Tag Archives: Self-Discovery

Speaking of thriving and purpose

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The image below was taken in Grand Teton National Park, at my favorite spot there along Cascade Creek. Totally worth the 6-mile hike to get there.

Take a moment right now to breathe, center yourself, and soak up the serenity of this image and these words:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

–Marianne Williamson, from A Return to Love

I broke it out of paragraph form because each line is significant. This is my favorite quotation, which knocked me flat when first I read it in my early twenties. Me? Powerful? Me? Shine? Me? Liberated from fear? Me? A child of God? (I was really, really angry with God and religion at that point in my life; Marianne Williamson was instrumental in melting that iceberg of resentment I swam under for a long time). More than twenty years later, I’m still deeply inspired by these words as I learn to embrace and live them every day.

When we moved into our current home, I printed this quote along with a photo of the Teton range (my fave happy place). I taped it to our bathroom door (no idea why, but we did see it daily), where it remained for years, reminding me to shine. It’s since been replaced by a sign about farting posted by one of my kids, but I think it’s time to find a new space for these words, where we can all see them daily.

What do you think of this? What line(s) hit you the strongest? Do you have a favorite quote that picked you up right when you needed it most? Share it in comments, or write about it and share a link. And consider printing it up or writing it or painting it and placing it somewhere you can see it every day, to remind you of who you are and were always meant to be.

More on thriving and purpose tomorrow, when I’ll post the first in a video interview series I’m calling Go Forth and Be Awesome, featuring talks about finding your purpose and removing barriers to fulfilling that purpose. Tomorrow’s chat will be with Kate Swoboda, aka Kate Courageous, founder of Your Courageous Life and The Coaching Blueprint, an essential guide for emerging coaches. I’m so excited to share Kate’s wisdom and insight with you!

Gardening anyway

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Some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around the vegetable garden my dad made at the far end of our back yard. He grew lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, green beans, sugar snap peas, and corn. He dug and tended the garden himself, and I remember helping–particularly when it came to sampling those sugar snap peas. Dad didn’t garden because it was trendy, cool, or eco-anything. He didn’t extensively research gardening, and there were no online how-to’s because there was no Internet. His mother was a gardener out of necessity–I’m told she was out tending her plants the day dad was born at home (also out of necessity in 1930s rural Pennsylvania)–and he just went based on memory. He gardened because he grew up gardening with his mom. I may be romanticizing here, but I think he also gardened because it was a way of connecting with his childhood.

I’ve always resisted gardening. The bugs. The sweat. The sunscreen. The itchy hands when I forget to wear gloves, because I am allergic to everything. The seeming fruitlessness of it. All that work, and you just have to show up again the next day and work some more. It’s kind of boring. It’s not something that comes naturally to me. And yet, I find myself drawn to stories about gardeners and drooling over tantalizing magazine spreads about growing a rainbow of heirloom tomatoes, prepping a crisp, refreshing batch of gazpacho, and tips on canning your own garden-fresh salsas and pickles.

I’ve made a few runs at vegetable gardening, but always lost interest.

That whole ‘consistent commitment over time’ thing always got to me.

It’s a recurring theme in my life, and I’m sure in the lives of many others: Lasting change requires showing up every day, often for many, many days. A bewildering number of days, over and over again, regardless of whether inspiration or even inclination feels like hanging out with you. Lasting change isn’t sexy, it’s often boring, and it’s frustrating because you don’t always know what you’re doing and you feel inadequate and uncomfortable. This is true of lifestyle change (it took months of showing up and sweating and making choices to lose 35 pounds last year) and creative work (I woke an hour early for two months to produce 35K words in my current fiction work in progress).

