Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

How to Choose Aliveness Over… (Insert Bleak Sounding Term for “Uncertain Times”)

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Most of my days I wake up away from home because I house sit for a friend who has been quarantined away from Bakersfield. Lately I have been waking up, walking my way into a haiku poem and photo and getting home in time to fix breakfast for Samuel and myself and starting my work day in my home office.

Today I was shorter on time than usual because I host Ta-Da Tuesday at 7:30 am and I had my #5for5BrainDump writing session to facilitate at 9. I didn’t have time for a lengthy walk and I wanted a walk. Oh, how I wanted to take a walk and it was making me grouchy that I wasn’t able to walk longer and just cavort according to my own choosing.

I arrived at one of the parks I sometimes enjoy spending a slice of time in the morning and felt ornery when I heard leaf blowers. And then I heard lawn mowers. And then I almost didn’t get out of my car to walk because “the noise was ruining my experience (how dare they.”

I remembered I have the luxury of choosing what my responses are. I have the joy of choosing whether or not I walk or whether I take a photo and write a haiku.

I opened my door and stepped out and into the parking lot and immediately smelled fresh, cut grass. I smiled. Yes. I made the right choice. 

I walked across the parking lot and as I lifted my foot, I saw a spent hypodermic needle. I shut my eyes and felt the tendrils of anger rise up from my gut. To the west of the park is a methadone clinic. Naturally there will be heroin addicts around.

I took that anger and breathed love into it. Tonglen meditation says to allow the revulsion to be there and breathe in the revulsion of the many and exhale relief for revulsion. In this moment I breathed in compassion and prayer for the pain of the addict who used the needle. I exhaled relief, I exhaled peace for the person and for other junkies who may have dropped needles in other parks.

All of this was done as I continued to walk. I paused as I walked toward the pond where ducks were swimming to inhale the scent of grass, mounds of freshly cut grass filled me with delight. I went on a short trip in my mind to my elementary school classroom. My heart thrilled at the side-trip.

I realized how sunrise was still putting on a show and felt such joy. I admired the mallards and the other, not-identifiable probably “mutt ducks.” I noticed the pigeons on the roof of the bridge. I smiled as some started circling and dancing and playing as if they were celebrating the sunrise and the freshly mown grass and they were flying around to celebrate the feeling good rather than feeling lousy. I am not yet able to circle around in flight, so I pulled out my notebook.

I noticed as some of the pigeons were not stereotypical looking. One was brown with white spots. Another pigeon was smudged with shades of black. The other pigeons didn’t seem to mind, though in their pecking order I am sure some may hold their beaks in a particularly superior way, but I am not one to pass pigeon judgment.

I didn’t want to leave the park but people were waiting. The rest of my life was waiting.

Because of the seemingly inconsequential choices I made, I was filled up to the brim with passionate aliveness even with noise, even with ugliness, even with any number of things I might have, at another time, labeled as wrong.

This morning I chose passion above being a grouch.

This morning I chose movement above staying stagnant.

This morning I chose tonglen meditation over grumbling about something I stepped over. 

This morning I chose peace over spilling anger and aloofness.

This morning sunrise found me, unexpectedly, as I found myself back to people I connect to with love.

Today, what will you choose?

Portrait of creative life coach and creative life midwife Julie JordanScott

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Access the visionary prompst from the mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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For the Love of Intention: Acting with Flow for Your Best “What’s Next”

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You are worthy of positive results: set your intention and create a path, always. Person walking through tall grasses, blazing a trail.

Do you know that person? The one who is always stopping you when you’re on a roll, talking about something you’re setting forth, a hope a dream a plan and then that voice pipes up, “What’s your intention here?”

That person speaking up is more than likely me, if we’re together.

Here’s the secret underneath that chronic question: When we start with with intention we are claiming and activating something similar to when we pull back the bow and release the arrow. We are engaging ourselves to take energetic steps on this same spiritual road the arrow takes toward a destination. Do you follow?

Intention is the road, it is the journey, it is the path.

Intention may initially feel like full steam ahead in a linear sprint but here’s the beauty: the road isn’t usually straight and I don’t believe arrows are actually perfectly straight, either.

How about we just let go of the idea that straight one-way-only push push push is the only way to approach life or business or love or anything that matters?

