How do you stay inspired during uninspiring times?

Undertow · Jun 22, 2012

R.G. White said:
...Something interesting I've noticed is that times were more interesting when people were more oppressed. There was more 'scope for imagination'...

They say conflict breeds creativity.

When someone must function within limited confines, the human spirit vis a vis creativity necessarily compensates.

There was a documentary years ago about the last prisoners of Alcatraz. One of them said he had been locked in "the hole" for a month and only saw light two moments in a day when the guards would slide him food. He said that the darkness would drive him absolutely mad, and so to pass the time, he pulled a button off his shirt and threw it. He would spend hours feeling around the floor for the button. As soon as he'd found it, he would throw it again.

That probably doesn't sound "creative", but imagine the comfort a mindless task such as that must have brought. When we are forced into a tight spot, and we're limited in our actions, we tend to adapt fairly well, given enough time. One of the adaptations is creativity.

C-dot · Jun 22, 2012

Undertow said:
I just thought of something - I find inspiration in architecture.

The most inspiring moment of my life so far was because of architecture: It was after I saw the play Private Lives last October at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre, a most opulent building completed in the early 1900s. Something about standing outside under the lights, waiting to see a play, with the sound of the city nightlife and smartly dressed people around me - For just a second, it felt like 1948

AmateisGal · Jun 23, 2012

For my escape from reality tonight, I made zucchini bread using zucchini from our garden (we took a chance and planted early this year - it paid off!) and listened to Gene Krupa while I did it. I'll take that kind of Friday night any day over going to a night club and having beer spilled on me.

Miss Moonlight · Jun 23, 2012

I usually listen to lounge, swing or classic jazz while I cook dinner every night. It's one of the little things in life that I find absolutely satisfying.

Feraud · Jun 23, 2012

AmateisGal said:
I'll take that kind of Friday night any day over going to a night club and having beer spilled on me.

Really? You mean you don't feel "empowered" behaving like a desperate drunken idiot??

PrettySquareGal · Jun 23, 2012

AmateisGal said:
For my escape from reality tonight, I made zucchini bread using zucchini from our garden (we took a chance and planted early this year - it paid off!) and listened to Gene Krupa while I did it. I'll take that kind of Friday night any day over going to a night club and having beer spilled on me.

See, I cant think of anything more real than eating real food that you grew. Which brings me to....what is "real?"

"Reality TV" is not.

Much of the news is fiction.

And just because people are really acting crazy doesn't mean they are living "in reality."

Or do I sound like a kook? :eeek:

AmateisGal · Jun 23, 2012

Feraud said:
Really? You mean you don't feel "empowered" behaving like a desperate drunken idiot??

Nope! lol

RodeoRose · Jun 23, 2012

I almost never visit 'the real world' in my free time. It's not really that I live in the past, more that I'm creating a world for myself which only contains the things I like.

Yes, this is me as well. I've never really consciously shunned modern things... I just find a lot of solace and inspiration in things long out of fashion. To whomever mentioned architecture: that too! I work at my university's art museum, which is a most grand building complete with a full marble hall and plenty of creaky old corners; being there, and being surrounded by centuries worth of fine art and artifacts, is incredibly stimulating. Same goes for used bookstores and little old libraries...

One of the [few] nice things about living in the rural countryside is how little the negative aspects of modern life trickle down... it's quite easy to forget things like suburbia and celebrity culture exist when you are surrounded by beautiful old working farms, rolling meadows, historic little villages, and hard-working independent people. That sounds terribly mawkish, ha! But there you go.

PS: While I'm being sappy, I may as well admit that occasionally when I am feeling particularly stressed or isolated from others, I too watch Mr. Rogers; Fred Rogers is truly the most comforting, wise person! Rewatching old episodes is better (and cheaper) than therapy. lol

Feraud · Jun 24, 2012

PrettySquareGal said:
See, I cant think of anything more real than eating real food that you grew. Which brings me to....what is "real?"

"Reality TV" is not.

Much of the news is fiction.

And just because people are really acting crazy doesn't mean they are living "in reality."

Or do I sound like a kook? :eeek:

Those are very good observations. The more real people claim they are the more contrived they come off. I never met a person claiming to "keeping it real" who was in any way real or particularly interesting.

PrettySquareGal · Jun 24, 2012

Feraud said:
Those are very good observations. The more real people claim they are the more contrived they come off. I never met a person claiming to "keeping it real" who was in any way real or particularly interesting.

Thank you.

If "living in reality" means being involved in everything current, that makes me mad.

William Stratford · Jun 24, 2012

C-dot said:
The most inspiring moment of my life so far was because of architecture

I can well understand that, as I really do not know how the cultural vandal modernists were (ARE!!) ever allowed to design buildings....

