Michele Shea is right. Creating something is a little like being God. You get to make something that did not exist before you put your hands to it. Whether it’s writing a story that has never been told before or creating an alternative to what is provided me, being creative has a sort of power to it that can’t be replicated anyway else.

Of course, that’s only if it works. For every finished creation, I have tons of aborted attempts that are boring, awkward or just plain ugly.

If you have been feeling down lately, try creating something new. It doesn’t matter what it is. Give yourself an hour or two every day to just make something… anything new. It’s like free Prozac, I promise.

For some creativity ideas, check out these websites:

• Craftzine.com blog

• DIY Crafts – Scrapbooking, Knitting, Sewing & Jewelry Making Craft Projects and Videos : DIY Network

• MAKE: Blog

This quotation is ruthless. Ideas like this can stop you in your tracks. If you have ever wanted to write a novel, don’t let G. K. Chesterton scare you away. Don’t worry about writing a bad novel. Do it! Write your bad novel! Then write another one. There are some authors who have made an entire career out of writing bad novels.

The “truth” that Chesterton is talking about is one thing: you are a WRITER. If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have been able to finish that novel.

So, stop trying to write the perfect novel, short story, poem or even email. Just write it and FINISH it.

Anyone who has read The Ballad of the White Horse knows not to take anything that Chesterton says too seriously.

What if this is all there is? What if this IS paradise?

My fatalistic view of the world doesn’t allow for a post-mortem heaven, so I really feel like this life is all I’ve got. That puts a pretty heavy load on me because if this is all I’ve got, then I don’t have a bliss waiting for me after death. I’ve got to make life blissful before I die. I don’t even want to wait until retirement. I have to make life blissful now.

There are little things that make life blissful for me every day. Here’s my list:

• Receiving email from friends.
• Sending email to friends.
• Reading interesting weblogs.
• Playing video games both alone and with friends.
• Sleeping.
• Eating good food.
• Seeing pretty things, whether they’re in art, nature or serendipity.

What kinds of things make you happy? Are you doing enough of them? Remember, that paradise is exactly like where you are right now… only much, much better. You have the power to control the much, much better.

Both of these quotations are true to me. I feel like I should never be idle, but I also believe that sometimes I need to “just sits.” It’s a point of contention in my mind with both beliefs constantly duking it out in my mind. Sometimes I believe that I should never be idle so much that the only time I get to rest is when I’m forced to.

Being forced to rest because you physically cannot work is not a pleasant place to be in. In fact, it’s part of the reason that I end up obsessing over seemingly trivial things like video games and cheap novels. I CAN’T work, so end up obsessing in a round-about way to resting.

Which is right?

I like the “just sits” idea, but I have such a hard time just sitting that I don’t know what to do with myself when I do. Meditation doesn’t work for me. Praying is useless when I feel like I’m just praying to myself. Just sitting is harder for me than resolving to never be idle, so I end up working until I can’t work anymore.

What is the answer?

I don’t know. I’ll tell you when I find it, but as it is, I’ve got a lot of things to do and I can’t just go testing that “just sits” thing right now.

Observation: it’s a loaded word and probably why Marilyn used it. Observation not only implies watching things, but making judgments based on what you have seen. I don’t know how you could really obtain wisdom from making judgments without testing them.

This is one of those quotes that sounds really good, but ends up being not very helpful in real life. Sure I can study. Sure I can observe. I’ll do the best I can but I think a little trial and error is better for the mind than all the observation of a lifetime.

Oh, this is such a nice way of saying this! I have noticed so many people who seem like they ENJOY their limits. I knew a woman who bragged about how scared she was of mice. She actually fainted and injured herself because a mouse was in her home. I just looked at her and said,

“You say that like you’re proud of it.”

She could tell by the tone of my voice that I thought she was bragging about her limitations and angrily didn’t talk for an hour. I know there are people who suffer from phobias. Their lives are severely restricted because of these fears, but I have never heard a person who is under treatment for a phobia sound like they are proud of it.

