Morr Creative Thoughts

How to Launch a New Interest

2011-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, I noticed two pretty little birds flying around the planters on our deck. They were smaller than robins, primarily black with white underparts. I have never been a bird watcher but these birds piqued my interest. Attempts to identify them on the internet fell flat so I am off to the library to see what I can find out.

This plan reminded me to share my favorite way to nurture a new personal or business interest or hobby--magazines. Books a great for intense research but magazines give us small bits of digestible information. Once I have explored some magazines on my new interest at the library, I decide on one that I would like to receive regularly to sustain and develop my knowledge and identity. Receiving a monthly reminder as a subscriber is a great way to accept the the concept that, "I am a birdwatcher" -- a photographer, or a vegetarian. What new interest would you like to learn about?

Did you know there was a god of words?

2011-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite websites is dailywritingtips.com. Today that site taught me another interesting fact:

In Greek mythology Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, was not just the patron god of thieves, merchants, and boundaries. He was also a god of science, art, speech, eloquence, and writing.

It's Not Too Late

2011-02-09T06:39:00.000-08:00

Aging with Grace, by David Snowdon Ph.D. includes this among many inspiring stories. Sister Nicolette, at age 93, had outlived all of her classmates. Snowdon asked her why she was "the last nun standing." Her reply was that she had an exercise program, walking several miles every day. He then inquired when she had begun this practice and learned that she started at age 70!

There is hope for couch potatoes everywhere!

Ahh! Organized

2011-02-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

If you have never enjoyed the opportunity to work with a professional organizer, you don't know what you are missing. Well, maybe I should back up a step and say that people who are naturally organized can skip this post.

But for the rest of us, a few hours with an organizer every bit as refreshing as a day at the spa. And the results last longer. Yesterday was the second time Beth Randall of Joe Organizer visited me and worked small miracles here. If you hear yourself saying"One of these days, I've got to get organized!" call an organizer and let a pro do it! They know how and they'll help you get organized much more quickly than you could do it on your own.

PS... Nobody is paying paying me to say this... :>)

How to Deal with a Bad Day

2011-02-02T06:41:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this excellent article by
creativity consultant Christine Kane.

Let's face it. No matter how much progress we make, we're still going to have "bad days."

You know the ones.

When the old critical voices are milling about drinking martinis in your head. You try to send them all away with your favorite powerful affirmation, but only a few of them even look up - and one of them turns away and snickers.

So, what do you do when no matter what you do, you're just icky?

Very few success-gurus or business coaches talk about the bad day. Rarer still is any discussion on the process of following your dreams or building a business and the persistence it takes to break through old patterns.

Sometimes it helps to hear someone be honest about this stuff. Not so that you can indulge in self-pity about how hard you have it. But so that when the bad day strikes, you have some leverage and you KNOW WHAT TO DO! (Or not to do!)

So, how do you get through a bad day?

Here's a few things that help me. Let them help you too...

WHAT TO REMIND YOURSELF:

1 - The icky voices do not tell the truth.

They're just your old voices coming up to feed. Do not feed them. This is what makes them stay.

2 - This is not who you are.

The voices like to tell you that this messed up person is who you really are and that the rest of the world doesn't have these same flaws.

Not true.

This is just a temporary set back. That's all.

3 - Lattes don't take the voices away. It just makes them go faster.

Bad Days are not a call to rush out to Starbucks, hoping that if you move faster, it will all go away. If there's any action that needs to be taken now, it's probably a nap.

4 - You can put off your productivity until tomorrow.

Consciously choosing to be unproductive is much more effective than spending the day wondering why you can't get anything done. It really is okay to put down your goals and to-dos for one day. You can return to them tomorrow. Today, make it your goal to consciously do nothing.

5 - Everything seems worse when you're tired or hungry.

If you are tired or hungry, that could be the primary cause of feeling bad. Eat something yummy. Take a nap. Go somewhere and sit quietly.

WHAT TO DO:

1 - Stop feeling bad about feeling bad.

If it helps, make today a container. Know that you're allowed to have this stuff and that nothing horrid is going to happen with this one day of getting thrown off.

2 - Make no decisions.

The late Richard Carlson, author and psychologist, gave this great advice: "Never make decisions when you're in a low mood." That's because low moods are a natural occurrence and that any low-mood decisions are typically not healthy. Put off all decisions when you're having a bad day.

3 - Don't read fashion magazines. Or the news.

4 - Take a 20 minute walk.

Bring a gentle affirmation along with you. On days like this you don't want to say, "I am master of the universe!!!" On days like this you want to say, "I am loved. I am precious."

5 - Don't try to FIX yourself today.

No need to rush to the Self-Help section at Borders. Maybe there are steps you can take toward being healthier in the big picture. But today, let yourself stop.

6 - Lower your standards.

If you eat a good healthy meal, be proud. If you do a little yoga, give yourself a high five. Tomorrow you can have your old high standards back and be productive and evolved and all that. Not today.

7 - Say NO to anything if it's motivated by the word "should."

This is a good rule to follow on good days too!

8 - Ask yourself what you feel like doing.

Sometimes the answer to this can be surprising. Maybe you'll want to begin a fiction audiobook and clean your closet! Maybe you'll just want a nap. Don't judge your response. Just do it. You might be surprised at how this one little bit of permission changes your state instantly!

9 - Don't do anything destructive.

Don't overdose on sugar or indulge in alcohol. Don't call anyone who drains you. It will not help.

WHAT TO BE:

Be very, very kind to yourself.

WHAT TO KNOW:

That the victory is not about not having bad days anymore. The victory is that you can get back up after having one.

Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 12,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com.

Inspiring Women -- a one day Women's Conference

2011-01-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

If you’re in the Chicago area and looking for a professional development conference that will inspire you, empower you, and help you effectively deal with change, different personalities and stress in the workplace, sign up for Inspiring Women – a one day Women’s Conference today!

Take charge and reap the rewards YOU deserve! Make 2011 the best year yet! This power-packed day will energize and give you the tools and strategies needed to reach YOUR Goals. As women we face different challenges than men do. This conference will address these issues that plague women today.

How is this Inspiring Women’s Conference different?
We have brought together four professional speakers and trainers to give you their insights based on their experience and knowledge not theory. Each of these outstanding women have dealt first hand with difficult challenges and will tell you how they did it.

Enhance Your Experience
Attend this conference with a friend or colleague – together you can support one another and meet your goals.

WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 2011
TIME: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (CT)
WHERE: Country Inn and Suites, 1837 Centre Point Circle, Naperville, IL

Click here for more information!

::: ENROLL ONLINE BY FEBRUARY 1ST & SAVE 20%! :::

Categories: Classes, Conference | Tags: Conference | Leave a comment »

No Need to Panic... Christmas Can Happen Without Me

2010-12-10T07:20:00.000-08:00

Even though the Christmas decorations were in the stores waaay too early this year, as usual; I no longer start to panic the way I did in years past.

Beginning in her 50’s my mother began saying that she and all her contemporaries had become “Generals with no armies.” She said it a lot, and I didn’t pay too much attention. But as is often the case with “mom-wisdom,” it means more now.

Fifty-something moms are accustomed to leading the troops, planning the maneuvers, taking responsibility for those in their command. Once their troops have grown up, gone off to college, married, moved to an apartment or simply mutinied; the general can stumble around rattling her saber but it’s a pretty empty gesture.

What does all this have to do with Christmas? Well, I was the Christmas general of my family. The first of my siblings acquire a spouse, a house and offspring – an army if you will – I became the Holiday Hostess. It really was easier that way. We didn’t have to drag highchairs, playpens, and the bazillion other baby necessities to other houses.

Add to this the fact that I am a plan-ahead list-maker and my husband is a go-with-the-flow Christmas Eve shopper, it is easy to see why I took over all the planning and maneuvering involved in celebrating Christmas.