I have learned over time to pay attention to the things I pay attention to. I’m attracted to gardening and stories of gardeners for a reason, and I figure now is as good a time as any to, ahem, dig into that a bit more. And so, without guidebooks or much direct knowledge beyond knowing that doing is far superior to fretting, planning, or wishing, I’m gardening. Last weekend, I rented a tiller, figured out how to work a massive piece of equipment with things like a choke and throttle and (gulp) emergency release, and hauled that bad boy out to the far end of our yard and dug us a garden. With the temps in the 90s this week, I’ve been heading out just before dinner and working for about 30 minutes. It may not seem like much, but it keeps me from feeling overwhelmed to just show up and dig out the sod row by row, day by day. I hope to have watermelon, cukes and tomatoes we’d started indoors this spring in by week’s end, and maybe to do a rabbit-proof fence after that. I should note that I have no idea how to build a fence; my gardening friends assure me it’s no problem. I’m not even sure why I’m doing this at all; my life is insanely busy right now. I may be romanticizing a bit, but I think it’s a way of holding on to those pieces of happy summer memories with my dad. The sting of missing him washes away in rivulets of sweat and the thought of eating tomatoes off the vine with my boys cheers me up. I think he’d be proud of this garden, and proud of me.

Is there something you’re avoiding because it overwhelms you (lack of knowledge/experience/education, amount of time required, need for perfect gear/conditions, something else)? Tell me about it. If a comment feels too short, email me. Tell me how things would change if you jumped in for a few minutes each day just to see what happens.

The Makearoo Newsletter No. 13: “What would ‘Makearoo Toni’ do?”

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Dad and my brother Stevie in one of my favorite family photos.
In case you were wondering about the origins of my weirdness.

Hello there, brave and beautiful weirdos!

Last night, I confided to my friend Lindsay that I do not want to work right now. “I just feel hollow. There’s nothing there. I can’t write.”

“What would Makearoo Toni tell you to do?”

“That’s a very good question.”

“I’m very good at asking those.”

Lindsay is a total keeper.

Back story: The last Makearoo Newsletter (click here to subscribe to the weekly-ish goodness) featured a recap of the incredible experience we had at the first Camp Makearoo. That weekend was the high point of my career, and I literally loved every moment. I knew that each of us who attended were exactly where we needed to be in that moment, and we each took full advantage of our time together. I took time off after camp to refill the well and hang with my kids, and my return to work included writing that recap and gearing up for the next Makearoo event. After I hit ‘send’ on that newsletter, I herded my three boys into our minivan and headed over to the hospital to visit my dad. He was having tests performed to determine the cause of some ongoing health issues that seemed to be getting worse. We had a nice visit and headed home to start dinner. About an hour later, I got a call from the head nurse asking me to return to the hospital ASAP.

When my family and I arrived, we learned my dad was gone.

His mind and spirit were sharp, ornery and weird as ever, but his body simply could not fight to stay with us any longer.

The rest is a blur of cousins and arrangements and responses and flowers and phone calls and stories and heritage and abundant measures of grace and gratitude. My family hunkered down and cried, laughed, broke bread, and shared memories. We compared bits of family history among my many cousins (Dad was the youngest of 15 kids). I actually enjoyed writing his eulogy; when you’re able to tell story after story of someone’s life and make a room full of people laugh, it says something about the person’s life. My dad lived like he meant it.

My very first memory on this earth is of my dad leaning into my crib, smiling down at me. My mom says he’d wake me–a sleeping baby–just to see me smile, then leave for work while I cried for someone to come and hang out with me. (As you may have guessed, Mom was not a fan of this particular routine.)

My last memory of my dad is of him saying “I love you too, Tone” when I left the hospital after our visit. He was happy, he looked great, he knew he was loved and well cared for.

As sad as I am at his passing, I feel blessed to have had him in my life for nearly 45 years. I’ve always been close with my parents and in-laws, and we all gather frequently to celebrate holidays and birthdays. I was lucky to have my dad walk me down the aisle at my wedding, and for my kids to get to know their grandpa (I never got to meet either of mine). Dad was the person who told me I didn’t have to practice law if I hated it–advice I eagerly heeded and never regretted. He also encouraged me to be self-employed, because I was just like him–independent-minded and disinclined to take orders (translation: ornery and weird; see the above photo if you’re not quite sure what I mean).

