Your Creative Fountain

"When we listen to people there is an alternating current, and this recharges us so that we never get tired of each other. We are constantly being re-created. There is this little creative fountain inside us that begins to spring and cast up new thoughts and unexpected laughter and wisdom. If you are very tired, strained, have no solitude, run too many errands, talk to too many people, drink too many cocktails, this little fountain is muddied over and covered with a lot of debris. The result is you stop living from the center, the creative fountain, and you live from the periphery, from externals. That is why, when someone has listened to you, you go home rested and lighthearted. It is when people really listen to us, with quiet fascinated attention, that the little fountain begins to work again, to accelerate in the most surprising way." - Brenda Ueland; Strength to Your Sword Arm: Selected Writings

I adore this quote by Brenda Ueland. The image of our "center" and our "creativity" as a fountain speaks to me and leaves me wondering what I'm doing to keep the water fresh and flowing (although, I'm all for honoring debris or a beaver dam from time to time). 


Here is some metaphor moxie to play with:

• If we are constantly being re-created, what's the "new" or "current" YOU?
• If your home (or work or relationship) could be a place of re-creation, what would that look like?
• What keeps your water fresh and creativity flowing? What debris is mucking up your waters?
• How do you live from the center? What activities make that possible?
• Take this inner journey OUTWARDS now....Who can you listen to today? Spot the fountains around you and invite them to fill up!

Caravan On,
Tammy Rose