For years I made lists, planned the budget, did the shopping, hiding, wrapping, decorating, baking, cooking, entertaining. I planned and shopped for the Christmas outfits the children would wear to holiday festivities and school and church programs. I addressed the cards, and arranged for the family photos to enclose.

Not wanting to focus only on the secular celebration, I made sure we lit advent candles, prayed and sang advent songs preparing for the holy day. We planned works of charity, and shopped for needy.

Then there was the balancing act of making sure I had spent the same amount of money on each of the kids, and that they each had the same number of packages to open. And I had all that angst about “Is it enough? Is it too much? Am I spoiling the kids? Are they getting as much as their friends? Am I being too materialistic?” I was driving myself crazy, but I couldn’t stop.

Two decades later I still felt compelled to do it all, in spite of the fact that our family had grown to include in-laws, nieces and nephews, in spite of the fact that my siblings and their gracious spouses had hosted delightful holiday celebrations. Years of practice convinced me that if I didn’t perfectly execute an every-growing list of holiday-related tasks, Christmas wouldn’t happen. After all, I AM THE MOM.

Then, it happened: Christmas 2006. I just didn’t feel the holiday mood. Our youngest, Kit, was a senior in college. She wouldn’t be home until a few days before Christmas. Our older daughter, Eva, and our son, Sam, were busy with their careers and their own lives. They too would be arriving home a day or two before Christmas.

When the kids were young, we all put the tree up together a couple of weeks before Christmas. Later, there were a few times, Phil and I did it together, a few times I did it alone. In 2006, I told Phil, “I just don’t have the Christmas spirit. You’re on your own this time.” Without complaint Phil put up the tree, and it looked just fine!

Little by little as the children became adults, I finally gave up compulsively counting packages and pennies. I still have a budget for Christmas shopping that allots the same amount to each of the family members, but I no longer compare the stacks of presents. I try to choose something that is meaningful to each. So one small step at a time I began relinquishing control of the holiday.

Finally in 2007, I figured it out. I had finally dialed down my expectations of myself for Christmas. As I observed my family preparing for Christmas, I finally realized – they were making Christmas Happen.

From the kitchen, I could hear their excitement as they ran upstairs and downstairs, retrieving gift bags, wrapping paper, tape, and bows, carrying presents from cars or bedrooms to the family room to wrap, to the living room to place them under the tree. They had the “White Christmas” video on television, and they were laughing and conspiring to surprise and delight parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and each other.

They arranged that we would all be able to go to church together on Christmas Eve.

It was such a relief to realize that I had passed the baton (or possibly my saber). I no longer have to single-handedly cause holidays to happen. I’m still THE MOM, but I no longer have to be the Christmas general. I can no more make the holiday happen than the Grinch can prevent it. It seems that Christmas is bigger than the Grinch, bigger than the Christmas general, and even bigger than THE MOM.

Originally published on the 50-Something Moms Blog.

Dancing with the ... WHAT?!

2010-12-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

After several years of “The Nutcracker” which had enthralled my now 10-year-old daughter, Jane, I decided she was ready to see a “grownup” ballet. Tickets to a performance by the Joffrey ballet were a big hit with both Jane and my mother. The third Saturday night in January, we arrived at The Auditorium Theatre with eager anticipation. Our seats were in the balcony – my favorite choice for two reasons. First, being a bit vertically challenged, I don’t like to risk having my line of sight obstructed by a tall person in front of me on the main level. In the balcony the steeper configuration gives me a better view. Second, the ticket prices fit my budget.

We headed for the elevator -- which was not working due to renovations on the upper levels of Roosevelt University. Oh no! There was no way Mom could climb those stairs. The man at the box office could not have been kinder. No problem. He exchanged our balcony tickets for seats in the fifth row. There were no tall people blocking my view. I have never had a better view of dancers. The first performance of the evening was rather traditional for the Joffrey and it was thoroughly delightful.

After a short intermission, “Untitled” began. I wish it had a title so you could look it up on “describethisballet.com.” OK, there is no “describethisballet.com.” So I will do my best. Two ballerinas in Victorian garden dresses and hats took to the stage barefoot. After a few graceful moves, the ballerinas seemed to grow and the length of their dresses extended. Then they shrank. And then gradually they became giants. The audience began to chuckle. What fun.

The bare feet, while graceful, were clearly too big for the ballerinas. So it was not a total surprise to find they belonged to other dancers. They belonged to the male dancers who slid out from under the ballerina’s long skirts – wearing dance belts, and nothing else. Yikes! Sitting between my mother and daughter, I just couldn’t decide what to do. Cover Jane’s eyes? Cover Mom’s eyes? Cover the dancers? With what?!

What Do Your Priorities Look Like Today?

2010-11-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

One of the interesting things about goals and priorities is that we are in complete control. We get to decide on our highest priority each day.

Let me share something I figured out for setting my own priorities. Good health is one of my highest goals. Without good health, it’s hard to enjoy any other aspect of life, right? So you would think I would have no trouble following a recommendation given by my trusted doctor. But when she told me I really should give up desserts in order to lower my cholesterol, I have to admit my reaction was anything but mature. “Sure, I will give up desserts,” I kidded myself, “just as soon as I have eaten ALL the desserts I can get my hands on.” I just couldn’t get on board with the idea of giving up desserts FOREVER.

After eating my way through lots and lots of brownies and chocolate chip cookies, I finally figured out that I might be able to give up desserts just for today. There might possibly be a key lime or pumpkin pie in my future.

Is this brand new great wisdom that no one ever discovered before? No, I believe I have heard this sort of thing more than a few times over the years. But the news is that I figured out that it applies to me.

I remember a quotation on a bulletin board in a college classroom that read: “We only really know those truths that we ourselves discover.” I think it was attributed to Emerson, but I can’t verify that.

What truths have you discovered for yourself lately?

Thankful

2010-11-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

Did you know that November is Adoption Awareness Month? Since Thanksgiving is almost here, I think it’s appropriate to tell you how thankful we are for our sweet grandson A who came into our family through an international adoption. He is a handsome little fellow with a beautiful singing voice and a tendency to dance when he hears music. He is a very gentle and loving brother to his beautiful little sister J, for whom we are also thankful. We love to see their sweet faces and hear their laughter.

Let’s hear it for babies, adopted and home grown!

Managing Expectations, or How I Ended up Sitting in the Shade

2010-07-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

When my children swam on the neighborhood swim team, parents were called upon to volunteer to run the twice weekly meets. One of the volunteer positions was Clerk of Course. On our team the clerk of course had to track down the swimmers who might be snacking at the concession stand, climbing on the fence, splashing in the baby pool or hanging out under the warm showers in the locker room. The Clerk would then hand the swimmers their cards and send them to line up in the proper lane. This required a lot in the part of the parent. First of all they had to know the names of and recognize about 100 children. If you don’t think that’s hard, keep in mind that all these children are wearing matching swim suits and caps. And when they put on their goggles even their own mothers have to look very closely to identify their offspring. In addition the volunteer had to be fleet of foot to catch up with quickly moving 10-year-olds on the “no running allowed” pool deck.

Then something remarkable happened. The Clerk of Course arrived at a Tuesday night meet on crutches. She had sprained her ankle earlier in the day. She told the coaches and the team that she would not be able to hunt for swimmers. She would sit in a chair in the shade holding the event cards. The swimmers would have to come to her for their cards. And they did. At least, 95% of the time they did. A few swimmers missed an event, but they learned quickly. Once one mom set a new expectation, no Clerk of Course left the comfort of the chair in the shade. The swimmers became much more responsible (Isn’t that one of the lessons sports is supposed to teach?) and Clerk of Course became one of the most attractive volunteer positions.

So how does this apply to your life and career? Are you working harder than you need to? Are you babying someone or a lot of someones who could learn to be more responsible?

Sweatin’ Like an Oldie

2010-06-04T08:02:00.000-07:00

I have started going to a Zumba class. Dance has always been my favorite form of exercise and this is the latest in the long line of exercise/dance combos for me. While I jumped, bumped, shimmied, swayed, kicked, and struggled to keep up the pace at class last night, I paused to think about what made this class different from others I have taken. Oh, all right, I’ll admit it. I was desperately grasping for any reason to pause.