We’re stepping into intention because it matters to have an idea of where your heart most wants you to end up. Like my friend Henry David Thoreau was talking about when he said ‘If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.’

When I throw anything the air is a part of the journey, even if the destination includes a mud puddle.

Basket of possibilities: a beige basket with towels and flowers, an image of self care

Let’s pick up our basket of possibilities and have the courage to consider taking aim. There’s no wrongs possible here. You’re good and you’re surrounded by good.

What’s your intention here?

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The Joy of Writing for Magnetic Attraction: Title in a Circle to Set Your Words Free + cursive writing

We’re opening our hearts and our notebooks for our next Writing Adventure Challenge: Writing for Magnetic Attraction: the series to amp up your writing. For exclusive content via email, sign up for the list below. To participate in the writing community join the Word-Love Writing Community Facebook Group where the conversation and livesteam sessions will be accessed in a safe, private writing community. You may also find us outside the group (if groups aren’t your thing) on Facebook at Writing Camp with JJS, pn my YouTube channel and on Periscope (so if you are on twitter, you will see it there at the same time).

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Portrait of creative life coach and creative life midwife Julie JordanScott

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Access the visionary promps from the mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, be inspired and re-start your 2020 even if you have been hopelessly stuck in the “everything sucks” space. The Bridge to the New Year Space is welcoming, it includes weekly goals and intentions AND it is free to be a part of it – simply invest your energy in the community and it’s all good!

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Connect: Keep the Channel Open – to Your Past Self & Your Present Wisdom

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A dancer, along with the words "Keep the Channel Open" a nugget of wisdom offered by Martha Graham and continued in this blog post by Julie JordanScott

This is the story of how Facebook Memories reminded me of something and may remind you of something you said or did or made that is still relevant and rather than just let it pass by, you decide to reach into that memory knowing the message is meant for someone right now.

Are you the someone waiting to hear this message?

Flashback to a moment in time from four years ago, complete with a video LiveStream with a lot of excellent content toward the bottom of the page.

Mixed media art of a girl climbing a tree with the Martha Graham quote, There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."

I wrote for five minutes (yes, a #5for5Brain Dump!) on the topic of “Keep the Channel Open” which is the foundation, the grounding and the divine inspiration behind this quote.

I primed myself by repeating in my mind “Keep the Channel Open….Five minute write….”

As I often do, I took a deep breath before beginning to write.

“Keep the channel open, Julie… keep the channel open.”

This quote has meant so much to me, to remind me why it is important that I do my work – that I engage with the people who might be served by my work and to just keep doing it, even when kerfuddled or bewildered, like I feel today.

Keep the channel open when bewildered or kerfuffled, which I don’t even know whether it’s a word or not.

Keep the channel open even when tired, because sometimes keeping the channel open means going to sleep. Sometimes it means laughing out loud at something ridiculous, like Cameron’s cartoon character version of answering the phone today.

Keep the channel open may mean reaching out to friends and saying, “I’m not feeling well,” and instead of believing somehow they will hate you for the rest of your life, they will receive your words with grace, thinking “How may I come alongside Julie so that she may feel better and more capable tomorrow?

Keep the channel open may mean looking at someone with a wide open heart, even if that person has hurt you repeatedly.

Keep the channel open so that you will be the patron saint of “alive and well and present and warm. And feeling loved, even and especially while fast asleep.”

Keep the channel open so that you may be superbly human and transparent, fiercely super powered so you may take on any challenge with panache. And…

There is applause coming from inside my computer from my timer saying “your writing time is up!” which makes me laugh. Remembering this will keep my channel open!

After I wrote this, the “channel stayed open” and this livestream was created.

Click on the link that starts with pscp.tv to watch the video from this exact date in 2016.

I watched this video and felt so deeply connected to so much of what I said. Last week I was back at Hart Park in the middle of the day because I was stuck in what felt like a hopeless block. I saw this same spot where I broadcast. It is almost as if the past me was waving to me, inviting me to come close to the memory. To remember about keeping the channel open, again and again and again.

More writing prompts from this memory are open as I continue to keep this channel open today – and in next week’s #5for5BrainDump session. To participate, join the Word-Love Writing Community Facebook Group where the conversation and livesteam sessions will be accessed in a safe, private writing community.

