Marie's Creativity Blog

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...

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...

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...

Establishing a reflection habit can help us with learning, planning, focus our thinking, and accepting what we can't change.

Since August, I’ve been working with a dear friend on creating a Personal Development curriculum for 12th graders. She teaches at a high...

I’ve been thinking a lot about how one piece of art can inspire another in every imaginable pairing: books inspire films, music inspires...

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...

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...

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...

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...

One of the best things I learned in my coaches' training program was how to formulate and use powerful questions. More than any other...

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...

A few months ago, I read Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. The book summarizes the research...

A week from Saturday, the PDX Vox groups will perform their songs at the annual Fall Showcase. The show will be packed with intricate...

Today marks a big day for post-pandemic PDX Vox. Members will gather this afternoon for a singing retreat, learning songs that all 4...

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...

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...

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...

In the throes of the pre-vaccine pandemic, walking was something that kept me steady and energized. I walked alone, I walked with...

In August, I had the pleasure of returning to Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp, where I've taught for many years. It felt miraculous...