Here we are again, folks! Out with the old! In with the new! Many of us have already reflected a bit about the past year and prepared one or more New Year’s Resolutions. What can we promise ourselves to start or stop doing on the first day of the year, that we’d truly stick with, once decided? (If you’re reading this after day 1 of any new year, you have my permission to start wherever you are!) Often New Year’s resolutions are about kicking a habit or improving our own lives in some way. In my efforts to support and inspire others, I love to throw out random alternative ideas. We can create New Year’s Resolutions from anything that sparks us! For instance, I enjoyed fashioning this poem (of sorts) with relevant rhyming words to suggest a wider view of resolutions. (Many of these serve to share impact beyond our...

Last year, I retired from my full-time (what some people call “real”) job, to revive my music career. This is not the first time my creative spirit won over. In fact, my creative spirit draws me back every time I try to leave it. Folks often tell us we cannot sustain a livable income with creative activities and that they are just hobbies. They should be put aside, so we might support ourselves and families monetarily. It is also a competitive world in the arts. With dreams of fame and fortune, some artists are not even recognized as “great” until after they pass away! Why do we do it? Is it wealth, personal satisfaction, dream, or reality? Personally, I can say that I never really followed the leader or listened to what people told me to do. (My parents could attest to that!) I did what I wanted to do, and...

Here is an inspiring creative excerpt from David Mezzapelle's new book, 10 Habits of Truly Optimistic People: A Surprise Pearl of Wisdom by Marian Heath Axley In 1954, the basketball coliseum was the only place large enough to seat the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences freshman class for their first indoctrination. The class ranks overflowed with Korean War veterans who had opted to get an education with the GI Bill, and the university personnel would be severely strained to accommodate the huge increase in student numbers. A university dignitary on the podium gave a welcoming speech and then an admonishment to the newbies. “Look to your right, look to your left. One of you will not be here next year.”  However, I had no plans of failing out or dropping out. To my right was a mature, beefy guy. To my left was a scrawny fellow. It ain’t gonna...

If you are like most people, as the end of the year approaches, you begin to formulate New Year's Resolutions.  Gung ho!  Everything sounds WOW on paper.  Raising the bar, you vow to create more, more regularly, spend 1 hour writing a day, or create 5 pair of earrings tomorrow.  Publish an album of music this coming year!  Earn $1,000,000 in royalties by next Christmas.  Get a publisher to notice you.  (Right?) I do it to myself as well.  Realistically, at least I try to set some goals to work towards (though I don't wait until the end of the year to do so - I do it every day).  I think it is great to have some goals, something to look forward to, something to strive for, but in our creative world, creating is also supposed to be fun!  To me, resolutions and goals are the same thing.  What's the...

My name is Paula C Snyder. I am not a medical doctor or PhD. My college Bachelor’s Degree shows a major in Psychology. (I use it on myself to stay sane).   I am a vocalist, musician, songwriter, artist, and motivational speaker with fairly equal right and left brain function. I am mature (after ripening for years), and experienced (plenty of bad with some amazing goods). What do I know about “Staying Inspired”? Staying Inspired is how I survive whatever life throws at me, and still end up in a joyful state. I know the benefits of staying inspired because I have experienced many different things in my life by following my own unique path, (often despite the well-intended advice of others). I have tried and failed. I have tried and succeeded too. I’ve lived, and learned. I want to keep living -- and learning. My body is wearing out. So what?...

With all the newscasts/social media posts regarding Corona virus, stock market dips, presidential elections, (plus our everyday natural disasters, robberies, murders, and people who do stupid things) – a girl – or anyone - could get depressed!Just the other day, I saw a Facebook post suggesting we rate our level of worry (from 1 to 10) about the impact of Corona Virus. If I were to put a lot of thought into that discussion, I’d be even more worried! It didn’t make sense to RATE my level of worry. Instead, I acknowledged the issue with a remark that I’d rather focus on the things I COULD do.We may not be able to change what’s happening around us, but if we have positive ideas and share them, perhaps we can make these times more tolerable, even joyful, as we navigate SOLUTIONS to the bigger problems. It’s up to us to “Stay Inspired”....

While the media continues to report details about our current pandemic, the future outlook seems uncertain. We’ve been instructed to limit many of our activities, and find ourselves guessing about worst case scenarios.   It’s human nature to be frightened about the unknown, which causes further fear, panic, hoarding, isolation, and hopelessness.Perhaps if we find ways to SHOW OUR WORK - and its positive impact on others, we can brighten our present – and future outlook.  The idea came to me while reading a book by Austin Kleon. “Show Your Work! 10 ways to share your creativity and get discovered” is full of amazing ideas in short excerpts with whimsical illustrations. I nodded “Yes” to each chapter’s ideas, and also had some “Why didn’t I think of that?” moments. Kleon’s intended audience may be creative entrepreneurs, but there’s no reason we can’t “Steal Like an Artist 10 Things Nobody Told You About...