Music (and lyrics) – The beat seems consistently faster to me than anything I have ever danced to. Is that possible or is it just me? I think some of the lyrics may be in Spanish. The Zumba website says the program features a “fusion of Latin and International music.” But I’m sure I heard the words “Zumba” and “Sexy” a couple of times and a lot of repetitions of “left, right, left, right, left right.” That might help if hadn’t gone quite so fast.

Sexiness factor – The lyrical mention of sexiness is not an idle use of the words, there is quite a bit of shimmying, bumping and hip circling involved in this style of dance. I’m sure when they “fused” the International music, they skipped Ireland entirely. I don’t think anyone of my cultural background could effectively carry off these moves. But we can adapt.

Footwear – My footwear has reached a whole new level. I remember my first ballet slippers. They were white and had a little elastic strap to keep them on my skinny feet. I was four years old, fearless and nimble. They were the first in a long line of ballet shoes that included, pink ones, black ones and finally the coveted pink satin toe shoes that meant I had finally attained the mastery level that allowed me to dance “en pointe.” There have also been tap shoes, jazz shoes and character shoes. In my teens and twenties I could swing, twist, frug, watusi, swim, and mashed potato for hours in stilettos, loafers and anything in between.

Things went downhill in the late ‘70s when I started going to “Aerobic Dance” classes. Sure, I wore sneakers. They were required, but they were white and looked somewhat sporty (we convinced ourselves) when paired with crisp white shorts and a bright t-shirt.

Now I am sad to say that the sneakers have orthotics inside and I can’t kick up the heels of them as high as I used to.

Attire – I’m afraid the leotards and tutus of my early dance career are long gone as are the plaid skirts of the ‘60s and ‘70s. The crisp white shorts have given way to yoga pants and tank tops or t-shirts. I have to admit, Zumba is much more about moving than it is about costume.

Age – I just know I am the oldest person in room at this class. It’s not just my speed and crow’s feet that set me apart in this group. The t-shirts mentioned in the previous paragraph sometimes bear legends such as “I’m the bride” on the young lady who mentions getting ready for the first dance at her reception or “Jeffrey Middle School Cheer Class of 2002.” Oh sure I know that means she has been out of middle school for eight years, but how old can she be? 22? These young girls intimidate me. Their triceps don’t wobble at all.

Visible tattoos – There is just one more factor that sets me squarely in the “oldies” category in this exercise class. I have absolutely no visible tattoos. The truth is I have no tattoos at all, but I am afraid to admit this for fear of shocking the younger women in the class.

Sweat level – Well that’s what started me thinking about all this in the first place. I’ve never sweat this much doing anything before. Did I mention Zumba is estimated to burn 11 calories a minute? That means I can burn almost 700 calories in a one hour class. I think I will keep going. So I feel old, so my feet are going in the wrong direction and I am sweating bullets – old bullets. When it’s over, I’ll have a piece of chocolate cake.

What I Learned at the Erma Bombeck Writers Conference

2010-04-19T17:33:00.000-07:00

I returned yesterday from the Erma Bombeck Writers Conference. Three days focused on humor writing was a fantastic experience and I learned a lot. Here are a few of my lessons from this weekend:

My name is on the United Airlines Do Not Fly List. Yikes! After the agent looked at the birth date on my drivers license, she waived me on. I'm guessing the person they are looking for is a bit younger.
Humor comes in a lot of different flavors: poignant, silly, laugh-out-loud, exaggerating, outrageous, touching, ironic.
A lot of success in life results from having the guts to try something new.
Everybody loves to laugh. (Well, I can't really say that was big news. I've always known that.)
There are a lot of really funny middle-aged women, and many of them are great at stand-up.
If you have a strong interest in just about anything, you can find people who share that interest and meet to study and enjoy that interest.

Fine Young People

2010-04-09T07:59:00.000-07:00

Last night the Chicago music community paid tribute to Carlos Hernandez Gomez, musician, political reporter, man of faith, humanitarian – a fine young man called home to heaven much too young after a battle with cancer.

My son Dann opened the concert singing George Harrison’s words, “Give me love, give me love, give me peace on earth.” I have a lump in my throat as I type those words. I thank God for Carlos and Dann, Carlos' wife Randi, and all the fine young men and two women who performed in honor of their dear friend. Oh, and they also raised thousands of dollars for Living Water International to build wells in Haiti in Carlos' name – his last wish.

It's About Time

2010-04-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Dear friends, I am back to my blog. The plan is to keep it up regularly -- I will give it my best.

Today I want to share a link that will introduce you to two of my favorite online friends, Leah Ingram and Marla Cilley (aka the FlyLady). This excellent post offers you five valuable tips on two topics near to everyone's hearts: getting organized and saving money.

Click here for 5 Ways Being Organized Saves You Money.

Thankful Part 2

2009-11-24T06:27:00.000-08:00

A Thanksgiving list, a gratitude journal, counting your blessing. They are so similar and so important. Whenever I stop to think about life -- you know, Life with a capital L -– I know I have a lot to be thankful for. A few surprisingly quick answers to prayers arrived this week and prompted me to started keeping a list of answered prayers.

I prayed for some acting work for my youngest. A director called and offered her a part within hours.

I prayed for a few more good clients and within days I received an assignment by e-mail, and a phone call brought a delightful new client who registered for book coaching.

These are not the only answers my prayers have received. There have been many others over the years. Huge answers that changed my life, little answers that changed my day. There have been answers of “No” that made me cry, or wonder what this “lesson” was meant to teach me. There are several prayers that haven’t been answered – yet. Am I meant to be learning patience, or self-reliance? Or have I just not realized that the answer is “no”?

This season and these lessons make me think of the beautiful poem/prayer by English metaphysical poet and clergyman, George Herbert (1593 – 1633).

Thou that hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, a grateful heart.
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if thy blessings had spare days;
But such a heart, whose pulse may be thy praise.

Happy Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving

2009-11-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

1. I am thankful for National Speakers Association because I have made such great friends there.
2. I am thankful for chocolate.
3. I am thankful for "So You Think You Can Dance." Have you seen how talented those kids are?!
4. I am thankful for Morning Pages. Julia Cameron is a genius!
5. I am thankful for sunny 60 degree days in November!

Thankful

2009-11-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

Well, can you believe it’s November already? I love November because it’s Thanksgiving month, and Thanksgiving is my all time favorite holiday. The commercialism is minimal and the spirit is so warm.

So I am starting early with gratitude and posting a few things I am thankful for.

1. I am thankful for my outstanding family. And my family now includes two adorable grandchildren!
2. I am thankful for Facebook because I have been able to connect with old friends, and make some new ones.
3. I am thankful for Old St. Pat’s. We have started driving into the city to go to Mass at Old St. Pat’s. It’s worth the trip.
4. I am thankful for the great new clients I have been working with this year.
5. I am thankful that Miss Doxie is posting on her blog again.

Would you like to write a book in the next six months?

2009-08-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Your dream begins right now!

HOW TO WRITE A BOOK
THE SLIGHTLY OFF WAY

Starts September 23th

And lasts Six Months!!!
It’s true.
In Six Months you CAN have a book written.

Deb DiSandro, of Slightly Off, and Dianne Morr, of Morr Creative Writing Services, along with an advisory team of experts including
Editors
Literary Agent
Book Manufacturer
Published Authors
Self-published Authors
Writing Instructors
will coach you through the process from idea to finished draft.

This program teaches you methods that work to help you achieve success.
And of course, it will be fun!

*CONFERENCE CALLS
We kick off with a live Conference Call – Deb and Dianne will share their expertise, an outline of the six month program, upcoming conferences and YOUR first assignment! Wednesday, September 16th, 7 p.m. (central time zone)

Can’t be on the call? That’s okay! All calls will be recorded! All assignments will arrive by e-mail so you can go at your own pace.

