Did you know I ran a marathon? It was a girl that made me do it! She dumped me and I had a lot of energy and anger. There are only so many times a guy can get punched in the face and still function (My therapist said he understood why I liked to get hit, but he encouraged me to find another way to expel energy. Thanks, Doc.) I wanted to finish in 4 hours, which is a high 8 minute mile. I finished in under four, even though I hit the proverbial "wall."
It was at the at the 22 mile marker. I'd been pacing with this girl, and she even shared an energy something at one point. I looked right at her and said "I'm done!" She almost tripped, shook her head, and ran on. I was resolved to walk the rest of the way to the finish, but a car load of girls drove by and yelled encouragement. So I decided once I got to the 22.5 marker I had only a 5k left, and I would run it like I'd done the many 5ks to that point. I was so happy that I finished under my time and that I started running again. Could you imagine all of the training I did to build up for that run and then to quit.
I still love to run. I go places that I cannot go any other way. I'm pushing myself beyond reason, which is where all of my magical thinking happens, of course. And I really do have so much energy. I don't run much past 6 miles anymore. And my pace on a good day is just above 9 minute miles for a 10k. And my thoughts are deeper. Or maybe they are just foggier.
I have so many things going on right now, and I'm giddy with excitement. I leave Tuesday to go build a banjo with Dr. Lee in VA! Then I'm up in Arlington to make a study of Civil War Graffiti! All while I'm considering and designing my first tenor ukuleles! I'm really pretty much done and just have to cut some wood already! Mine is going to be braced in a modified Kasha style because I'm adding a tailblock. I know, I know. Weirdo. But in my mind they are gorgeous and sound so good!
And because I've got nothing else to do I'd love to do some kind of symposium/gathering/talky thing at school concerning creative thinking. Cultivating Creative Thinking in the Classroom, it'll be called. Do any of the three people reading this want to help?
I would love to talk more about this creative thinking idea.
ReplyDeleteOk, cbascience guy! I'm going to task my Art and Mundfulness kids with leading a session. This was going to be their final exam, but I didn't have an idea about where they could do it. Now they don't have to worry about a receptive group to which they can present. I'll do a paper and presentation. We can invite local schools and creative others. Maybe?
DeleteI've been reading a book by Anne Lamott called Bird By Bird; it's about teaching writing, and she has a lot of good ideas for using class time to get creative. It's just writing, but you're a creative guy so I'm sure you can translate some of it for other media. I teach legal writing so my creativity is dead. Not quite: dying, maybe; on life support?
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