100 DAYS OF CREATIVITY

Hi Everyone! It just dawned on me that its May! Which means... It will be time for that good ol gnarly 100 days of experiencing the confusing duality of agony and joy! Whoops I mean 100 days of creativity..... 

Contrary to my project last year, I have no idea what the next one is going to be yet! One thing is for sure though, it requires a fair bit of pre-planning and space creating. But its worth it! Its such a phenomenal journey. Plus the chance to meet and exhibit with other 100 Dayers is super rewarding! So If you are thinking of giving it a shot too, lets go for it and enjoy the ride. It starts on the 22nd of May and registration ends this Sunday.

Here's a lil interview of the last project and the feedback on the learnings and experiences from it. Will be interesting to see if the next round entails something similar or totally opposite.

PROJECT TITLE:
The vitality of Life is in staying a verb.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The aim of the project was to simply to collect verbs from different people. This was done by asking each person the question “If you aspired to be a verb, what verb would that be?”. From there, documenting those verbs as beautifully as possible everyday.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE PROJECT THAT APPEALED TO YOU:
The project was inspired by something the poet Mark Nepo said. That “We often get told be a noun, but the vitality of life is in staying a verb”. This really struck me because yes, we are so conditioned to identify our self in labels based on what we do when really, life is about staying in action. I wondered what our thoughts, actions, conversations with ourselves and others would look like if instead of aspiring to become for eg. a designer. We aspired to express, to create, to heal, to inspire. The possibilities from this would be so much more exciting! 

WHAT CHANGES (IF ANY) HAS THE PROJECT HELPED BRING ABOUT FOR YOU?
To not be picky and perfectionist. Instead to just do what you can and get it done. 

BEST THING/S ABOUT 100 DAYS:
The push to stay consistent. 

WORST THING/S ABOUT 100 DAYS:
The push to stay consistent.

CAN YOU SHARE A MOMENT OF INSIGHT (ABOUT THE CREATIVE PROCESS, OR SOMETHING PERSONAL ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF THE PROJECT)?
Turns out collecting 100 verbs from 100 actual people is not easy..  We are so not used to thinking of ourselves in verbs that it took most of us aaages to think of one or two or even 3. So while 90% of the verbs are based on real people answers some are just randomly picked verbs that I liked the sound of. This is where having to just get on with whatever I had and not being perfectionist about it is my biggest creative lesson from this project. Sometimes you just have to get on with it no matter what.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE DAY OR MOMENT?
Many Moments:
When you got through your design/designs quicker then the time you blocked out for it. 
How the question really got people thinking
Getting different/unexpected verb answers
Getting to know people at a deeper level through their answers.
Both my husband and I participating in it, working together and keeping each other motivated.

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU CONSIDER GIVING UP?
None

IF YOU COULD PASS ON ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING DOING THE PROJECT, IT WOULD BE: 
Keep it simple. Keep on trucking. Don't be too picky or perfectionist. Getting it done and out is just as rewarding. 

NUMBER OF DAYS OUT OF 100 COMPLETED:
100

With lots of love and a massive splash of joy

Akriti
Your creative curiosity advocate


Ps. You can register for your 100 days project here! http://100daysproject.co.nz

Duu... dudu. dududu. dudududu dududuuuu…

Hi everyone! So the last few weeks I have been in a worry wart funk. And the more I worried, the more I seemed to sandwich myself between a rock and a hard place. And the less I seemed to be getting done.

So here I was worrying and wracking my brains about what to write about in this blog. I usually like to write about my most recent experiences with stuff. But lately it seems like the speed of experiences is much faster than the brains ability to make sense of it..

So as I stare into the void of my computer screen, I hear a soft tune floating in through the window, from somewhere in the distance.. duu... dudu. dududu. dudududu dududuuuu… dududu dududuuuu…. dududududuuuu. And suddenly the stress started to melt away.

In case you strangely can’t make out what tune that is by reading it. It is the intro to the song ‘Don’t worry, Be happy’ by Bobby McFerrin. So I think for this blog. I would just like to share with you all, the awesomeness that is this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU

Enjoy!

If you are feeling stressed at any point, you know what to hum… ;) Sometimes it helps.

With lots of love and a massive splash of joy

Akriti
Your creative curiosity advocate

BE THE MANTIS

Hi everyone! Welcome to our first blog of the year! And we are almost through February already! Say What! Today I thought I would share my experience of the year so far. I would like to say it’s been inspired and motivated, but actually it’s been quite the contrary and frankly, pretty cray cray!

Recently I have been experiencing this thing both professionally and personally, where I am overloaded with so much new and unexpected information that it gets mega overwhelming because you don’t know what to do with it. Or, what it all means for you.  And the more you try to figure it out, the more you seem to be sacrificing your spirit to the flayling headless chicken! Until you finally scream and give up! Then the next day, somehow, you are calm, know exactly what to do and are baffled by why it wasn’t this obvious before!

Kind of like when you sit down at your computer determined and ready to smash through that project or design or writing like a boss. Instead, just end up constantly moving things around just ever so slightly and not get anywhere. Until you finally step away from it and come back with a fresh eye and perspective, knowing exactly what to do and so it takes care of itself quickly.

This experience made me realize a pattern and reacquaint myself with a few things. One being this thing.

Over-thinking: The art of creating problems that don’t exist.

Secondly, that sometimes action is important but sometimes taking time out is just as important. That stepping away from the problem isn’t weakness but instead can set up wisdom.  So I can return to the problem with a higher and better perspective, which always leads to better solutions and also without compromising self care. It allowed me to be more receptive than reactive with both myself and my work.

Also, I have been seeing praying mantis everywhere! They have been officially appointed as my spirit animal! Turns out, that the praying mantis is a symbol of stillness and patience. Duh! Kung Fu Panda! I should have known this!

So if anyone else is in the same boat, where the goals, projects, life are feeling just too hard. Maybe just be the Mantis. Be still for a while and enjoy it. 

With Love and a massive splash of joy

Akriti
Your Creative Curiosity Advocate.