FOUR or More Conference Calls with other EXPERTS IN THE FIELD – featuring inspirational stories from successfully published and self-published authors, advice from editors, publisher, literary agent, spaced throughout the program will give you that boost of information, confidence and encouragement just when you need it. (Recorded so you can play back at your convenience)

* Initial Questionnaire and Accountability Check-ins - to solidify your
intention

*Weekly Assignments – to keep you on track

*Slightly Off Tips and Tricks - to keep your goal in the forefront of your day

*E-MAIL YOUR QUESTIONS - We’ll help you find the answer!

*CRITIQUES!! – One from Deb and one from Dianne – both offering their areas of expertise – Deb on overall story and theme – Dianne on the mechanics and grammar. (up to ten pages of a general critique)

WHAT’S THE PRICE FOR ALL THIS????

ONLY $299

That’s right!
LESS THAN $2 A DAY TO MAKE YOUR DREAM COME TRUE!

BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT MONEY
TO STOP YOU FROM EMBARKING ON
THIS EMPOWERING AND LIFE-CHANGING
JOURNEY

Ready to
Get Started?
Say, “Yes!
I’d like to write my book the Slightly Off Way!”

Click here to register

Back Again

2009-08-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life is moving so fast, I just fall off the blog wagon. Then I feel like I need to explain what I've been doing. Well, one thing I have done is publish my workbook, Ice the Burnout, Twenty Simple Ways to Make Your Life Better. I am really pleased with the way it looks. Debbie Manning did the cover design. (Thanks, Deb.) I will be offering them for sale from my website soon and also at the back of the room when I speak on "Ice the Burnout." That's my signature speech on preventing stress from turning into burnout.

My next post will tell you about the more exciting and profound changes that have occurred in my life since my July posts.

Stay tuned.

Thought for a Sunday

2009-07-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Always remember that "rest" is an active verb. - Dianne Morr

The Mediterranean

2009-07-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

Our 25-year anniversary trip to Hawaii was such a hit, Phil and I decided to observe our 35th anniversary with a special trip as well. This extravaganza recognized not only our marital milestone but also that fact that all three of our children had completed college. We had seen the last of college tuition bills! Whoo Hoo! Now that is something to celebrate.

This time we went to France, partly because I had always wanted to see France and partly because our youngest daughter, Jane, was taking "just one more class" before she considered herself ready to face the world. The capstone to her BFA in acting was a six-week study of Street Theatre in Paris. Completely understanding this class’s call to her, Phil and I scheduled our trip so that we could see her performance in Paris and then spend 10 days sight-seeing.

And there was so much to see. Ten days was just enough to whet the appetite, and if I tried to describe everything, this blog post would become a book. So I will just recall my impression of the Mediterranean.

The Mediterranean is a shade of blue I have never seen anywhere else. It was tranquil during the days we were there. Wading was difficult because the bottom was very rocky and slippery in Nice, although I would be willing to bet my life savings that there are plenty of sandy beaches at other Mediterranean shores. The water was much warmer than the Atlantic but cooler than the Pacific waters we experienced in Hawaii.

The views were magnificent from the beach, the street, the nearby cafés, the winding road to Monaco, and the cliffs high above the sea. My next travel dream is a Mediterranean cruise. I hope I won’t have to wait for our 45th anniversary to get there.

Another Ocean

2009-07-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Many years after first dipping my toes in the Atlantic Ocean, I had two memorable vacations that involved great milestones and exotic seas.

In 1997, Phil and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a trip to Hawaii. While the refreshing cold of the Atlantic Ocean had reminded me of my swimming experiences in Lake Michigan, the Pacific Ocean, specifically the beaches of Hawaii were like nothing I had ever experienced before. The water was clear and warm, the sands glistened white and fine, and the breezes carried sweet scents not remotely reminiscent of the alewives that covered Chicago beaches in the 70s. The new experiences didn’t end with the ocean.

I loved everything about Hawaii. It was the perfect blend of the exotic and the familiar. Everyone spoke English, but there were melodious Hawaiian words interwoven throughout. There were fascinating history, stories, legends, and music to enjoy. And the dancing!! Fabulous! (In my heart I am a dancer, although other parts of my body don’t understand that.) Hawaii to me is as exotic as you can get without showing a passport or exchanging money.

After another 10 years of wedded bliss, Phil and I decided to celebrate with a trip to France. The trip was in recognition not only of our anniversary but also the fact that all three of our children had completed college. We had seen the last of college tuition bills!

More about that trip in my next post.

Ocean Awareness

2009-07-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

I sent out this article in my Morr Creative Thoughts newsletter in June. Since I am following up on these thoughts in my blog now, I thought I should include this, too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As a lifelong Midwesterner, my memories of oceans stand out clearly as little vignettes because they are rare and distinct glimpses in my life. I grew up in Chicago, vacationed in Wisconsin, and went to college in Kansas. By the time I graduated, I was acutely aware that my life had a few missing pieces. I really needed to see a mountain, a desert, and an ocean.

Each took my breath away. The first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean was on the coast of Maine. I few years later my husband and I again visited the east coast, vacationing in Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Every time I waded into the ocean I felt exactly what I expected – freezing water. The large bodies of water I experienced in the Midwest, Lake Michigan and the lakes of Wisconsin were always freezing, even in the late summer. The difference was the salty feel of the ocean. I always had emerged from a lake feeling “squeaky clean;” I came out of the ocean feeling like a salted nut. (Insert your joke of choice here.)

Some people with a better understanding of geography than I have might have figured out that the water temperature would be different in different parts of the world or even in different parts of the country. But I was completely and happily surprised to feel the warmth of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. Who knew? Obviously, not I.

In the next few days, I will be posting some memories of oceans, mountains and deserts on my blog, www.morrcreative.blogspot.com . Please stop by and add comments on your experiences of different parts and features of the world.

Glorious Imperfection: The Forgotten Key to Success by Christine Kane

2009-06-24T07:20:00.000-07:00

"Anything worth doing is worth doing badly."

- Julia Cameron

How many activities do you sit and think about doing? How many things would you love to try but stop yourself because you don't know how to begin? Do you avoid adventures because of the pressure to do them well?

Yea?

Well, then, it might be time to explore one of my favorite success principles:

Glorious Imperfection!

Glorious Imperfection means that doing it badly is better than not doing it at all. As my friend and mentor Lisa Sasevich says, "Build the plane as you're flying it!"

Lessons from Imperfect Camping

My husband and I love camping. Even more than we love camping, we love the idea of camping.

Two summers ago, some friends gave us all of their camping equipment. Tents, stoves, tools - the works. We talked and talked about how great it was to get all this free stuff.

Then - we didn't go camping.

We live in one of those outdoors-y, rafting, climbing, "my extreme outdoor sport beat up your extreme outdoor sport" regions. We were intimidated!

So, one weekend, I made reservations at a campground. I called it the "Imperfect Camping Weekend." My husband was on-board instantly.

Imperfect Camping meant that we could go to a campground, even though "real camping" only happens in the wilderness!

Imperfect Camping meant that we could leave our site and go get a lighter if we forgot one.

Imperfect Camping meant that we got along much better because we didn't have to do it all perfectly.

Imperfect Camping meant that we actually went camping, rather than just talking about it.

In other words, it was more important to do it than to do it well.

Lots of things are like this.

The "Usta-Be's"

One of the best times for Glorious Imperfection is when you've got a case of the "Usta-Be's."

"I used to be so much better at this."

"I used to be so much thinner than I am now."

"I used to write every single day, and it got so easy!"

And on and on we go - all the while never starting the very thing that might move us beyond our stuck-ness.

The "usta-be's" are a trap!

Sometimes I travel so much that I get off schedule with my work-outs. So, I created Imperfect Work-Outs. This means that, upon my return, I only do 15 minutes on the elliptical. It means that I only do one set of reps with my weights. It means that the voices shout, "You usta-be so much better at this! You used to go 45 whole minutes on that elliptical!"