While we wait out the effects of Corona Virus, things are getting more and more restrictive. There are fewer places to go if we want to leave our houses. Many who can, are working at home. Kids are out of school. Everyone’s already a little stir crazy. Right? Though we probably have a year’s worth of projects on our “to do” lists, maybe we can challenge ourselves to have some fun (especially to relieve stress - since we have little control over anything else). Cleaning house and organizing gets boring after a while. What else can we do to Stay Inspired – and keep ourselves entertained? These days, the ability to use technology ties us to our various devices. Sure – there are lots of videos, social media posts, free concerts by laymen and professionals, e-books, etc. We are conducting business on our devices, (posting blogs J), and joining virtual classes/services/community...

I just spent almost 2 hours singing my heart out on the front porch with my 1977 Ovation Legend (guitar). An occasional neighborhood walker stopped (at a distance) to listen or strike up a conversation. Otherwise, I mostly entertained myself. Either way, it gave me a needed warm up/practice and was entirely a joyful experience! Everyone’s aware (or should be) that we are currently under government recommendations and imposed limitations with orders to “Stay at Home” in our immediate area, and many areas in the country. Up until approximately a month ago, I was running around like crazy (a good crazy) with performances, meetings, errands, and doing my workouts at the health club. (I love water Zumba!) With “Stay at Home” restrictions in place, it’s interesting that I didn’t feel an immediate personal panic. My mind easily shifted to “the pressure’s off” mode. Though I am not excited about having to...

Spring’s always been my favorite season. It brings warmer weather with occasional cool days and winter storm surprises in most of the US areas I have lived. We can’t fully exchange our winter clothes for spring attire, because we are being teased about the real changes until the summer comes along! I actually enjoy this erratic season. Spring wakes us up, keeps us on our toes, and whisks away boredom. Spring brings renewal. April showers revive dormant trees and flowers, while softening the soil for new planting. Fragrant buds are blooming. Birds are singing up a storm. Woodpeckers are tap-tap-tapping, Our local Blue Jays are readying their nests. It doesn’t matter that our Woodpeckers want to peck holes in our beautiful freshly stained cedar siding, or that our Blue Jays want to nest directly in our mailbox. I can even overlook pollen provoking spring allergies. There’s just something amazingly refreshing about...

How do we embrace available technology to connect?If you’re like me, you may not be aware of all the possible technological tools available to counter the “disconnect” we are experiencing these days. We may not feel savvy enough, but it is possible to learn something new every day, if we choose. Our connectedness has been forced into dormancy as a result of the current viral pandemic. This situation has set off cravings for in-person social activity, as never before. Certainly, we are seeing a lot of creative ways people are finding to connect despite the current restrictions, such as: --Waving a “Hey!” across the grocery aisles or to passerbys walking down the street--Complimenting someone’s hand-made mask (while keeping our distance – of course)--Honking our automobile horn at others as we drive around with the windows open--Shouting a “Good dog!” to the neighbor’s pet, who (we hope) is truly constrained by electronic...

 If we had a chance to plant something for the future, what would it be? Our spring weather has been erratic this year. Still, in our neighborhoods, locals are at work cleaning up their gardens, trimming bushes, seeding lawns, and planting annuals. Colorful pansies are one of the favorite blooms found around borders, mailbox posts, and up walkways. Depending on our local climates, some planting tasks maybe done year-round. It might not be productive to toss seeds randomly out our windows any given season, hoping to see them sprout. On the other hand, Jack’s mother threw magic beans out their window in the fairytale “Jack and the Beanstalk”, which yielded some interesting - and scary - adventures for Jack. This confirms that planning is helpful, but some spontaneous actions work in magical ways too. Gardens are the most obvious things that come to mind. Vegetables gardens are great because we can...

Earlier this year, I invited my daughter to a vision boarding workshop. We each took our time to envision what we wanted our respective worlds to look like for 2023. My daughter is much more artistically discerning than I, and I tried not to compare my efforts with hers. I looked around the room of other women, also trying not to feel intimidated with the process of "creating" visual art.  I did feel a little out of my comfort zone.  I think of myself as artistic (actually have a minor in art from college), but music and writing are my creative fortes (over drawing, painting, collaging, and other visual arts).   When creating art, I prefer "function" over look, with a purpose (aside from just showcasing it to view).  I love to repurpose objects and create things (like a unique chess set out of automotive parts) with everyday function.For our vision board...

Spring cleaning!   Out with the old, in with the new!   Feels good to declutter our surroundings, right? Wondering what to do with all the stuff you find during your "Spring Cleaning"?  This article, initially written as a guest blog for Activate Good, will help you take your efforts to new (and creative) levels!    Activate Good, a Raleigh NC nonprofit, connects volunteers with opportunities to serve, educates folks on community issues, assists companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibility, empowers youth to lead and serve, and so much more.  If you aren't in the Raleigh NC area, there are likely organizations in your community that would be ecstatic to receive your recycled and upcycled donations. National Volunteer Week is in April annually.  This year, it's April 21-27, 2024!  Visit ActivateGood.org for local volunteer opportunities (Greater Raleigh NC) or Google National Volunteer Week 2024 to find suggestions near you. Click here to read the...