This week, I knew I needed to return to work. Only a fool would let all of the good will and mad momentum from Camp Makearoo slide down the drain. I’m an entrepreneur! I need to be on fire 24/7, upleveling and monetizing and prospering! So I woke at 5:45 Monday morning with a to-do list as long as my driveway, ready to conquer the world.

Instead, I sipped coffee and joked around with my kids. We made eggs. I thumbed through a stack of old magazines I’d been meaning to cull, cutting out pretty images and dreaming of a mountain getaway. I did laundry. I joked around with my kids some more. I did dishes. I sweet talked my parakeets, who are always totally on board with being wooed. I ate a bunch of junk food I don’t normally have in the house. I talked to my mom, who is hanging in there and then some (she’s even more ornery than Dad). I cried. I started this newsletter. I didn’t finish it.

So when I found myself on the phone with my friend Lindsay, confessing that the words and joy just weren’t coming–even though I needed them to–she asked what ‘Makearoo Toni’ would tell me to do.

It’s bad enough that I already talk to myself; just ask my parakeets. But I gave this some thought, and here’s what I came up with:

Don’t rush the grieving process. This is not the same as wallowing. My friend Lonna also called yesterday to see how I was doing (Lonna? Also
a total keeper). Lonna said that everyone processes grief differently and not to force things. If I didn’t feel like working, maybe I needed to listen to that, or maybe I needed to rest and work at a slower pace until I felt up to doing more. If I needed to eat for comfort, maybe I needed to do so a while longer. “The more I think about what I *shouldn’t* be doing, the more my mind wants to go there.” So what I’d tell myself is: You know all to well that when you try to force yourself to do things–whether eating healthfully, exercising, writing, or growing my business–that typically do better when fueled by joy, the process will feel like a punishment and the end results will fall flat.

Trust that you know what you need to do and that you will get where you need to be. That you know how to balance between healing and complacency, and effort and white-knuckle perfection-seeking. You know in your heart of hearts that if Dad could look back on his life and change anything, he’d give up worrying so much. Knowing this will help you release your tendency to worry and to simply keep doing and/or being as needed.

Momentum is vital, even during times like this. No matter how low you feel or crazy things get, you can make a brief to-do list every day and make sure to tackle the top three things on it. Keep on moving, even if movement is slow right now. Because anything is better than giving up. Dad wouldn’t have wanted that. He’d want you to enjoy your work like he enjoyed his.

You are the daughter of the two hardest working people you’ve ever known, and the greatest, most enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and genuine salesperson you will ever know. This is no small legacy, and you are fully capable of living up to it.

You are not here to be perfect. You are, however, here to get excited about cool stuff and share that passion with the world. You are also here to honor the imperfection and grace in all things, including the work we each know–secretly or otherwise–we were put here to do, and to help others learn to do the same. Nutshell: You are here to tell stories in your own imperfect, weird, ornery, and earnest voice, and every time you do, people will listen, they will respond, and they will join in your enthusiasm. Ripple effect, baby!

To my parents, I say: Thank you both for the very best parts of me. To you, my dear reader, I say: Thanks for supporting the Makearoo mission with every step you take toward making the cool stuff you know deep down you were born to create. Let’s work together on shouting about it to the rooftops. Let’s experience lives well lived.

What do you already know that can support you in your work and personal life right now? What dose of encouragement could you use for yourself
that you’re already giving to others? What would ‘Makearoo You’ do? Send your responses my way and I may feature them in an upcoming Makearoo Newsletter.
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Hungry for more Makearoo news, insights, and healthy doses of silliness?

Here’s a handy link to all of the past Makearoo Newsletters, and here’s the Makearoo Thing channel on Vimeo.
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ARE YOU READY TO MAKEAROO?

The next Camp Makearoo will be October 19-21st at The Abbey Resort!

