News from the creatively constipated

At varying times, I have posted about personal impediments to the rapid development not only of my blogging endeavors, but to the development of a significant number of creative ideas that I have in general.  Fortunately, Stephanie Peterson for The Daily Muse (found on Mashable via a Code Project Daily News link) posted something recently which again indicates I may not be alone. 

"Now, I realize the difference between those times when I was honoring my introversion and times when I was caving into fear, and how important it is to separate the two before the latter threatens to hold you back."

- Stephanie Peterson, "How Introverts Can Stand Out at Work", Mashable, December 1, 2013

There are elements to my personality that on a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test actually show a slight (very slight) tendency towards the extroversion end of the spectrum.  However, I am probably one of the most introverted-appearing extroverts you will ever meet.  Stephanie's article is applicable and helpful to me as I recognize that while I am energized by participation in extroverted situations, absorption and quiet contribution are certainly satisfactory for me.  Best described, particularly using a sports analogy, is that I love being part of the team and contributing to winning, but I am certainly content with not being the star.  As an ice hockey player, I am perfectly happy with assists that help us win, in baseball-type sports, base hits and solid field play are the main goal for me, not home runs. 

It is worth mentioning that Stephanie's article provides reference to another, older article with networking advice for introverts on The Daily Muse by Anna Runyon.  This article has some helpful ideas that do translate to my situation, as well.

So, having said all that, there are a couple of things that I will share that, hopefully, are signs that  things may be different in this new year.

One is, as I have posted before, that my wife, Cindy, is an amazing artist. Why do I say this again here and now? Well, as she announced in a post a several weeks ago, we were, and now, have moved to a location.

What has greatly impressed me once again, though, is that in the midst of implementing the move, she created an incredible mural segment in just a few hours, as part of a project for the Phoenix Festival of the Arts. I am once again floored (and maybe newly inspired?) by my wife's talent, but I regularly am. The event itself was something that, had I not felt as uncomfortably creatively inhibited that I have, I would have liked to participate in with her.  Maybe I will if and when this opportunity comes around again later this year.

The other item to share is that I am altering my closing branding and tagging, both to step away from Apple branding ("Think different"), but also to more accurately reflect the direction of my creative focus.  Or, at least, I hope so.

It certainly appears that our new home is beginning to do a number of positive things to ease the creative constipation that I have felt for some time.

This is still just a work in progress, though, but isn't life?  So...

View life through a different lens...

Cheers!

I will never buy a player shirt from Manchester City again...

This would have been more timely about a month ago. It is only timely now because Manchester City is beginning its second UEFA Champions League campaign later today facing Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu after being assigned to another "group of death".

My wife and I have a running joke that any time we decide we like a product, the company producing it either ruins it by degradative changes, or discontinuing the product altogether. As this photo indicates, I seem to have the same effect on soccer players.

I admit that my Martin Petrov shirt was a late season discounted quixotic vote of support for a player whom, by injuries and management changes, I knew was probably on his way out. He was released by the club less than two weeks after I received my shirt, and moved to Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer about three weeks after that.

I liked the style of last year's away shirt, and was interested in purchasing one throughout the entire season.  Again, selecting a quick winger, Adam Johnson was chosen both because his play had made him my favorite player and the prevailing actions and language coming from both club and player suggested a longer term relationship may have been pending.  Lo and behold, Johnson's move to Sunderland ended up being not that big of a surprise either.

I continue to wish both Petrov and Johnson well.  Except when playing City.

In Umbro's last year as City's shirt supplier, (City announced in May that Nike will be the new shirt partner) they came up with a very nice home shirt, while the Premier League away shirt can be best described as "BORING".  I will say that even the old jerseys still get worn, as they are very comfortable to wear in the desert.

Sports being the uncertain thing that it is, while I certainly hope and believe that more Premier League Champion's badges will appear on shirts in the future, one must strike when the opportunity arises. 

Player jersey?  Not this time.  Carlos Tevez has a history of hot and cold with the club and its management.  David Silva did not get an extension until yesterday.  Javi Garcia was not signed until late in the transfer window, well after the pre-sale free scarf promotion.  Besides, who wants to see any of the current players leave the club?

OK, all in good fun, but still...

Think different.

Cheers!