Judy Clement Wall

The part we get to choose

By j on May 16, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, healing-NORTH-evolution, writers-WORDLOVE-writing

“What we focus on, expands.” ~ Julia Fehrenbacher… Read more

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Now and then, the simple truth of a statement like the one above hits me with the unexpected force of a sucker punch. It’s not that Julia’s observation is surprising, or at least it shouldn’t be. I know how powerful attention is. I relearn it all the time: when, in the eleventh hour of a deadline, I finally buckle down and do the work; when, in conversation, I stop planning my next statement long enough to truly hear (and then truly connect with) the person sitting across from me; when, on my yoga mat, I get quiet and centered enough to still the shaky instability of a challenging pose.

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Obscure word doodle #2

By j on May 9, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, Obscure word doodles

These days, my favorite work keeps landing at the intersection of doodles and words. Not that this post was work. This was just plain fun.

I love this word that I didn’t know existed until a couple of days ago when I stumbled upon it while reading. (Coincidentally, it rained that day and the petrichor was sweet.)
I sometimes hear people complain that the English language falls short.… Read more

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The Creativity Interviews: Yoga teacher, blogger/writer, and designer Lyn Girdler (and TWO sweet giveaways)

By j on May 2, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, The creativity interviews

As part of my ongoing quest to explore what it means to live a creative life, I periodically invite kick ass creatives to come play with us on the blog.
Today’s episode:
Productive procrastination, the magic of an amazing mullet, and what it *really* means to be creative.
I first met Lyn when she wrote to tell me that she’d stumbled upon my poem, “My Religion.” She told me that she’d read it to a room full of yogis and they loved it.… Read more

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Getting naked with Julia… and a sweet giveaway

By j on April 25, 2013 in healing-NORTH-evolution, heart-LOVE-soul

Here’s what I believe: the best works of art are acts of public nudity.
The artist, subtly or overtly, is exposed, even in works of fiction, even if the exposure lies only in the creator’s desire to communicate something true and real. To some degree, that kind of nakedness is inherent to the act of putting one’s work out into the world where it can be accepted or rejected, praised or ridiculed.… Read more

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In this fragile sacred space

By j on April 18, 2013 in healing-NORTH-evolution, heart-LOVE-soul

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my youngest son, way back when he was still shorter than I was.

This fall, he’ll be heading off to college. It’s weird to think of him so far away from me. I’m proud and sad and nervous and excited… for both of us, actually.
We’re standing now, as we were in this picture (as we are every day, I guess), on the edge of the rest of our lives.… Read more

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Powering down

By j on April 4, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, healing-NORTH-evolution

Tomorrow afternoon, I embark on a weekend getaway. I’ll be totally offline for three days. (Just ignore my little involuntary shudder right there. I can do this. I’m committed.) I’ll spend my unplugged days ducking in and out of quirky-hippie-one-of-a-kind shops as well as my all time favorite used bookstore; hiking in forests and along shorelines; sipping wine on a rooftop patio; kicking back in an outdoor cafe, where we can “relax by the fireplace or at the tables outside, around a pond in the middle of a Scandinavian wood of birch and conifer trees.”
It’s supposed to rain.… Read more

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My seven cures for creative block

By j on March 28, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration

More than once, in the midst of a creative block (which for me is truly just a baby step away from full-on existential crisis), I’ve been told by well-meaning writer friends that my block isn’t real. “It’s all in your head,” they say, as if that’s helpful, as if the fact that my blankness resides in my head (where, incidentally, my imagination, my creative writing skills, my ability to link disparate ideas together in meaningful ways also reside) makes it any less real.… Read more

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Adventures in vocabulary and the healing power of books

By j on March 21, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, healing-NORTH-evolution, Obscure word doodles

As promised, I’m launching a new regular feature on the blog: Obscure Word Doodles! Last month, I started asking for word suggestions and, as usual, you came through. I have about 25 weird and wonderful words that I have no idea what to do with.
Actually 24 now, since here’s the first one, a word suggested by Ray Wilcockson. (Thank you, Ray!)
Let me know what you think, and feel free to leave more word suggestions in the comment thread.… Read more

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Me and my body: a love – hate – love story

By j on March 14, 2013 in healing-NORTH-evolution

Last year, I wrote a short post about my struggles with an eating disorder. The response, on and off blog, was huge, supportive, and full of questions that I wasn’t prepared to answer.
Ever since, I’ve wanted to write more about it, because I think it’s important, and because sometimes I think the subjects most worth writing about are the ones we find it hardest to attach words to.… Read more

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The Creativity Interviews: New Yorker cartoonist, writer, and performer Liza Donnelly

By j on March 7, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, The creativity interviews

As part of my ongoing quest to explore what it means to live a creative life, I periodically invite kick ass creatives to come play with us on the blog.
Today’s episode:
Creating your way past rejection, swimming for inspiration, and the power of wishing the world a good morning.

I’m so excited this week to be interviewing New Yorker cartoonist, writer, and performer, Liza Donnelly.… Read more

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Doodled in the name of love (part 2)

By j on February 28, 2013 in creativity-ART-inspiration, heart-LOVE-soul

We’re sending February off with a big, loving, doodly bang! Thank you to everyone who sent me doodles in February, especially the doodles for this post, which I repeatedly forgot to remind anyone about. I’m so grateful for all of you who, when I say, “Come play!” jump right in, with your whole big, colorful, gorgeous hearts and souls.
xo
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