Yep, we liked the venue so much we decided to stay. As one guest put it, “You drive up to the resort and just immediately feel relaxed.” I’ve chosen another ideal time of year for this event as the leaves are turning colors and the days are warm and sunny enough for a lakeside hike or stroll.

Are you ready to experience the power and magic that gathering with fellow creatives can bring?
Are you longing for more from your creative work and hungry to learnhow to break past your biggest barriers?
Do you like to laugh and enjoy beautiful surroundings?
Are you ready to make your uniquely cool stuff and share it with the world in ways that feel authentic to you
Do you want to help us bust the myth of the starving, solitary creative who must suffer for his/her art while waiting to be discovered?
It’s time to stop reading about Camp Makearoo and chart a course to get yourself there!

Register and grab your room, and get ready to rock your creative world!

CAMP MAKEAROO BRING-A-FRIEND DISCOUNT: If you have a friend, partner, or partner in crime you’d like to bring to Camp Makearoo, you each save $100 on registration! Contact Toni to get your twofer. And as always, email me if you have any questions.

Camp Makearoo Recap: “I loved every minute.”

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Creative souls communing at the Starline Gallery in Harvard, Illinois
Creative souls communing for an inspiring talk and tour at the Starline Gallery in Harvard, Illinois

Hello there, brave and beautiful weirdo! This is a repost of the 12th Makearoo Newsletter here on the blog.

FYI, in my world, ‘weirdo’ is high praise and one of the many perks of being a creative person. Tapping into our unique weirdness is one essential element of producing our best creative work. In fact, I have an upcoming e-course on this very topic, called Dare to be Weird, designed to help creative people embrace what makes them unique instead of assuming your quirks, work habits, and gifts are bizarre flaws to keep deeply hidden out of fear of judgment and/or rejection. Interested? Email me for more info and to sign up if you’re an early bird sort of person.

Camp Makearoo Recap
There are probably dozens of things that could have kept Camp Makearoo from happening. All of them relied upon me quitting. As I wrote on the blog before camp, I didn’t come anywhere close to filling seats like I’d hoped to when starting out, and I could have counted that a failure. I didn’t. My parents experienced a major health crisis two weeks before camp. I helped where I could, had a few healthy cries, and kept planning. I experienced about two dozen technical/logistical/financial glitches–including during the morning of Day 1–and I carried on in spite of them. A guest dropped out a couple of days before the event, deferring her attendance for a future camp. I kept working.

I could have quit. I could have let any one of those things stop me. But I had this idea for a gathering of weirdos that I couldn’t let go of, and I had three talented creative people with big hearts and even bigger dreams who were excited to attend this event. Giving up wasn’t even on my radar. And when I woke on May 18th, I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my life–including my wedding day. Speaking of weddings, my awesome husband Daniel–the biggest supporter of my creative work for the past 15 years–was on hand as the Camp Makearoo AV Guy, packing up computer and camera gear and gift bags for our guests and speakers so we could hit the road. I was nervous, but it was a great kind of nervous, if that makes any sense. The right kind of nervous. I’d released any attachments to perfection or ‘wowing’ anyone, deciding I was going to show up ready to serve and share with the people who were every bit as thrilled to be there as I was.


Packed and ready to lead with joy!


View of the harbor on Lake Geneva from The Abbey Resort


Cozy rooms for working on your creative projects throughout the weekend

Dr. Dawn Levitan talks about how relationships can shift when we head in the direction of our dreams.
Dr. Dawn Levitan of LifeScopes Coaching talks relationship shifts and healthy self-talk for creatives

I don’t think the weekend could have gone better. The only things I was lacking were a stylist (as you can see from all the beige in our gathering space!) and an event photographer. Lesson learned for next time: There will be color and fun in the Camp Makearoo environment! Ban the Beige!Another lesson learned: I am a one woman force of nature, but I can’t do it all. I’m a decent photographer, but I knew ahead of time that I’d be 100% focused on my guests and keeping Camp Makearoo running smoothly. So I set up my camera in the back of the room and asked my husband to grab some shots for me, because I knew I couldn’t be present in that sort of storytelling way during camp. I also set an intention to have an event photographer on hand for all future Camp Makearoo events so I won’t have to worry about capturing every moment of the weekend.