Portrait of creative life coach and creative life midwife Julie JordanScott

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Access the visionary prompst from the mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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Planting Hope, Peace & Love in August and Beyond

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This is what heaven feels like, I thought. This is what peace feels like. Part of my job right now is embracing and creating peace wherever I find it or don’t find it. My idea is this: if I am aware of peace – and if I may expand that feelig of peace – it grows to embrace the rest of the world whether they are in the “Everything sucks” club or if they are in the “Pollyanna I am going to avoid everything” club or someplace in between.

This realization came when I spent a few minutes recently hugging a tree.

“He who plants a tree, plants a hope”

Lucy Larcom
Mill Girl. Poet. She who saw into the future.

This morning I took my morning walk in a park I don’t visit often. It is a lovely park with tall trees – this isn’t always the case in newer neighborhoods.I found myself in this new-to-me-but-not-entire-new-to-me park, fully enjoying the space – completely engaged in the light and shadows and the fresh air from well watered lawns and frequently emptied trash cans.

I decided I would reward myself for being diligent with my walk by hugging a tree. The trees here were still comparatively young so I could hug a tree all the way, wrap my arms completely around it. I watched and looked and decided on a tree that was close to the swings.

“I’ll be back” I told the tree.

I admired the tree as I walked away and looped around the park, fully feeling my feet as they moved on the sidewalks weaving around the park. I have new shoes that are very supportive of my feet so walking is even more pleasurable than it was just a week ago.

I continued walking and added an element of prayer and intention – for the children who play here and their families. I prayed for everyone who has ever visited the park. If any had died, I prayed for the families who were missing them. I prayed for the people in the hospital with Covid19, I prayed for the nurses who gave me such exceptional care when I was hospitalized in October. I came back to the tree.

I faced it, fully, and embraced it with my eyes closed and my spirit so high and happy.

We have the capacity to decide to embrace hope, love and peace. Even when we are in times like when I am writing this: in the midst of a global pandemic, social unrest climbing, continued divisive conflicts within my country. I am still able to stay in a space of hope, love and peace.

Writing Prompt for you to consider ways to stay in this optimistic rather than pessimistic space. Write for at least five minutes. If you are unable to think of what to say, simply write the words “hope, love, peace” repeatedly. Add words that are in a similar “feeling family” such as happiness, gratitude, connecting.

Even when times may be challenging, I am able to stay in a space of hope, love and peace when I choose to…..

Hello, August. Welcome peace, love, calm… happiness, joy… and upset, frustration, dissatisfaction – and may we choose to stay peaceful, loving and calm no matter what finds us.

Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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What Writing Poetry Every Morning at Sunrise Taught Me

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Before the end of 2019, I created a goal uniquely mine with one goal: to “have something to do every day that would help me feel better.” I remembered the past, when I would write haiku and post them on facebook before the start of the workday, one friend of mine enjoyed reading them and I enjoyed writing them. The number 377 ties me to writing one haiku – a Japanese form of poetry noted for being short and to the point.

I knew if I made it a difficult goal, I might run the risk of not completing it. I gave myself space to fail AND I knew if I paid attention and made sure I had a guideline to write before a certain time of day, I would have a greater likelihood of success.

In early July I had the idea to do a “sub” goal or a micro-goal. I created a specific intention within the initial one. This time, I was going to write a haiku poem every day at sunrise for a month.

I didn’t expect the potent impact this simple practice had on my life, especially since I had already been writing daily haiku for more than six months, everyday. This new tweak to the goal definitely put the entire project onto a higher playing field.

  1. Micro-goals rock: Small, short-term and do-able goals build confidence and make the process of accomplishment even more fun.
  2. Having accountability via public proclamation is both slightly intimidating and brings about an extra zap of love, hope and optimism. I used my facebook page initially. Now I share on other social media platforms and text to specific friends. During the last week of the month, I also share daily gratitude lists and invite others to share their gratitude lists, too.

Haiku 192 – July 2, 2020

Sunrise at the Panorama Bluffs in Bakersfield, California.

trees hold a secret

golden laces weave their leaves

lone bunny watches

  1. Watching the first light of day is one of the most optimistic acts I can imagine during this particular point of our history. It is something I can trust.
  2. Falling in love with sunrise is akin to falling in love with life, falling in love with the place I live, and falling in love with the people who show up and engage with my posts.