Medieval:

Georgian:

Victorian:

Edwardian:

Modernist:

The wonders of "form follows function"....god's teeth the people who designed these should have been fed to the fishes!!

Amy Jeanne · Jun 24, 2012

C-dot said:
The most inspiring moment of my life so far was because of architecture: It was after I saw the play Private Lives last October at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre, a most opulent building completed in the early 1900s. Something about standing outside under the lights, waiting to see a play, with the sound of the city nightlife and smartly dressed people around me - For just a second, it felt like 1948

Interesting. I've had this feeling, too. One time my husband and I were walking down 10th street in Philly. It was dark out so all the night lights were shining. My husband and I were walking behind a nicely dressed couple about our age. We were the only 4 people on the sidewalk and no cars were driving down the street. The girls had on a skirt to her knees, heels, and a fur coat that looked somewhat 1920s. She had a short bobbed hairdo. For just a couple of seconds I imagined it was 1928. My husband laughed at me, but it worked! It was fun and I do it whenever I can (which is rare...lol)

Amy Jeanne · Jun 24, 2012

I also understand what you mean in finding inspiration in architecture. I try to whenever I see something I love:

In Bloomsburg, PA

Vents at 30th Street Station, Philly

Philly Art Museum

Interior of 30th Street Station. Yes, every time I go there I pretend I am in a pre-Code movie for a few seconds...lol

Swing Motorman · Jun 25, 2012

Ah, 30th Street Station! The memories of that place... I agree with the architecture comments as a whole, especially regarding that grand old railroad terminal. They're inspiring in a grander fashion than many things people create today and leave behind for future generations.

The architecture talk made me think of the real, working gas lamps & vintage buildings in downtown Wellsboro, PA, where I go on my shopping days. A couple days ago, I walked around town in my work uniform, needing some replacement oar clips for my rowboat. Strolling into town dressed for my vintage job was one thing, but coming back out of town with the hardware and a new-to-me working vintage railroad lantern (thanks to the lovely antiques stores of Wellsboro!) felt even better. Vintage inspiration at its finest, and people paused to comment/compliment me on it, too.

Like I often say, many people today like old-fashioned things. You just have to remind them of how much they like them!

-Steven

TomS · Jun 26, 2012

I've been a cop for 25 years. During that time I've been shot at, spit on, well you get the picture. Anyway, the thing that comes to me when I work my beat each night is the incredible good I see. Yes, you read that right. I see folks helping each other ALL the time. The reason you dont see it in the media is it doesnt sell, but people are doing kind, incredibly brave, selfless acts every day. Some even still hold doors...lol

PrettySquareGal · Jun 26, 2012

TomS said:
I've been a cop for 25 years. During that time I've been shot at, spit on, well you get the picture. Anyway, the thing that comes to me when I work my beat each night is the incredible good I see. Yes, you read that right. I see folks helping each other ALL the time. The reason you dont see it in the media is it doesnt sell, but people are doing kind, incredibly brave, selfless acts every day. Some even still hold doors...lol

That's good to hear and I don't doubt it. I'm glad you aren't jaded and are able to experience people with a heart and soul.

Angus Forbes · Jun 26, 2012

TomS said:
I've been a cop for 25 years. During that time I've been shot at, spit on, well you get the picture. Anyway, the thing that comes to me when I work my beat each night is the incredible good I see. Yes, you read that right. I see folks helping each other ALL the time. The reason you dont see it in the media is it doesnt sell, but people are doing kind, incredibly brave, selfless acts every day. Some even still hold doors...lol

Tom -- thanks for your service, and thanks for posting this!

AmateisGal · Jun 26, 2012

Angus Forbes said:
Tom -- thanks for your service, and thanks for posting this!

Ditto!

Undertow · Jun 26, 2012

William Stratford said:
I can well understand that, as I really do not know how the cultural vandal modernists were (ARE!!) ever allowed to design buildings...
The wonders of "form follows function"....god's teeth the people who designed these should have been fed to the fishes!!

No kidding! Architecture from the 60's forward was just bad. There wasn't really much built in the 40's due to the war, but what does survive was usually pretty utilitarian, from what I've seen. And the 50's saw a massive boom in residential development, but most of the architecture I've seen with those are pretty plain - in other words, nothing to grumble about. At least in the US, I should add.

With the integration of central heating and cooling, as well as more electric lighting, buildings in the 60's and forward, (until probably the early 90's) were built to look like these evil, monolithic giants with tiny windows and crazy, blocky shapes. Can't stand it.

Give me something from the 10's! Lots of brickwork, huge windows and wood floors! Ahhh, drool...

PrettySquareGal · Jun 28, 2012

Lately watching The Carol Burnette Show on youtube is doing wonders. I wish the whole show was available on DVD. The only thing I could find was a site that didn't look official-ish. But that show always makes me laugh.

How do you stay inspired during uninspiring times?

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