Mandy Page of Bold Types Coaching gets to the heart of our secret knowledge and how to tap into that creative power

Other than those two logistical issues which, despite their importance to me, did nothing to impede the quality of Camp Makearoo, the rest of the weekend was incredible. The people who attended were insightful, eager to make room in their lives to pursue their creative dreams, candid about their gifts, hopes and fears, and incredibly and uniquely talented in a variety of media (sewing, baking, interior design, writing, graphic design, etc.) The people who facilitated camp with me were just as talented, energetic, and eager to help our guests–we even had financial freedom coach Ginny Victory reach out to us via Skype (no technical glitches there, woo hoo!) and exclusive videos containing simple things you can do at your desk to either wake up or stay connected to Source from Ms. Mindbody Kate Hanley. It was so fun seeing the connections made between speakers and guests, and insights and ‘Aha! moments’ popping like flash bulbs at the Oscars. One guest remarked that she loved the total absence of ‘the guru thing,’ how each of us at Camp Makearoo–guests and speakers–was striving and working through our own stuff and there were no ‘hands-off’ expert types who floated above it all. We were all connected, regardless of where we were on our individual paths. That’s powerful stuff.


A Skype talk about money mindsets from Ginny Victory

I’ll give a brief recap of the schedule: Day one took a multidisciplinary approach, with guides tackling different facets of creative work (relationships, mind-body, blocks, owning your unique weirdness, money mindsets). Day two featured one-on-one sessions with our experts on topics important to our guests and a discussion of spreading the word about your awesome stuff without feeling like a douchebag. (This is where I’ll share one of my favorite moments: I made some kind of smart remark and one guest leaned over to another and said, with total affection and I suspect a hint of admiration: “She really has no filter whatsoever.” It’s funny because it’s true.) We then took an afternoon pause to rejuvenate or work on our creative projects and ended with a group dinner at The Abbey.


Blissfully perfect spring weather all weekend meant al fresco lunch and walks along the lake during down times(That’s my handsome AV guy, aka husband there on the far right)

We regrouped in the lobby early on the morning of day three for a super-secret excursion–a quick drive south to Harvard, Illinois for a talk and exclusive tour of the Starline Gallery by photographer, teacher, and marketing whirlwind Nancy Merkling. Nancy talked about her own creative process as a photographer (including resisting the classic line “it’s a great hobby, but . . . ” as she crafted a thriving career). We also discussed the gifts inherent in rejection, and why she started a monthly gallery event at the Starline based on community (no stuffy inner circles), freshness (new art each month) and fun (live music, Shakespeare plays in the elevator–yes, really–and wine paired with tasty eats) that’s grown beyond her wildest imaginings. She built this event and people from all around came to this tiny farm community way out on the outskirts of the Chicago area, despite the protests of the usual gang of naysayers who appear seemingly out of nowhere when someone announces an ambitious project.The takeaway: Hold the belief, execute it with smarts, heart, and fun, and people will pay attention–all things I believe with my heart and soul.

Next, we toured the entire Starline Warehouse, where they’re renovating to create more event space (including a chapel and bridal suite), galleries, an Internet cafe, and a full service, ‘no reservations’ restaurant. There were tons of photo opps as we walked through the bones of this enormous old factory, once home to a farm equipment manufacturer that was saved from demolition a decade ago by local entrepreneur and visionary Orrin Kinney. The combination of Nancy’s energetic talk and exploring the renovations in progress were both uniquely inspiring, and everyone had their cameras out and creative antennae extended–the perfect field trip for weirdos!


One of the hidden gems at the Starline – a central atrium maintained by an artist/landscaper who rents studio space at the gallery


Exploring the Starline Gallery renovations — what a gorgeous space!


