Practical Inspiration from Coach Darcy

Sometimes, The Simple

I'm struggling today. There's nothing more frustrating to a get-it-done person like me than struggling to get-it-done. And what I'd aimed to get done wasn't even all that tremendous--it's perfectly within my capability and the time I have to do it in. Or had, as the clock keeps ticking  . . and I keep sticking . .
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So, I've done what every hot-blooded procrastinator does--I surfed the 'net. I can defend this to some extent as "research" for my book. Sure.

But I did come across something unique (and free) that reminded me that sometimes, we need to stop struggling and just make it simple. From the guys who brought you Basecamp to help you manage your projects in the cloud, comes tadalists.com. Ta Da--even the name makes me smile--is a simple list maker. That's it. You create your topic, your list items, and it lives out there for you to share with others, check off (or have others check off).

So I did what they asked--I signed up, and made a list. I focused on the project at hand where I'm stuck. Sure, I could have done this in Excel, or in Word, or in an email to myself or hand-scribbled in my notebook. But there was something clean and perfect about making a list this way. And suddenly, having a list of the steps I still need to take helped jump start me from my stuckiness.

It's sometimes the simple that does it.

The Butterflies Are Everywhere

The other day, I heard someone say "the butterflies are everywhere." She meant it literally, noticing the sheer number of winged creatures constantly dipping in and out of her summer garden.

But here's how I heard it the first time:

"The butterflies are everywhere. People are nervous, people are anxious, their stomachs tied in knots. It's hard to tell from one day to the next what to expect as the stock market hiccups, the economic news sounds grim, and our friends are either overworked or underemployed. The butterflies of uncertainty are indeed everywhere."

Well, that attitude got me depressed. So I got up, took a walk, and when I returned to my office, armed myself with a more useful point-of-view:

"The butterflies are everywhere. Look at all the people I know who were inching along as caterpillars and are now soaring ahead, making interesting choices that best show off the beauty of their wings. Notice how much opportunity we're taking advantage of everyday for creativity and experimentation, from our Facebook posts to what we decide to cook for dinner. Yes, the butterflies are everywhere--thank god."

I guess the moral of the story is that seeing more butterflies gave me fewer butterflies.

Stuck in the Mud

When I was a kid, my friend Eric and I used to run around our babysitter Sue's basement and play a game called "Stuck in the Mud." Basically, we'd hop between the square blocks that were part of Sue's carpet design, and suddenly one of us would call out "stuck in the mud." Then, the other had to stay planted on whatever square you were on until you were freed. (I can't remember if there was any magic to being freed--I'm pretty sure it was just an arbitrary creative decision.)

This week, I've felt like someone called "stuck in the mud" and I've been frozen on one of those carpet squares. Car trouble--you're stuck in the mud of depending on others for transportation (thanks, Charles.) Nose trouble--stuck with a bad cough-and-sneeze routine. People trouble--stuck in the mud of confusing comments and emotions. And of course, self-created trouble--feeling stuck yet overwhelmed with all the ideas and work that have yet to happen.

But today, I decided I could choose to be stuck no more. I made the same arbitrary creative decision Eric and I did when we were six or seven and called freedom. Nothing changed--except my perspective. And changing that perspective, I made a tremendous amount of forward movement today that I feel good about. What a neat game!

How Art Became Fun

In our serious, oil-soaked and heat baked summer, it's great to see several fun, imaginative art projects spring up across the USA! Take for example:

• Chicago's 30-foot eyeball--here's looking at you, kid!
• New York's "play me I'm yours" pianos-on-the-street--ready for your Mozart or my Chopsticks
• Cincinnati's Shepard Fairey wall collages, made of wheat paste and paper (Fairey is the artist who created the iconic Obama "Hope" posters during the 2008 Presidential campaign.)

What a great way to show support for our communities, especially now as we are bombarded with less than inspiring news about a devastated environment and a continued slow economy. It's a wonderful reminder of the creativity and innovation of the American people.

If you've visited any of these installations or others in your neighborhood, would love to see your pictures here.