
It won’t be a battle but I like the idea of unfurling a plan like this. image description: a GIF of a person’s hands unrolling a large, hand-drawn ‘Battle Plan’ on a table top.

Friendly faces

I had to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy earlier today and I was absolutely delighted to see that my favourite technician was working.

I like him because he’s kind and he never makes me feel rushed.

It made me think of how many other favourites I have in the stores I visit on my regular errands and how lucky I am to have these friendly acquaintances who brighten my days.

I have previously made a habit of telling people how happy I am that they are working when I am there, perhaps I need to start doing that again.

Gif of two characters from the show Parks and Recreation. One character is complimenting the other.
I can imagine myself going full Knope with this. Image description: Gif of Leslie Knope and Ann Perkins from TV’s Parks and Recreation. Leslie is saying ‘You are the most beautiful glowing sun goddess ever.’

Small cheery things

Small white flowers, grass and gravel.
Image description: small white flowers with larger green leaves surrounded by grass and brown gravel. The flowers may be strawberry plants.

When I was out for a walk with my dog the other day, I happened upon these flowers (strawberry plants?) on a hill that was mostly gravel with some patches of grass.

It made me smile to see their happy little faces in the middle of some dirt and grass so I thought I would share in case they have the same effect on you.

PS – No, my blog hasn’t been hacked. I’m building new blog habits so I am starting small – with these wee flowers.