I continue my Imperfect Workouts while these voices shout - but at least I'm taking action.

Why Does it Work?

Because Glorious Imperfection is a way of setting intention. It lets your ego know that you would rather do the activity than wait until you can do it flawlessly.

When you begin a project and you lower the bar - or better yet, remove it altogether - then you're free to create without any grade. Ironically, this allows for such freedom and joy that you often end up doing a great job. (Or at least having a great time.)

When you demand perfection from the start, then your attention isn't on the activity itself. Your attention is drained in the perpetual "how'm I doing?" analysis.

For instance, in the camping example, if I had pushed us to "GO CAMPING," then my standards for what camping is "supposed to look like" might have taken over.

Rather than enjoying camping - I might have been thinking, "We're not doing so good. Look at those people at the campsite next to us! They're so prepared! And I forgot to pack the lighter!"

I'd probably end up nit-picking my husband, which would make us both stressed. Then we'd be even more resistant to going camping again - which is something we both love to do, even though we're not great at it!

An Imperfect List of Things You Can Do Imperfectly

- Imperfect Vacations

- Imperfect Writing

- Imperfect Blogging

- Imperfect Marketing

- Imperfect Dinner Parties

- Imperfect Meditation

- Imperfect Yoga

- Imperfect Hiking

- Imperfect Scrapbooking

- Imperfect Cooking

- Imperfect Bowling

(There are, of course, some things that might not be good for allowing imperfection. Brain surgery, piloting a

commercial jet, and skydiving come to mind!)

_________________________________________

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

Look in Your Own Back Yard

2009-05-31T12:54:00.001-07:00

Beautiful weather has finally reached the Midwest. It is time to get out an enjoy it all. At the very end of last summer I did something breathtaking. Finally after living in Chicago all my life, I took the Chicago Architecture Foundation river boat tour. My cousin, Jane, was the docent and taught me more about Chicago architecture than I had previously acquired in my whole life.

The 1909 plan for the City of Chicago created by Daniel Burnham called the city "Paris on the Prairie. "Having seen Paris for the first time the summer before, (I am getting adventurous in my empty-nest life) I dare to say Chicago might be prettier. Believe it or not Paris has lots more graffiti. But back to the Architecture Foundation tour. It is a "must see" for anyone who lives or visits here! Enjoy!

I love this blog!

2009-05-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

I recently started reading Christine Kane's blog. She is a very creative lady--an author, song writer, singer and speaker. This post on her blog is excellent for anyone who wants to get his or her groove back!

http://christinekane.com/blog/momentum-mania-how-to-get-your-groove-back-in-7-simple-steps/

Mother’s Day Tribute – Things My Mom Did Right

2009-05-04T14:31:00.000-07:00

Mom made me feel special.

When I was four years old, my big sister went to afternoon kindergarten, and my little brother took an afternoon nap. That meant I had Mom all to myself and she made that time very special. We had tea parties in the kitchen.

She would call my toy telephone from the kitchen – ring… ring. I would answer in the living room. When she invited me to come for tea, I had a big decision to make. Would I go alone leaving my baby dolls with my “Mother Law” or bundle them into my little buggy and bring them along?

Visiting my Mom as it we were two young moms, I felt I was one of Mom’s best friends not just one of the kids. I became a special friend to a special lady.

Mom was my best cheerleader.

Whenever life got me down, my mom was the one who told me I was doing a great job. Without encouraging vanity, she would praise my appearance, my mothering, my decorating, my hard work, and my accomplishments.

I treasure one of the last things Mom said to me before her death. I knew the end was near when she said I had turned out to be a good woman. It sounded like she was summing up the results of her hard work. She was proud of me.

Mom taught me to love writing.

Mom was a writer and obviously enjoyed every minute of it. She would read her work out loud sharing the love of a well turned phrase, a witty bit of dialogue, or a beautiful description. We especially loved the humorous pieces she wrote. Mom demonstrated the initiative that is essential for a freelance writer and the creativity that adds beauty to life.

Mom taught me to be a good mother.

These are just a few of the things Mom taught me by her example. I think the best thing she taught me was how to mother my own children. I’m sure I’ve made mistakes along the way as all moms do, but I tried to practice the good things I learned from Mom. I hope my kids will be able to look back and say their mom did a few things right.

What did your mom do right? What are you doing right as a parent?

Mother's Day

2009-04-28T19:45:00.000-07:00

Every night
Every day
I become my mother
In a whole new way.

How are you becoming your mother or father?

Why I Start My Day with My Journal

2009-04-16T07:39:00.000-07:00

Some people write in their journal in the evening, unwinding and reflecting on their day. I prefer to start my day with my journal using it to make it a great day. Here is how I use my journal to set a positive mood for the day.

I get worries out of my head. "Sufficient unto each day are the worries thereof." (I know it's from the Bible, I just can't remember the book and verse.) Sometimes I wake up anticipating the troubles that might crop up and without my journal I might be off on a day of worry and wheel-spinning. To cut anxiety short, I open my journal and start pouring out all that worry onto the page. My worries are short-circuited. The act of writing down a worry lets my brain knows I am not going to forget about it. There is no need to keep reminding me, no need to dwell on it. What’s more I use my journal to brainstorm possible solutions.

I focus my thinking. I can plan my day on paper. It doesn’t mater if I use my journal to write a To Do list, a shopping list, or just think about how I am going to handle the day’s tasks. My journal gives me a place to think before I jump into my day with both feet.

I write affirmations. To put myself into a positive state of mind, I write affirmations in my journal. I don’t wait for anyone else to say what I need to hear. I know what I need and I write that positive thought five times. As the thought flows from my brain to my hand to the page in front of me, it takes residence in my being.

I daydream on paper. This is one of my favorite ways to use my journal. It is almost like a stream-of-consciousness affirmation. I write about what I would love to be doing – my ideal life. I describe in detail where I would be, what I would be doing, who would be with me. I describe my ideal habits. The more I write about these ideas, the better I see ways to make them real.

When I daydream about exercising every day, I am reminded that that is possible. I don’t have a personal trainer, but nothing is stopping me from taking the dog for a walk as soon as I finish writing. I picture myself in a warm, sunny place in the winter, and I know that I can’t afford a month in the desert. I can afford a visit to my daughter in Denver which is always warmer than Chicago, and has the added benefit of allowing me to see her and her family.

That's the way I like to journal. What about you?

First ezine article

2009-04-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the report on the 30 Articles in 30 Days seminar.

It was great fun. Meggin McIntosh and Gini Cinningham sparked all kinds of creative ideas. And putting the new techniques and materials to work has already paid off. Ezinearticles.com has already accepted the first article I wrote during the workshop. I also generated ideas to write about for my blog, my newsletter and other outlets for months to come.

I also feel prepared now to become as a guest columnist for other people's blogs. So if you need an article, just let me know!

As you know...If you are a writer, it is more fun to write than not write!

Old Lady Shoes

2009-04-07T10:11:00.000-07:00

Check out my post on the 50-something Moms Blog.

Writing Fast and Furiously

2009-04-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm just so excited about writing these days. I have a few different projects in the works, and some of my clients have some very interesting projects going on. Last night we all had a great time working on our books. Deb DiSandro and I are leading a workshop called, "How to Write a Book the Slightly Off Way" (in honor of Deb's business - www.Slightly Off.com). Deb and I and a group of our writers participated in a teleconference with a great literary agent. After providing us with excellent written material and some general information, he invited each of us to tell him about the books we are working on. He then gave each of us specific advice on making our books more appealing to a publisher. What a great surprise that was.

Saturday, I am taking a seminar called, How to Write 30 Articles in 30 Days. I'm making up for all the years when I was too busy with technical writing to write about things I like! It time to start looking at writers conferences for the summer, too. Someday I want to go to the famous Maui Writer's Conference, and maybe a floating writer's conference on a cruise ship. Ah, so many dreams, so little time.

