I was recently invited to go see the play “Love, Loss and What I Wore” at the Panasonic Theatre.  To be honest I am far from being a “fashionista” and wasn’t sure what to expect, but I accepted the invite and I am so glad I did.  Based on the book by  Ilene Beckerman, Norah Ephron (When Harry Met Sally) and Delia Ephron (Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) created a quirky yet sweet production featuring vignettes and monologues based on pieces of clothing and the memories attached to them.  From homemade dresses made by mother and first bras, to finding the perfect wedding dress, “Love, Loss and What I Wore” is a play that every woman can relate to.

Louise Pitre, Andrea Martin, Paula Brancati and Sharron Matthews all gave stellar performances, but the one stand out of the night for me was Mary Walsh.  Known for her comedic talent, Walsh delivered a poignant and touching monologue about breast cancer, which was so genuine it moved me to tears yet finished with such a note of inspiration.

Another major surprise for me was my husband, whom I had brought with me and feared would be snoring, was actually immersed, as were most of the men present. “Love Loss and What I Wore” was uplifting, funny and moving throughout and I would highly recommend it.  The performance was outstanding as was the Panasonic Theatre and their incredible staff. I would like to say a special thank you to Hubert Hsu for the opportunity.

“Love Loss and What I Wore” is currently running at the Panasonic Theatre (Toronto) until September 4th and will feature a rotating cast July 16th  – August 7th : Andrea Martin, Sharron Matthews, Louis Pitre, Mary Walsh and Paula Brancati, August 10th – September 4th:  Wendy Crewson, Lauren Collins, Cynthia Dale and Margot Kidder .  For more information check out their website at http://lovelossonstage.ca/ and make sure to follow them on twitter @lovelosscanada.

~ Alan Alda

“You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you’ve got something to say.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Initially journals were kept as a matter of record.  People would document events that happen to keep a historical account to pass down to future generations.  Now newspapers, blogs, videos and media are the mainstay.  Many do still use journalling as a tool for documentation but many more seem to use it as a form of expression.

The process of putting pen to paper is therapeutic as it allows one to get the mass of emotions, ideas and information that is often jumbled and bouncing around inside one’s head out and in some structured form.    All of the clutter that is in a person’s mind can cause turmoil, stress or just distract one from the important things that need to be their focus.

Journals contain private thoughts committed to paper and need not be shared with others, which allow you to get your emotions down without censoring or fear of condemnation.  Creating a dedicated time throughout the day to journal is also therapeutic in itself; by giving yourself permission to spend time on yourself is a healthy indulgence.  Journalling also helps with planning and transformation.  Recording dreams, goals and wishes helps you keep your focus on your desired outcome, plan how to get there and keeps you honest with yourself about your limitations and progress.

When it comes to healing many people keep one or more journals.  General journals record hopes, fears, anxieties and are a great tool for self discovery.  Dream journals are great for tracking what recurring themes are presenting themselves in your dreams, thus helping you identify and address things that could be causing stress.  Gratitude journals are daily listings of things one is thankful for. Keeping a gratitude journal helps you focus on the positive things that are going on in your life and helps improve both your mood and attitude.  Idea journals are helpful for sparking creativity or problem solving.

The written word is a powerful thing. They provoke thought, act as a release, ignite creativity, and hold within them the power to heal.  Journalling can be an incredible life-changing process.

Almost two decades after Julia Cameron first published, “The Artists Way”, many still find this book a source of inspiration.   I found her book over ten years ago when on a mission to get back that creative passion I once had.  Over the years, my copy has been read and re-read leaving it with dog-eared pages and a rickety spine but I still turn to it when I find myself drifting from my creative self.  These days creativity is becoming more and more prevalent as people reach for meaning in their life.  Being creative takes us away from the hustle and bustle that inhabits our daily lives, stimulates both our brains and our souls. Often people have the desire to be creative have no clue where to start.

Go to any large bookstore and you will find a growing selection of books designed to teach you how to motivate yourself to live a creative existence. There are books on almost every creative genre whether it is writing, painting, crafts or acting. In addition, there are writers that, regardless of the chosen activity, focus on the creative process itself. These writers make it their mission to help you navigate through your creative journey. Julia Cameron is definitely one of the most prolific of these writers.   Cameron who is an artist, playwright, poet and writer herself has firsthand knowledge of exploring and maintaining ones creative spark.  Her expertise is not only shared in The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (Penguin Putman released in 1992 and re-released in 2002) but she has created a trilogy to address each aspect of what she calls “creative recovery”. “Walking in This World: The Practical Art of Creativity” (Penguin Group released 2002) is basically the intermediate version of The Artist’s Way which helps you to continue your creative growth and the third instalment, “Finding Water: The Art of Perseverance” (Penguin Group 2006) is meant to help those already following a creative path to overcome creative blocks and stagnancy.

In each book, Cameron has two main basic tools: Morning Pages and Artist Dates.

Morning Pages are three full pages written longhand first thing every morning. In these pages, you write without censoring yourself. You rant, dream, worry, create and explore in these pages and they help you to “Keep the drama on the page” and out of your daily routine.

Artist Dates are also a valuable tool to regain creative passion. These are essentially “dates” with your creative self. This time is meant to be spent alone nurturing your creativity. Artist’s dates can range from visiting an art gallery to going to a corner craft store

Each book consists of a twelve-week course designed to gradually get you comfortable with the creative process through the use of tools and exercises which motivate and inspire.

The Artist’s Way has spawned what are called “creativity clusters” which are groups of compassionate readers who get together to work on the course together. Working in such a way can help for many as it gives you a sense of accountability, which can keep you focused and moving forward.

Although this process can be challenging and require courage – growth is not effortless, it takes time but it is an investment in yourself.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”~Pablo Picasso

The Artists Way

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

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