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Hi all,

I was just reading through some of the lessons on the right here, and while I don't pretend to be firmly in stage 4 (Creative Action), I have been able to find some creative things I really enjoy lately.

Right now, I'm building a piece of furniture, and despite a family member's effort to hijack it, it's been really amazing to see something come together that I made.

Now, in stage 4 it says to take action not for the sake of proving something to yourself. I'm not there yet. This project has been a way to prove to me that I'm good for more than just ruminating over what was or doing work for my various jobs. It's been a great effort to get back to that creative side of me that likes solitary time muddling through a project. I'm honestly a little sad that it's almost done, to be honest, because it's been so wonderful to just tune out and make something with my hands.

It's also opened my mind up to new ideas and my head is now brimming with project ideas. I even stepped outside to my car yesterday to stare at the leftover wood to ponder what I could make with it 

This project has nothing to do with work, which is even better for me, because I tend to be really creative at work but then have nothing fun to work on outside of work.

How about you all? Anyone squarely in stage 4? If not, anyone finding creative outlets even though you're not there yet? What have these outlets felt like and what do they mean to you?

This is such a great idea.  I can think of no better way to heal your mind during a bad spot than being creative or building something.

Thanks Foursome! Did I see that you like to shoot? I've been resisting getting into shooting because I have enough expensive hobbies, but I've always loved any time I've spent on a range.

Rinzler-  we all need the reminders! I haven't been in a great place, so I've been trying to check myself back into learning. The 3D printer sounds awesome - and your experience with her not being engaged reminds me of experience I had with my person, too. What kind of stuff are you printing? That's awesome to hear about the exercise, too. I like building exercise equipment as well - there's a ton of DIY projects out there for workout stuff that are really fun.

I can't emphasise enough how healing volunteer work can be. Whether it's getting involved in a project that's bigger than your own issues, like an environment project, or volunteer work helping someone worse off than yourself, eg homeless people.

It gets you soo out of focussing on yourself and being of help or service to a cause that is good really gets your self-esteem back up, to see that you can do good, valuable stuff.

Volunteering has been so helpful for me too. Along with mentorship of someone just starting out in my chosen profession. And I'm writing again, and submitting my work - one piece has just been accepted to a New York literary journal!

Hey, lighthouse9!

This is a great topic:


Ha. I am most likely still in Stage 2, but I do LOVE to create. Right now, I'm in the middle of a storm windows project, which is more tedious than one would think. It involves rehabilitating all the exterior wooden french window frames to their former 105-year-old glory (scraping, re-glazing, caulking, painting), and sealing them with a storm window, which then needs to be painted, too. I'm doing it one window at a time.

So... .my days are filled with lots of standing around on a ladder listening to audiobooks in the sunshine while doing the work. It's very productive and healing. I'm on window 5/15.


This is very kickass, Kaboodle! Congratulations!

Hey, lighthouse9, when you get done with your furniture project, you should post a pic of it so we can all drool over it.  :)


-Speck