July 14, 2020 Haiku 204/377

A mallard duck family swims in the canal off Brundage Lane in Bakersfield at Sunrise

Urban pastoral

Mallard mama quacks fiercely

distant palm stands tall

  1. Grace is a dear friend who embraces me, everytime
  2. Doing unconventional things will attract attention and odd conversations.
  3. Standing on a creative ledge is inspiring even if we are simply doing it for fun

Haiku 208/377 July 18, 2020

Loco Weed (moonblossoms) blooming at Sunrise beside the Calloway bridge in Southwest Bakersfield

poison loco weed

feels the magnetic charm’s call

time for you to sleep

  1. When there is no boss to create goals or tasks for you, you may become the best task master you ever imagined.
  2. My senses are improved because of daily attention and fine tuning.

Haiku 213/377 – July 23, 2020

A pumpjack (oil well) in North Bakersfield at sunrise.

silent old pump jack

sees another day begin

Skoal can on gravel

  1. When we are prone to documenting how terrible things are don’t get up and witness the sunrise every day.
  2. Witnessing sunrise is a potent non-chemical anti-depressant. Because I am well aware of the current news cycle in order to be an informed citizen, this sunrise haiku practice has kept me grounded and present as an optimistic realist.

Haiku 220/377 July 30, 2020 

Sunrise at an organic citrus farm off Edison Highway and Pepper Avenue outside of East Bakersfield.

Organic citrus

north of Edison Highway

proud palm trees stand guard

There are two days left for this micro-goal, even though July is almost over. After this, I will be writing seven days of Coffee Haiku, inspired by a friend I made on Instagram. After that, I may return to sunrise because it feels so good to be outside when it is still cool during a hot Bakersfield summer.

Which of these photos and haiku poems resonates with you most?

Woman writing on the front porch of a brick home,
Write wherever you find yourself.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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Art-Making: Is Creativity “Just for the Joy” enough?

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I have a body of work that is rather unique. I have been working on it since 2013 in a quasi-secret manner.

From time to time I think of doing something with it because I find it deeply interesting on a variety of levels: it has elements of visual storytelling, it is a commentary on the current state of our country and world and in a way, it shines a light on the strength of the human spirit.

Some of you know what I am about to say.

My name is Julie and I love taking photos of shopping carts, abandoned in places other than grocery store parking lots.

Today I was on my morning walk on a path near my home in an urban series of parkways surrounding the Kern River. This particular section of it is mostly unknown to others. I have for years thought of it as an “underbelly place”. 

Nonetheless, I can walk there and oftentimes feel as immersed in nature as if I was far from home. I certainly wasn’t expecting to come upon this glorious shopping cart in the midst of vines, moonblossoms and sunflower patches.

I sent the four shots I took to one of my “real artist” friends. Naturally he exclaimed his admiration.

“But which has the best composition, in your opinion?” I asked him. “You’re always telling me to feature the photo has the best composition.”

One of my rules for this body of work is to not move anything I come upon, but that I may circle around and move however I see fit. In this case, I quietly looked around for the owner of this particular cart. When I see them in places like this, it is usually in a “doorway” to a make shift shelter. 

There was nothing like that here.

I didn’t want to anger the owner. 

I took four photos in total and the one above is my favorite.

Once again, I fully enjoyed and immersed myself in an underbelly place, a space many people would be afraid to visit much less use as a subject of art.

I first discovered this space when I was unschooling Samuel in the first grade. I had discovered his behavior problems were actually caused by autism. At that time, I didn’t know a child with autism could also teach himself to read and be very intelligent.

School became a torture chamber of an experience and I believed because autism has a strong social element, he needed to be in a conventional school setting for his life long success and set the district to work to on a plan for his education that was suitable for his unique needs – maybe this video was the genesis of my interest in “underbelly” places. Interesting, because this was a “blind” self-portrait. I couldn’t see myself as I took the video unlike the videos of today.

I doubt anyone else beside me will ever care about my shopping cart/underbelly obsession.

I’m currently re-reading “Letters to a Young Poet” a collection of responses from Rainer Rilke in a correspondence where a young man pondered a similar question:

“Will anyone besides me ever care about my poetry?” he wondered. Rainer Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young poet in the military academy he once attended. That earnest young poet, Frank Xaver Kappus, sent poems for Rilke to peruse. Most notably, he sought approval and commentary.