Chapel organ installation-in-progress

We ended our last day together with a Camp Makearoo Gallery Showing. I’d snagged a sunny conference room overlooking the harbor, we ordered lunch (exploring warehouse/gallery renovations builds up an appetite!), and each guest (and speaker!) shared something they had created, talked a bit about the process of making it, and explained why it was awesome. I think getting to know each other over those three days made the sharing of our work that much more powerful. Some people shared their chosen works for the first time ever, and realized how vital it is to open up and share in an environment of trust. It was a powerful precursor to opening up and sharing our work with the world. And I think that ties into the personal and personalized marketing perspective I believe works so well for creatives and really any indie biz–when you have a sense of the human being that made the cool thing you’re itching to buy, you feel that much better about spending your money. You know you’re part of a cycle of good things.


A brave and beautiful Camp Makearoo guest shows some of his artwork during the Gallery Showing

All around, this was one of the very best experiences of my life and I had a blast from start to finish.We all learned so much. We discovered the inherent value in being in a room with people who are either in the same place in their creative journey or who are a bit further along, having busted through barriers to reach a place of joyful productivity. We also reveled in the mad energy of sharing our work with and gaining inspiration from our tribe–because creatives share many common traits, regardless of our chosen media. This idea was at the heart of Camp Makearoo from the outset–that just hanging with fellow creatives brings myriad benefits–and I was thrilled to actually experience what I already knew was true.We discovered that ‘talent is the least of our problems’ and that knowing you can make cool shit isn’t the same thing as actually making it and sharing it with the world in ways that feel authentic to us. We also learned the importance of going back and repeating that process over and over again, leading with joy and laughter because suffering for our art is no way to live or work.

And we began transforming our money stories, starting with forgiveness for our past money mistakes (because guess what? We’ve all made them!), new insights into smart risks (including taking on debt in some cases) and big, bold plans to earn enough to come out on top, because I am on a mission to bust the starving artist myth (and the suffering artist one while I’m at it), and I aim to bring all of you brave and beautiful weirdos with me in reshaping what’s possible for creatives.

Finally, the subject line of this newsletter is an actual quote from one of the guests at Camp Makearoo. We wrapped up the Gallery Showing, feeling invigorated and inspired by all of the incredible work produced by everyone in that room, but also sad because it was time to say good-bye. One guest walked up to me and said “I enjoyed every minute.” I really can’t ask for more than that, and I’m thrilled to have created the space to make that happen, knowing that the participation, insight, and honesty of our guests also helped make Camp Makearoo such a memorable and enjoyable experience.

If you’re reading this and thinking “Hey, I want some of that!” I’ve got great news for you:

A SUPER-AWESOME ANNOUNCEMENT!

The next Camp Makearoo will be October 19-21st at The Abbey Resort.

Yep, we liked the venue so much we decided to stay. As one guest put it, “You pull into the resort and just immediately feel relaxed.” I’ve chosen another ideal time of year for this event as the leaves are turning colors and the days are warm and sunny enough for a lakeside hike or stroll.

Are you ready to experience the power and magic that gathering with fellow creatives can bring?
Are you longing for more from your creative work and hungry to learn how to break past your biggest barriers?
Do you like to laugh and enjoy beautiful surroundings?
Are you ready to make your uniquely cool stuff and share it with the world in ways that feel authentic to you?
Do you want to help us bust the myth of the starving, solitary creative who must suffer for his/her art while waiting to be discovered?
It’s time to stop reading about Camp Makearoo and chart a course to get yourself there!

Register and grab your room, and get ready to rock your creative world!

And as always, Email me if you have any questions. I’ll be doing a couples/bring-a-pal discount oand referral bonuses, too!