How Much Is Enough?

2009-03-30T06:31:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about this as we have been weeding out some of the "stuff" we have accumulated. See my post on the 50-something Moms Blog.

More on Morr Creative

2009-03-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I told you anything about what we've been doing at Morr Creative. So here is an update.

In the last month there are few notable new ventures. For example, I gave my first professional speech. In fact if you are open-minded enough to entertain the idea that you can speak as a professional even if you are not paid, then I gave TWO professional speeches. The first speech (unpaid) was presented to a Rotary Club about writing for one’s business. The other, for which I was paid, was presented to my friend Deb DiSandro's writing class. Deb invited me to speak to her aspiring writers about "shepherding" a book through the self-publishing process. That was really fun, not because I was paid but because I enjoy book shepherding so much.

Another first is that I finally sent out a newsletter for Morr Creative. I had wanted to do that for a long time, but I kept putting it off because I was waiting until I could to it perfectly. And we all know where that perfection path leads. So I finally just wrote an imperfect column and sent it out. It was a great weight off my shoulders. Now I can go ahead and write another one. Imperfection is very freeing!

Phil has been regularly serving as that important “second pair of eyes” that every writer needs. He checks all the client work (as opposed to personal stuff like this blog) that goes out from Morr Creative. It’s great to know he’s got my back. He is the best grammar and spelling cop ever. And Jane has pitched in to transcribe manuscripts. I am extremely impressed that she can type 90 words a minute! It seems that the time we spent in school working on penmanship has been replaced with keyboarding skills.

So that’s what new with me…. What’s new with you?

Two Great Blogs

2009-03-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Today I would like to recommend two great blogs I like to read.

The first blog is http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com/. In it Leah Ingram share tons of insight and tips for living on less without really sacrificing much. Her suggestions are practical, creative, and very environmentally responsible.

The second blog is http://blog.beliefnet.com/beyondblue/. In this blog Therese J. Bourchard shares the wisdom she has learned through her struggle to recover from depression. She is an inspiration because of her ability to keep going through the major hills and valleys her illness has put in her path.

Enjoy!

Furloughs May Be Just What We All Need

2009-03-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

Anita Bruzzese www.45things.com/blog.php wrote an excellent blog on Monday March 9. She commented on the rather new phenomenon of employees being asked to take unpaid days off in order to ease the financial strain on their employers. I'm sure there will be families for whom the lost wages will cause a strain. But there are sure to be those who welcome the respite from the long and demanding days that they have been enduring for years. It seems that the rules of furloughs forbid calling in for messages or checking e-mail, so furlough days are real day OFF.You don't feel obligated to keep in touch and to mentally keep working as many of us have on vacation, personal, or sick days.

Now that I own my own business, I find it hard to avoid checking e-mail several times a day even on Saturday and Sunday. I always want to respond quickly to any client or colleague.

This new furlough situation reminds me of the idea proposed by futurists back in the '60s when I started college. They predicted that computers would soon take over so many routine tasks for workers that the 40-hour work week would disappear. There would not be enough work to keep anyone busy for more than four 8-hour work days at most. I'm glad I didn't bet money on that prediction coming true.

Is it spring yet?

2009-03-07T09:04:00.000-08:00

We are out in Denver this week visiting our daughter. The sun has been shining and we have been walking around without coats! Ahhhh! Winter has been too long, too cold and too dark in Chicago. When I younger I used to hate February. By that time I was fed up with winter and thought if I could just make it to March, I would be fine. Now I have become a little more patient with February and I know the truth. It is March that is the tease. The calendar says that Spring starts, but we get a snowstorm. We get a balmy day, followed by freezing temperatures. The only thing I trust is the wind. The change of wind blows in the new season. Yes!

Do You Feng Shui?

2009-02-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

We have been doing a lot of redecorating with the intention of sticking our toes into the real estate waters. If there is someone out there who wants to buy our house, we think we are ready to downsize after 31 years in the same house. So we have had the floors refinished and four rooms have been painted. That means that we have moved five zillion pounds of furniture, books, boxes and the contents of five closets.That also means that our house has been torn up for four full weeks.

I attended a lecture about Fueg Shui last week. The speaker told us that if your surroundings are arranged in a balanced peaceful manner, that enhances the flow of "chi" or good energy. If on the other hand your surrounds are not balanced Feng Shui-wise, you are going to experience "cha" or bad energy.

A couple of days ago I noticed that I have been really tired lately. OK, it's just possible that all that furniture moving contributed to this feeling. But I'm convinced that the piano in the dining room, two small dressers in the bathroom, and a couple of rolled up rugs in the family room are giving off MAJOR CHA.

I can't wait to be finished!

Read a Great Post

2009-01-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs is Cindy La Ferle’s Home Office <"http://www.laferle.com/">. She has written an EXCELLENT post on perfectionism. Please go read it. Meanwhile, I will work on writing a less than perfect but somewhat interesting post for this blog. Enjoy.

It’s Hard to Come Back

2009-01-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

When you fall off the blogging wagon, it’s hard to get started again. You feel like you have to explain where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.

Well, there’s no exciting story about why I haven’t been blogging. I just got busy with the holidays. My Morr Creative Writing Services business became very busy. Blogging was in the back of my mind but I was feeling a little undecided whether I should write something for this one first or for the “50-Something Mom’s Blog” first. I really owe them because I fell off that wagon even earlier than this one.

Anyway, I’m back with no great explanation, but with a resolve to try to write something at least every couple of weeks.

Oh, I guess I do have a bit of an excuse because I have been writing a book of my own and a workbook to use in my budding speaking career. So, maybe those projects will be the subject of my next post. Cheers!

More Gratitude

2008-11-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

Continuing my alphabetical list of things for which I am grateful.

e-mail -- Really! It simplifies getting in touch with everybody!
Family, Friends and Faith -- Where would we be without them?
Graduations -- There is something so inspiring about recognizing those milestones, acknowledging all the work, reflecting on the experiences shared.
Humorists -- They don't get half the credit they deserve. Maybe I will list them again.
Humorists! -- They make me laugh. Since I love to laugh I am listing them twice!

more to come...

Time To Be Thankful

2008-11-17T18:41:00.001-08:00

I decided to get a head start on Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be thankful for, I am making a list. In alphabetical order, I am thankful for:

The Arboretum -- Just a few miles from my home is the Morton Arboretum. It is 1,700 acres more than 4,000 kinds of trees, absolutely beautiful every time of year.
Blueberries -- A super food that tastes super!
Cats -- Specifically the Lolcats foound on http://icanhascheezburger.com/
Dogs -- Mine, other people's, and especially puppies

more to come ...

What I have been up to lately

2008-11-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

Well, friends, I have spread my wings a little and posted a couple of blogs on the 50-something Mom's Blog. If you would like to read those posts, look here and here.

Who You Callin' Old?

2008-10-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I told friends of the ignominy of overhearing a stock clerk in the local drugstore alerting another employee that "There's a little old lady at the counter!" Little old lady!! I was wounded! I'll admit to being 5 feet tall and I am certainly a lady, but OLD? Well, what wouldn't I tell that young whipper-snapper if I weren't a lady!

But my outrage was topped by Larry's. It seems he and his wife had gone to help their daughter with her new baby. "They sent me to the store for Pampers," he told us. "When I told a stock boy I was looking for diapers, he showed me to the Depends!"

Um, Larry wins.

More Favorite Quotations

2008-10-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

A friend may well be reckoned a masterpiece of nature. Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Theresa

And I just saw this one. I especially like it because of our experience at Lourdes. See A Lesser Miracle at Lourdes.

Sometime our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. Albert Schweitzer

The Nest Isn't Quite Empty

2008-09-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Our youngest moved to her first apartment on September 1. We helped with the move, which of course took place on a day when the temperature was over 90 degrees. I think there is some sort of law that prohibits moves on days when the temperature ranges between 25 and 85 degrees but I probably will have to look that up.