Giving Back - Emphasize Abilities!   When it comes to volunteering, we all have our individual skill sets, interests, and passions.  Though some people are prone to talk in terms of deficit, or judge and compare others, why not choose inclusivity and ability instead? This article, initially written as a guest blog for Activate Good, (during our Covid Pandemic shortly after the 30th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act) addresses misconceptions around people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (We'll abbreviate as “I/DD” here). Read some beautiful success stories about community residents with I/DD who are giving back along with some organizations in Raleigh NC who help facilitate this emphasis on ability!    "At the end of the day, we are all human..." (Michele Foy, ARC of the Triangle) Activate Good, a Raleigh NC nonprofit, connects volunteers with opportunities to serve, educates folks on community issues, assists companies to fulfill their corporate social responsibility, empowers youth to lead and serve,...

A Singing Telegram?  Isn't that when someone dresses up in a silly costume, runs up to a designated person, sings "Happy Birthday" (or something else), and does something embarrassing for the fun of it? Do they still do that? Singing telegrams have been around since 1933. Per Wikipedia, they were first delivered by Western Union, as an attempt to make telegrams more popular and fun than the standard topics of urgent news: (like "Your uncle died. Stop. Funeral in 2 weeks. Stop...." - you get the idea). Telegrams were delivered in person. When telephones became a standard household service in the 1960s, in person telegrams fell off because people could call to talk to each other directly. Western Union suspended its singing telegram services about 1974, but independent companies continued to provide them.  The practice is still very much alive today.   So, what is a singing telegram?  People often imagine sending someone dressed up in costume...

Oh my gosh! My right shoulder and arm have been feeling oddly numb and “heavy-ish” for over a week, though I have no pain. The sensation came on suddenly upon waking one morning. It is difficult to describe this vague persistent “discomfort”. Being right-handed, this has interfered a bit with a variety of regular activities. So far, I have no definitive answer about what the problem is and how to treat it. Emotionally upset, my confidence is shaken when considering future commitments. My mind races. I get anxious and wonder “What will happen next?” Am I having a heart problem? On the verge of a stroke? Muscle over-use syndrome? Nerve impingement in my shoulder or neck? A brain tumor? Multiple Sclerosis? (Is this the end?) Am I right in saying most of us have gone through similar thought processes about our health at one time or another? Have you ever driven...

AI (artificial intelligence) is all the rage. In my networking meetings and social media posts, folks are asking “How do you use AI to streamline your business?”. Surveys are being conducted through web platforms. Market research studies ask about our uses of AI. Companies who sell subscriptions to such services, and product developers want to know. How can AI make life easier? AI has been incorporated with technology for many everyday uses.  For instance, telephone solicitation, voice menus to access any customer service entity by phone, social media, financial and accounting services. We’re so used to it. We may not notice it at all (except how annoying it is when AI doesn’t understand our question or is programmed to keep looping a specific set of answers and nothing else). I don’t know about you, but I have mixed feelings about AI. When people ask me how I use it, or what...

PROCRASTINATION! If you are like me, your long “to do” list keeps getting moved from one day to the next without a single dent in it! Sure, I rise on time to head out for some exercise. I certainly don’t forget to eat, (and eat, and eat), sit down in front of the TV, watch the news (and the talk show, and whatever comes on next), check my e-mail, social media, “like” a few posts, pop out a few birthday greetings, look at articles (many of which aren’t 100% truth based), maybe turn on my desk top computer, then walk away to check on something I forgot in the kitchen. I started this blog more than a few weeks ago. Though I keep coming back to it, with all that procrastination, it’s a wonder I complete any task! On the other hand, nobody has complained that I didn’t respond to them,...

We are now in the “Season of Giving”. For some that means getting Christmas or Hannukah and other celebratory gifts purchased, wrapped, and sent. We plan gatherings for exchanging gifts and find many excuses to party!For others it’s giving back in lots of ways, like showing appreciation, donating time, volunteering, or monitarily supporting our favorite nonprofit(s), which are all meaningful and often lasting gifts for those who benefit. “Giving Tuesday” is annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a global movement to be generous in giving back to our communities. Founded in 2012 by United Nations Foundation, there is an organization and website for Giving Tuesday: https://www.givingtuesday.org. As Giving Tuesday approaches, we are reminded and encouraged to participate by multiple entities.  Anybody can give in a small or big way, though it’s not only, or all, about giving money.  (Note, “Giving Tuesday” is a NEW movement as it relates to my own personal years!)...