In his first letter back to Mr. Kappus, Rainer Rilke suggests he stop asking for opinions from other people. He wrote,

“Nobody can advise and help you, nobody. There’s only one way to proceed. Go inside yourself. Explore the reason that compels you to write; test whether it stretches your roots into the deepest part of your heart, admit to yourself whether you would have to die if the opportunity to write were withheld from you. Above all, ask yourself at your most silent hour, must I write? Dig inside yourself for a deep answer. And if the answer is yes, if it is possible for you to respond to this serious question with a strong and simple I must, then build your life on the basis of this necessity.”

I decided long ago it doesn’t matter if anyone cares or doesn’t care about these photos. What matters is I care. What matters is I enjoy the process. What matters is I grow as a writer and observer of life as well as growing as a photographer.

If my necessity of life is to enjoy my life as a creative – and allow the space for my heart to dance with glee when I come upon a seen like a shopping cart on a walking path like this – that is enough. Any other recognition is a bonus.

Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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Portland Treasures: Beverly Cleary & Powell Books

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Julie JordanScott standing with the sculpture of Ramona Quimby, beloved character created by Beverly Cleary who lived near Grant Park in Portland when she was a child.

Five years ago I spent an afternoon out with Ramona Quimby and a bunch of other (human and sculpture garden) friends in Grant Park in Portland. I managed to gather people from online friendships and Bakersfield Ex-Pats to this park to enjoy a bit of Literary Granny history.

Sometimes I am amazed people are willing to follow my whims and other times I say “Naturally they do!” 

Why wouldn’t they? I tend to seek out quirky places other people hadn’t thought to explore yet, especially the artists and adventurers I am most attracted to. Little known secret: I had a conversation with Beverly Cleary more than thirty-five years ago at a convention for English teachers when I was working for a textbook publisher.

She was sitting at a table and no one else was there. She appeared to be fabulously ordinary which I found incredible inspiring. I wish I knew she had said this, “I was a great reader of fairy tales. I tried to read the entire fairy tale section of the library.” 

If I had known she had said this I could tell her I was the same way when I was a little girl. I loved hearing my mother’s voice when she read aloud. I would close my eyes and wish for once she would read “The Snow Queen” which I loved but was longer than the time my busy mother had for reading aloud. “The Princess and the Pea” was two pages long and I almost memorized it.

Julie JordanScott with a book sculpture outside Portland's Powell Books, a local and national treasure.

Beverly Cleary is a national and Portland treasure, like Powell’s books and a culture that made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. It continues to call to me today. Hearing of the unrest there made me want to road trip there again and lend my body and my voice to the protection of freedom of speech, but pandemic times and my health being what it is – I offer my memory and my love and admiration.

May we continue to honor and praise each other’s voices with an energy like Ramona Quimby’s.

What character from your childhood continues to speak to you today?

Woman writing on the front porch of a brick home,
Write wherever you find yourself.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in 2020 in #Refresh2020 in Bridge to the New Year to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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Stop the Writer’s (or any) Block Before It Stops You

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Block – the brick wall – it shows up for the best of us.

If people insist they don’t know what it feels like to be stuck or blocked or feel resistance, I would question their authenticity.

Maybe I am judging my imperfection or maybe I recognize nature ebbs and flows and as we are a part of nature, block is bound to happen. What matters is what we do as individuals when blocks appear.

Randy Pausch shared this quote which I return to whenever the block starts to feel too big:

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”

A brick wall with plants on the side including a quote from Julie Jordan Scott "Blocks appear in order to reconnect us with our desires." and the prompt: "When I started this, what was my intention?" BONUS: Restart your writing with a sentence (or more) of gratitude.

1.  Leave “the problem” of block where it lives. Walk away and restrict your thought about the block itself, especially if those thoughts are coated in negative self-talk.

2.  Do mundane, meaningless activities, especially if they will be of service to others.

3.  If you are compelled, research another area of passion in your life.

4.  Stay away from the “problem” until you are at peace with “it” and, in fact, are able to not consider it problematic anymore.

5.  Remember, it isn’t “the problem” that is the problem, it is your opinion about the problem that creates the lack of movement and the sticky malaise. If you say “Writing block sucks!” it will suck. If you say “This block is giving my opportunity for growth – and in the future I will warmly embrace growth without the block!”