She has visited us. We have visited her, and a lot of adjusting has been taking place. But I can't say the nest is empty. I keep thinking of the sweatshirt my brother-in-law wore the day after his daughter's wedding. It was emblazoned with the words "The nest isn't empty until their things are out of the basement." At the rate we are going it could take years and years. In fact we may just be carried out of here feet first on some distant day, and leave OUR stuff for the kids to deal with along with their own.

Mad Dogs, Englishmen and...

2008-09-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

Football fans! My husband Phil and I joined more than 80,000 of our closest friends for the first football game of the 2008-2009 season at the world-famous Ohio State University horseshoe stadium Saturday. I don't know how the players felt, but 508 degrees is definitely too hot to sit in the stands. Seeing the alumni marching band members, drum majors and cheerleaders added a great dimension to game! But you had to feel a little sorry for the Youngstown State Penguins. Not only did the football team lose 43 to 0, but the marching penguins graciously agreed to perform their halftime musical selections after the second half of the game. This made it possible for the alumni and current marching bands to perform four simultaneous "Script Ohios" during halftime. (Even as white-haired, wiry old men, those drum majors can still do the high steps and catch flying batons!)

The only problem was that, by the time the game was over, the fans were more than WELL DONE! And most were LONG GONE!! Sorry Youngstown, I hope to see your band sometime in the future. Try for a day when the temperature is below 80... and a little cloud cover would be great.

A Lesser Miracle at Lourdes

2008-08-15T07:44:00.000-07:00

Thousands of pilgrims flock to Lourdes this year for celebration of the150^th Jubilee at the shrine in the Pyrenees mountains in France celebrating the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette and her two little cousins. I visited the shrine last year with my husband Phil and our daughter Jane. It was my first visit to a renowned shrine, and I didn’t know quite what to expect.

As the train from Paris neared the Lourdes, I was surprised to see a very large Russian Orthodox priest in full colorful vestments stepping off the train before me. Until that moment, it never occurred to me that anyone beyond the Roman Catholic religion recognized the miracles of Lourdes. After checking in to the picturesque small hotel with its exquisite mountain views, we walked through the town out to the grounds of the basilica and shrine. Nothing of a commercial nature is allowed on the grounds of the shrine, but Jane and I were very distressed by the little main street of town stuffed with souvenir shops giving the area the touristy atmosphere of the Wisconsin Dells.

Once at the shrine, we followed the straggling line of pilgrims into the grotto. It didn’t look like pictures of the grotto I had seen as a child. The uneven ground like a shallow rocky pool had been paved with marble, and electric lights illuminated the interior of the grotto. I saw everyone ahead of me touched the wall where holy water ran down from a little spring. I did the same. I had secretly hoped to feel some sort of spiritual reaction, but was disappointed that the only sensation was contact with cold water.

We briefly visited the Basilica and said a few prayers. We decided to return in the evening for the candlelight procession and rosary. I had recently heard a recording of Dr. Wayne Dyer extolling the great sharing of faith he had experienced in this very procession during his visit to the shrine. As he is known to be a student of religions, his description became even more impressive.

We returned after dinner, this time with umbrellas and raincoats as the weather looked threatening. We each carried a tall taper with paper collar to catch dripping wax. While we waited for the crowd to assemble into a line, a light drizzle began. We lit our candles and joined the procession around the square. Together the huge crowd prayed the rosary out loud in French, English, German, Spanish, and Italian. We sang Salve Regina and Immaculate Mary.

The rain grew steadily in strength as we walked until it became a downpour. Even with umbrellas protecting the candles, flame after flame was extinguished by the rain. In spite of candlelight dimming, I felt a little flicker of warmth in my heart.

Together as we prayed and walked, over and over strangers reached out to one another to relight dowsed flames. We became a congregation, a community. We shared our light with one another, and I connected with all those strangers. We supported each other in faith and in hope. It was worth the trip.

Psst – Shop on Tuesday. Don’t Pass It on.

2008-08-05T13:47:00.001-07:00

Now that I am working for my own business, my hours are more flexible. I’ve discovered that there are a lot of advantages to taking a break in the middle of a weekday to do errands. The jury is in: Tuesday seems to be the best day for shopping, post office and general all round errand running. Stores, the library, and the post office are less crowded, traffic is lighter, and it’s much easier to find a parking space.

In our new-found fervor for saving fuel and reducing our carbon footprints, I’m sure that my personal Shop On Tuesday Campaign is going to make life better for me. I invite you to join me. But don’t tell more than 100 people. If everyone starts doing it, Tuesdays will become the new Saturday and then I won’t know what to do.

Friendship Day

2008-08-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the first Sunday in August is Friendship Day? It was declared so by the United States Congress in 1935.

So, Friendship Day is coming up this Sunday. What will you do to observe the day? It might be a great time to call an old friend you haven’t talked with in a long time. Or you could send an e-mail to all those you consider friends and tell them how special they are. Don’t forward one of the ready-made e-mails with hearts and roses and angels. Just a few sincere words to say, “I’m glad you’re in my life” is so much better.

Whether you honor them today or Sunday or on any other day, do cherish those friends!
They are more precious than gold! Those wonderful people reflect on who you are. Shakespeare said it best of course: “We are advertised by our loving friends.”

Want to read more about Friendship Day? Take a look at http://www.friendshipday.org/

Great Wisdom & Humor

2008-07-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

A hobby I really love is collecting great quotations. Here are a couple of my favorites:

“Just trust yourself. Then you will know how to live.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat.” Albert Einstein (Did you know he was a humorist, too?)

Nothing New Under the Sun

2008-07-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

Don’t you hate being predictable? I had been waiting to get into gardening. I had this notion that I couldn’t tackle the outside of the house until I “finished” or at least “caught up on” the inside of the house.

Every spring I would put a couple of geraniums in pots and promise, “pretty soon”… “not this year but soon.” I would keep trying to slog away at the clutter, and paint the woodwork, fold the laundry, and so on and so on. Meanwhile I would pore over gardening books and magazines and imagine what I would do with the garden when I finished the house.

After living in said house for more than twenty years, it finally dawned on me that unless I had some sort of personality transplant, I will never finish the house. Or even get caught up. I am “housekeeping-challenged” and I have accepted that. So I finally decided to start on the garden. I started by literally carving out some garden space in the front of the house, two-foot square by two-foot square, I cut patches of grass out in front of the evergreens with a paring knife. I lifted out the grass and kneaded each clump to work out the dirt. I couldn’t wait to dig out the whole bed before starting to plant. So square by square, after the grass was out, I worked in some peat moss and added new top soil, I planted a perennial and added a pink geranium for color. I finished off with pine mulch and admired my work.

It felt great. I loved being outside in the sun. I loved working the dirt with my fingers, and I loved how the little patches looked when I was finished. After I had been at it for a few days, my neighbor from across the street stopped by. “Wouldn’t that go faster if you rented a sod cutter?” she suggested. “Probably,” I replied, “but I like doing it with my hands. It’s therapeutic,” I said with no irony in my voice.

I felt so creative. I had not just planted some flowers; I had not just discovered gardening. I had INVENTED gardening. I had had a similar experience once before. When I gave birth to my first daughter, I was heady with the knowledge that I was the first human being to invent the whole processes of child bearing. Now I knew that no one before me had experienced the wonder that comes from that special communion with nature that produces a beautiful flower bed.

What intoxication! This was the cure for all forms of frustration or melancholy. Just get out there with those garden tools, and in minutes blue moods would be banished. The physical benefits were equally health-giving; surely the digging, bending, lift, standing, kneeling, walking, carrying would bring a new trim to my waist even as they brought roses to my cheeks and to the garden.

I was in love. I was so clever.

Within weeks I read that baby boomers by the millions are taking up gardening. Those of us born between the years of 1946 and 1964 can’t seem to do anything alone. Whether it is attending rock concerts, growing long hair, dropping out of school, or discovering the joys of the garden, we do it in droves.

