Bringing a Great Idea to Fruition
Why it's so hard to finish what we start. When people think about creativity, they usually think about ideas: the generation of lots of...
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Marie's Creativity Blog
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mariezschumacher
Aug 263 min
Peer Entertainment
Getting together to share stories is as human as it gets. Last night, I attended a writer’s gathering that two old friends of mine...
mariezschumacher
Jun 193 min
How to Practice Well
What is practice? First, it's important to define what we mean by practice. The word is often used as a synonym for routine or ritual, as...
mariezschumacher
May 103 min
Unlocking the Power of Reflection
Establishing a reflection habit can help us with learning, planning, focus our thinking, and accepting what we can't change.
mariezschumacher
Apr 93 min
Triggers Great and Small
Since August, I’ve been working with a dear friend on creating a Personal Development curriculum for 12th graders. She teaches at a high...
mariezschumacher
Mar 143 min
From Canvas to Chorus: 10 Great Songs Inspired by Paintings
I’ve been thinking a lot about how one piece of art can inspire another in every imaginable pairing: books inspire films, music inspires...
mariezschumacher
Jan 194 min
Creating a New American Dream: the Timeless Words of Grace Lee Boggs
For many, MLK's birthday is a day of service, and some years in mid-January, I manage to get out and volunteer to honor his life and...
mariezschumacher
Nov 23, 20235 min
Creativity and Parenting: How it helps, Why it's hard
I’m not gonna lie. I loved raising my son, but I saw my time parenting as time spent away from my creative pursuits. Parenting for me was...
mariezschumacher
Oct 8, 20232 min
How to Procrastinate Better
I recently read Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, a deep and humorous look at the nature of time and the struggle that humans have...
mariezschumacher
Aug 16, 20234 min
Connecting the Dots
Everyone wants answers. And in this era of ever-present digital devices, we can have what we want in just a few clicks. We also value...
mariezschumacher
May 3, 20233 min
Powerful Questions for Every Occasion
One of the best things I learned in my coaches' training program was how to formulate and use powerful questions. More than any other...
mariezschumacher
Mar 14, 20233 min
Radical Listening, and why it’s so hard
Listening is a skill that is strangely difficult to do well. I mean, all we’re doing is hearing words, making sense of them, and not...
mariezschumacher
Feb 15, 20233 min
Real Rest
A few months ago, I read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. The book summarizes the research...
mariezschumacher
Dec 1, 20222 min
The Work under the Surface
A week from Saturday, the PDX Vox groups will perform their songs at the annual Fall Showcase. The show will be packed with intricate...
mariezschumacher
Mar 5, 20223 min
Small Wins, Big Magic
Today marks a big day for post-pandemic PDX Vox. Members will gather this afternoon for a singing retreat, learning songs that all 4...
mariezschumacher
Jan 1, 20222 min
Generating Light for the New Year
It's that time of year when we spend many hours in the dark. The long, cold nights provide the chance to enjoy cozy indoor activities. It...
mariezschumacher
Nov 28, 20213 min
Credit Where Credit is Due
So here we find ourselves in the midst of another holiday season. It feels more normal than last year, but there's still a lot to feel...
mariezschumacher
Oct 30, 20213 min
Belonging: A Place or a Feeling?
Over the last month, I've returned to two places where I've spent big chunks of my life: the Boston area, where I grew up and went to...
mariezschumacher
Sep 27, 20212 min
The Walking Cure
In the throes of the pre-vaccine pandemic, walking was something that kept me steady and energized. I walked alone, I walked with...
mariezschumacher
Sep 9, 20213 min
Ring the Bells that You Can Ring
In August, I had the pleasure of returning to Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, where I've taught for many years. It felt miraculous...
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