I took my own advice when I was blocked yesterday – and once again my writing flows, proving sometimes the best medicine for what ails you is to step away and focus anywhere except “the block” or “the problem” or “my ridiculous inabilities.”

Julie JordanScott creates content to inspire creative people to lead more satisfying lives even during this pandemic. Walking and sitting at the Panorama Bluffs helps her feel centered.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in mid-2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. 

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3 Top Ways to Most Effectively Use Your Journal Writing as a Content Creator

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As a blogger with a social media account, there is a constant demand to creator more content, create more content, create more content. I have a secret for you: some of your best content ideas may be found in your journal or everyday notebook you write in "just to braindump or blow off steam" before you get down to your "real writing."

As a blogger with multiple social media accounts, there is a constant demand to creator more content, create more content, create more content. I have a secret for you: some of your best content ideas may be found in your journal or everyday notebook you write in “just to braindump or blow off steam” before you get down to your “real writing.”

Here are the three most important ways to take your notebooks and make them into sizzling content.

  1. Have a separate to-do list or planner next to you to jot notes about content ideas and strategies as they pop up. Immediately, in one fluid motion , do this. Treat your separate list as if it is a part of the same document. Be fluid as you jot items in there without losing your writing momentum.
  1. Either midday or at the end of the afternoon, review your morning journal writing for the day to highlight and capture any particularly interesting turns of phrase or insights you had during the earlier session. Consider the action you may want to take from the insights you had and/or if what you wrote in your free writing may be a source for future blog posts, video scripts, speeches or social media posts. 
  1.  Set aside a time to review your past journals. Sometimes when we are too close to the writing, we can’t gain from our messages. Once we have lived longer, the voice of our “past self” seems to magically become wiser.  Be sure to use a highlighter and/or a separate to-do list (like in #1) to follow up.

Be prepared to instantly become a more productive content creator from writing you once thought was a throw away. Your journal or free writing notebook is where you are most likely your most authentic self. Use it for your good and the use of others.

Julie JordanScott writing poetry at a downtown Bakersfield flower shop.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in 2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. Click the graphic below to join the Private Facebook Group to join the conversation!

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I don’t want to, but I do it anyway. Everyday.

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Most mornings I wake up and think I ought to just sleep in. I can skip a day: just this time no one will notice. It’s a pandemic, no one is paying attention, no one really cares.

Then something lifts me up and out of bed and says “Get up, get out, create.” or as I said a long time ago, “Show up. Look up. Translate.”

When I codified my plan to do something daily that made me feel better – created guidelines for my personal creative practice – since I stuck with what I codified my life experienced has changed radically for the better.

Today I realized how my seeing has become so much more alert since I started my daily morning haiku practice. I think even more so since I chose to write sunrise haiku.

This slight change in schedule – on purpose – has allowed me into each day as it begins. It feels like an initiation into a society who are all in on a secret the people who are asleep all around us don’t have a chance to get.

Just as the sunrises at Lake Ming in Bakersfield. Ducks in the lake swim as the sky brightens.

Seriously: today I sat at a table at Lake Ming and had my phone in its tripod and the rays of sunrise made visible through the camera reached to me as I watched and wrote, as if it was saying thank you.

People get caught up – I get caught up – in anger and frustration and a sense of incredulity when I witness even the slightest taste of the horrors swirling around us as of late.

The sunrise reaching out to me – in gratitude – and my “new seeing” is a feeling of communion I haven’t felt since holding my newborns or when I was a little girl in the back seat of our turquoise country squire watching in awe as I believed the stars were actually following me, specifically. That’s what it felt like on that magical evening so long ago.

This simple act of writing haiku every day has helped me to reconnect with everyday miracles and wonder. It wasn’t an instant awareness with the first few haiku, but now – a day doesn’t go by without a surprise.

Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Julie JordanScott typing a love poem on the edge of a foothill of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Julie JordanScott, the Creative Life Midwife, is a writer, a poet performer, a Creativity Coach, A Social Media Whiz and a Mother of three. One of her greatest joys include loving people into their greatness they just aren’t quite able to realize yet. 

Julie is also one of the Founders of Bridge to the New Year. Join us now in 2020 in #Refresh2020 to reflect, connect, intend and taking passionate action to create a truly remarkable rest of 2020. Click the graphic below to join the Private Facebook Group to join the conversation!

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