Keep the Old

2008-07-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Vickie and Dave moved in next door when their youngest daughter, Randi, was 18 months old, exactly one week older than our Jane. When you are growing up, it just doesn’t get any better than having your best friend live right next door. The girls went through all kinds of milestones together: kindergarten, Brownies, going away to camp. They played basketball, coached by Randi’s dad, and swam on the local team for about seven years. They gave up swim team when they reached the age where they were expected to practice at 6:30 AM. At that point teenage love of sleep won out over athlete’s love of the sport.

As the years went on, the girls made more friends, developed different interests and were no longer inseparable. But they still had that special bond that you can only have with someone you have known all your life.

It seems like it was just a few years later that the girls were graduating from high school. There is a special section of the high school yearbook for which parents are invited to submit candid photos of their graduate with a parting wish or bit of wisdom as they leave high school. At the time the pictures were due, my mother who lived with us passed away. The picture was forgotten as I was taken up with all that surrounds the death of a parent.

I never gave the yearbook another thought until Jane came home, smiling and thanking me for the great entry. That’s when I saw what Vickie had done for both of our girls. Two generations of extraordinary friends enjoyed a beautiful thought! Yes that's the entry that appeared in the yearbook.

Buddy Holly

2008-07-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the chance to see The Buddy Holly Story at a Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook. The glittery decor of red velvet everything and lots of crystal chandeliers Drury Lane makes every visit festive. The production featured excellent musicians and singers. The only thing that surprised me was the audience. Buddy Holly was the ultimate rocker, right? So his fans were kids, right? So what were all these old geezers doing in the audience?

I started watching American Bandstand when I was 7 years old. I remember running home from second grade to watch Dick Clark and all the cool teenagers celebrating rock and roll! Those were glorious days! For the next 15 years I could do all the new dances and could sing all the words to the top 40 singles. I was in the know. I expected the audience to be made up of all those rocking teenagers.

So why was I the only kid at The Buddy Holly Story? The crowd reminded me of the bunch I saw at the Paul McCartney concert at the United Center. Gray-haired grandma types and guys with canes and walkers made up seventy-five percent of that audience. It’s a mystery how, this late in the game, the great rockers are finding a new audience among senior citizens. I didn’t see that one coming.

Three Pages of Magic

2008-07-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

If you have looked at my profile, you know that The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is one of my all time favorite books. I discovered Julia about 12 years ago, and that book changed my life. The Artist's Way shows everyone how to access, or reclaim, their creativity. One of the tools Julia uses is what she calls morning pages. They are three pages of long-hand writing to be done first thing in the morning.

Ms. Cameron says she hesitates to even call this writing because that idea sounds a little intimidating. It's just the physical act of putting down on paper whatever comes into your head. It really does clear your head and eliminate some of the minutia that distracts you during your day. I'd like to say I have been doing morning pages every day for 12 years now, but I'd be lying. My real life doesn't work that way, and maybe yours doesn't either. But I can say that every day that I do write morning pages, I feel better when I have finished. I can also say that the more consistent I am about it, the better I feel. I actually do become more creative, more focused and happier.

So read the book, or just start writing. It's a real day brightener!

copyright © Dianne Morr

While You’re Waiting to Feel Better

2008-07-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

According to a new survey, Baby Boomers are the least happy generation. I have experienced depression myself and I have learned a few things to do that make me feel better. (Clinical depression also requires medical care, but these tips help till the treatment takes effect.)

It is easier to get out of bed if I have clothes ready to wear. I have a favorite year-round outfit that I try to keep ready to wear at all times. If I wake up feeling like I don’t want to get out of bed let alone go to work, knowing I have something ready to wear keeps me from pulling the covers over my head.

Flowers make me feel better. I can sometimes find an African violet for a dollar or a mixed bouquet for five. Then I’m doubly cheered by the flowers and the bargain! My favorite is the Amaryllis kit available at Christmas time. The dramatic shape and color brightens dreary winter days.

Writing down my thought calms my racing mind. Sometimes my brain starts ruminating over old worries. Sometimes new fears stir up anxiety. If I pour it all out onto paper, I can relax. I keep a spiral notebook on my bedside table. If I wake up anxious, 20 minutes of writing puts me in a much better frame of mind.

Darn it! Exercise does work! I resisted it for years. But when I finally tried getting at least three aerobic workouts a week, I found that I felt much better, even in the winter.

Making something beautiful pays tremendous dividends for me. I don’t make crafts regularly, just when I’m on vacation or I need a lift. When I make a piece of jewelry or a floral arrangement, or stamp and paint a flower pot, I enjoy the process as well as the product. I feel creative and satisfied. And I enjoy those feelings all over again whenever I look at my creation.

I’ve learned how to find a laugh. Laughs are waiting in the cartoons in New Yorker magazines, and in the Reader’s Digest fillers. I can find them in old movies. A few of my favorites are “What’s up, Doc?” “Bringing up Baby,” and “Breaking Away.” I keep a humorous tape or CD in the car for those times when the news on the radio is just too grim.

Getting a massage is a sure-fire, makes-me-feel-better- every-time plan. Massage is one of those special things that release endorphins, your body’s natural antidepressants. After a massage I feel relaxed, pampered, and rested in mind and body.

A green spot can beat the blues. There is a great little wooded spot that makes me feel wonderful as soon as I step into it. It feels cool and the sun shines through the leafy canopy. Sometimes a doe is relaxing there, and we sit quietly enjoying the peace. When I can’t get there in person, I close my eyes and imagine it. I feel the peace again.

Phoning a friend can take my mind off myself. Everyone likes to catch up with a friend now and then. This especially counteracts the blues that come with feelings of loneliness.

Prayer can work wonders. Turning to the Friend who is always there can lighten any burden. Quietly repeating a short prayer helps me to relax. I may not feel an instant answer to my prayers, but eventually comfort comes.

It Really Does Take a Village

2008-06-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

Mother told me that you can’t improve circumstances for your children without improving the circumstances of the other children in the community. She took that to heart creating our parish school’s first library, arranging for a Vietnamese exchange student to teach French lessons to the girls in the neighborhood, and volunteering to direct plays after school.

My husband and I followed her example when our children were young, doing our part with Girl Scouts, Little League, religious education, and happily hosting our son’s garage band for years. Every chance I got, I encouraged all the young people to do what they loved and follow their dreams.

A reward came last Saturday when my son reported that he had connected with Steve the drummer, an old high school friend he hadn’t seen in years. Steve has become a successful businessman. He told my son that after completing his bachelor’s degree, he started a business based on an idea that had come to him at our home back in their old band days.

I couldn't wait to hear how the warm creative atmosphere of our home had so inspired this young man.

It seems that one day when they were sitting on the deck taking a break from music, Steve thought, “Boy, this deck could do with a power wash and seal.” His next thought was, “I’ll bet I could make money doing that!”

And now he does. Yes, it’s true. It does take a village. Glad to help.

Just the Day Job!!

2008-06-23T20:23:00.000-07:00

I suppose I should clarify -- When I say I retired, I am referring strictly to my day job. I have not retired from Morr Creative. In fact I am having more fun than ever working on my Morr Creative projects. Check out my new Friendship Project on morrcreative.com!

copyright © Dianne Morr

This Is New

2008-06-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning feeling 18 again! I had that adventurous feeling of a college freshman going out into the world to see what I would find, to climb mountains, seek my destiny, and reach for the stars. I just retired from my job.

What will I do now? The list is so long I hardly know where to begin. Just as I begin to decide, I think of one more thing to add to the list.

Writing this blog is just one of my adventures. Now that I am "free," I feel like going in a million directions at once. Stay tuned. I look forward to a fun ride!

copyright © Dianne Morr

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Keep the Old

Buddy Holly

Three Pages of Magic

While You’re Waiting to Feel Better

It Really Does Take a Village

Just the Day Job!!

This Is New

Enjoy this excellent article by
creativity consultant Christine Kane.