The Weekend Stretch No. 1

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Welcome to a new feature on the Makearoo blog: The Weekend Stretch

Here’s how it works: On occasional Saturdays, I’ll write a post designed to stretch your creative muscles and get you thinking, working, or both. It may require some effort but it shouldn’t feel overwhelming or like something pressing down upon an already weighty to-do list. Use The Weekend Stretch to spread your wings, open up, get a little crazy and experiment, and have some fun with the creative side of your brain. Or don’t; your gut will tell you when you need to do stuff like this and when you need your time off to simply ‘be.’ If you work on weekends, don’t sweat it; jump in when you can on your off days and comment when you’re done.

This first Weekend Stretch is a fun assignment called “I Like…” As you can see from the image I’ve posted here, this is just a free-form list of stuff you like–stuff that both lights you up and feels like home. I wrote the list pictured here in a journal that I started in 2009 and just finished toward the end of this year.

A brief history about this journal and why this list of things I like is both meaningful and useful to me: I started writing in this journal when I began to feel like I’d lost my way as a self-employed writer. The joy was gone. I was still working, but dragging my feet every step of the way, leading an existence of resistance. Little did I know that the year ahead (2010) would hold many changes among my clients in the magazine publishing industry–changes that would mean less available work, often for reduced pay rates and fewer grants of rights to writers. My outer health reflected my inner misery; I was overweight, out of shape, my complexion was horrible and my diet and temperament weren’t much better.

I’m not quite sure why I started journaling; I think it was because I was a pretty sad panda and returned to a source of comfort from my younger days (I have journals from age 11 through my early 20s). It was also a nice break from my techno-based professional work and I enjoyed the thrill of a blank page and a good pen.

{Geeky gear interlude! My current fave writing implements: Paper Mate Flair felt tip pens in as many colors as I can get them. They can’t write on as many surfaces as Sharpies, but the don’t fade like I’ve found that Sharpies do; if they’ve improved, let me know in comments! I also love Pilot G-2 gel pens, also in as many different colors as I can find them. I love vibrant color. I use the Flair markers for our family calendar (each family member gets a color) and note-taking by hand in my office, and the Pilot gel pens are for journaling and note-taking by hand when I’m working off-site. My long-time fave paper journal: the 7″x10″ Canson Field Sketchbook. Delicious paper, truly. I’m not a fine artist and I can’t draw worth a damn (that’s not to say I’m not open to taking a class one day), and at first I felt silly having all these colorful pens. I also buy cute stickers when I see them on sale. “You’re acting like a 10-year-old-girl,” I’d think. Then I remember: 10-year-old Toni knew more than I often gave her credit for; she was a doer, she knew what she liked, and she didn’t care what others thought about that.}

I used my journal to write free verse and I even drew on occasion — including our campsite from a trip with my son the year he turned ten. I’ll post it just for the courage factor. Then I started using the journal for work-related notes and found that, once again, I just liked writing longhand sometimes. What’s interesting is that as I started to figure out what type of creative work I really wanted to do, I used the journal more often, filling more pages in 2011 than I had in the two previous years combined.

All of this to say: This journal kept me company through a rough period, and I’m very grateful for that. But what’s even more cool is my discovery today while reading my list of ‘likes,’ I can see the seeds of this site and Camp Makearoo forming more than a year ago: I mention a variety of creative disciplines and my love for community and creative collaboration. That’s why I’m presenting this as a creative exercise: whether or not you’re in a great place in your creative endeavors, you will likely see patterns emerge that will lead you to the stuff that lights you up.

Want to join in? Awesome. Fortune favors the bold.

Spend this weekend writing up a list of things you like.

DON’T OVER-THINK THIS; just free-write and don’t spend too much time on it. Make it pretty and use colorful pens or markers or chalk or pastels or paint. Or just get it down, as I did (I still had fun!).

This Weekend Stretch will be more useful if you allow yourself to open up and just write without an end in mind; don’t try to connect the dots or see patterns as you work. That part comes afterward.

Then snap a photo of your list, and post a link to the image in comments. Discuss any patterns you found after doing the Stretch. (If there’s enough of a demand from commenters, I will create a Makearoo Flickr group just for you guys.)