Listen to yourself. If you are bragging about your limitations, STOP IT! Stop it right now. Every time you feel the urge to say to comment on it, try turning it around. Try saying the positive in your mind instead.

Instead of:

“I’m so scared of mice, one time I fainted!”

Think to yourself:

“Nothing scares me, not even mice.”

Instead of:

“I never pump my own gasoline. I get my partner to do it for me. I don’t even know if I can remember how to do it.”

Think to yourself:

I can do anything. Nothing stops me from getting things done.”

Instead of:

“I never watch the news. It just depresses me, so I stopped watching it.” (This is MY limitation)

I think to myself:

“I am able to stay informed without getting bogged down in the emotional aspects of it all.”

Turn your limitations into assests and NEVER ever brag about them. Goethe had it right and said it far better than I did.

I love this quote, but the truth of the matter is that it REALLY only takes one drink to get me drunk: not the thirteenth or fourteenth, the first. I never built up the tolerance for alcohol and the fact that it takes so little for me to get out of control makes me avoid it even more. Maybe I didn’t party enough as a teenager, but I just don’t do well with alcohol.

The important thing is knowing my limit. Mine is one. After that, my voice becomes too loud and the filtering process between my brain and my mouth completely breaks down. People end up hearing WAY more about my personal thoughts than they wanted to hear.

What’s your limit? Is it one? Is it thirteen? Is it zero? Whatever your limit is, make a commitment to yourself to stick to it this holiday season. You’ll have happier parties and no one will hear intimate details about your last colonoscopy.

What? You mean I’m NOT?

In all seriousness, however, I have a bit of a problem with this quotation. Acting like you’re the center of the universe to other people isn’t an admirable quality, but you really need to take care of yourself first before anything else in the world. To you, the center of the universe SHOULD be you. You can’t help anyone else until you are cared for and the best person in the world to take care of your needs is yourself.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re NOT the center of the universe.

How many times have I tried to run away from my problems without thinking about the best escape? Solving a problem might be the messiest and most unpleasant thought, but the more time I spend thinking about it, the more I suffer. It’s just better for me when I jump in, get the problem solved and move on.

I need to remember that next time I’m tempted to run away to Las Vegas when I feel stressed.

What is it that your heart is telling you? Has it been so long since you listened to it? How long has it been? Since college? Since high school? Since childhood? It’s time to start listening to what you wanted to be as a child.

There is a dramatic scene in the movie, Fight Club, in which Brad Pitt’s character holds a gun to the head of a convenience store clerk. He aims the gun and calmly talks to the young man.

“Raymond, you’re going to die.” He looks through the man’s wallet, “An expired community college I.D. What’ja study Raymond?”

“Stuff…”

“Stuff? Were the midterms hard?” He smackes him on the head with the barrel of the gun, “I asked you what you studied!”

“Biology, mostly,” the man cries.

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

“What did you want to be, Raymond K. Hassel?” The clerk is sobbing and Tyler Durden cocks the gun. “The question, Raymond, is what did you want to be?”

“Veterinarian, veterinarian…”

“Animals! That means you’ve got to get more schooling.”

“Too much school.”

“Would you rather be dead?”

“No, please…”

Tyler uncocks the gun and tucks it into his jeans, “I’m keeping your license. I’m gonna check in on you. I know where you live. If you’re not on your way to becoming a veterinarian in six weeks, you’re going to be dead. Run on.” He tosses the man his wallet and the man runs away without looking back.

None of us have a homicidal maniac putting a gun to our heads forcing us to follow our dreams. Should we have to? Take some time to listen to your heart. What do you want in life? What did you want to be? Are you following that dream? Is it what you wanted? Did you let that dream get lost in the convenience store of life? Don’t let life’s distractions deny you of your dreams.

For more information, see Chuck Palahniuk’s Official Website:

• The Cult – ChuckPalahniuk.net