July 2008
     Sent 7/21/2008

Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter
By Darla Arni

Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter is a free monthly, or whenever Darla can get it out, publication for clients, friends and subscribers who want to be more creative, energetic and productive in their life and work. © 2008 Darla Arni

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In This Issue:
     Crisis Creativity
     Darla’s Store is open for business!
     Darla Speaks Out; the blog is back
     Quote of the Month
     Mensa Moment

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CRISIS CREATIVITY

Oil prices are high, the dollar is low and the cry for living green can be heard far and wide. How could we have been so blind? Where did we go wrong? What can we do to fix it all? If you were alive in the ‘70’s you are probably feeling a sense of déjà vu like I am. The 1970’s was a time of uncertainty, pessimism, and fear of what the future holds. The environment was a huge issue in the ‘70’s and we were warned over and over about the impending energy crisis we are now living. It is no accident that the first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970 as a result of the efforts of U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. It was a time of causes that carried over from the ‘anti’ movements of the 1960’s and we were going to save our environment and change the world once and for all.

The economy wasn’t so great either. Books appeared on the scene with ominous titles like, “The End of the American Era,” by Andrew Hacker, “The Late Great Planet Earth,” by Hal Lindsey and C.C. Carlson, and of course “Silent Spring,” by Rachel Carson was published in the 1960’s and in 1972 facilitated the ban of the pesticide DDT in the United States. According to www.averylongtimeago.com, the ’70’s included the worst recession in 40 years, the lowering of the speed limit to 55 mph in order to conserve fuel, the beginning of airports screening passengers to prevent hijackings and on a lighter note, the introduction of the Egg McMuffin by McDonald’s.

So what is the point of this short, but meaningful nostalgia trip? Even though the news outlets would have you think we are doomed, we are not. In fact, the act of switching out of doomed mode to possibility mode, in itself, brings a sense of empowerment to the situation. The best thing that comes out of times of crisis is people who rise to the top with new answers to old problems, inventions that improve our life, and the development of character strength that only comes from surviving rather than dodging the crisis and/or burying your head in the sand.

Don't whine, dust off your brain and engage your innate creativity! Hard times spark creativity because they create a sense of purpose. Every time I hear a negative news headline my brain counters with, “Oh yeah? Don’t count me out so fast; you haven’t seen anything yet!” Why? Because I believe in our creative abilities, I believe in our resilience, and I believe we are great. I have no tolerance for whining just like I have none for bragging; they are both signs of flawed vision and false perception. Instead of churning out the doom and gloom scenario, I wish the news media would choose to inspire and motivate us. We could all use a history lesson to realize what we have survived so we can believe in ourselves again. (Have you ever watched Jaywalking with Leno? How can you be inspired from the past if you don’t even know about it?)

What can you do? As part of my Creative Mindset presentation I challenge everyone in the audience to take one week of their life and write down the little annoyances and big problems you encounter throughout each day. At the end of the week, this is where you start; solve the problems on your list. And if they are on your list, they are probably on someone else’s list, so what you imagine, invent or solve will inevitably help others.

The negative attitudes of the ‘70’s were followed by decades of economic growth, advances in technology and the Internet boom. Which makes me think; what great, creative years must be ahead?

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DARLA'S STORE IS OPEN!

Yes, our online store is a reality; my artwork, booklets, e-booklets, and books are now available online through my shopping cart!

I invite you to explore the store and pass the word along. http://www.darlaarni.com/products.htm Thanks so much!

TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORS: Check out the ‘be still’ artwork in my shopping cart; somehow today it made me think of you and all you deal with!

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DARLA SPEAKS OUT

After months of neglect, my blog is now getting my attention. You can check it out at: http://www.darlaarni.com.blogspot.com/

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Creation can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. ”

-George Lois

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MENSA MOMENT

What word, expression, or name is depicted below?

F A R E D C E

E-mail your answer to Darla. The first 15 correct answers will be entered in our prize drawing. Good luck!

Last Month’s Answer:

The answer of course was: The messy dirty hairdresser, because she might not be neat but she gave a great haircut to the clean hairdresser.

Congratulations to Mary Keller for being drawn as our winner! Mary, watch for your prize in the mail!

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Darla Arni is a Professional Speaker, Artist and Author of:
30 Ways to Share Creative Energy at Home and the Sharing Creative Energy Newsletter.
Co-Author: Life Compass for Women
Co-Author: 66 Secrets to Less Stress

Sharing Creative Energy
e-mail Darla
660.529.2969 voice
660.815.7262 cell

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