Thoughtful Thursday: My Current Fun Thing - Stationery Stash Boxes

So, if you are not a regular reader of this blog, you may not know that I am currently engaged in bullet journaling as a form of self-care and scheduling and something creative to do when I am in need of a spark.

This engagement in a style of time management is becoming more than just "the way I do things." It is rapidly becoming a big part of my life. I watch planning videos to help me fall asleep at night - watching other people draw and paint is very relaxing to me. I enjoy seeing how people take some watercolors and make beautiful things in their journals. I don't do that. I've finally found a way to do this that works for me - no watercoloring or pretty pictures - just function for me.

ANYWAY, one of the other things that has happened recently, bullet journal related of course, is that I now receive three stationery boxes every month. There is a picture of my latest box above. In these boxes, I get fancy pens and pencils, washi tape, cards, notepads, (excited squeals) fancy post-it notes, and clips and things. At the moment, I am not really using these things very much, I am just collecting, but I intend on using all this stuff in my creative pursuits.

I got started on this type of thing when I treated myself to a couple of subscriptions to Music Therapy Mailings. It was fun to get a package at my door every month. Many times, the stuff inside was not directly applicable to my clientele, but the books and file folders and visual aids and stuff like that were great for tickling my creative spirit. I took many of the ideas and developed them into things that did work with my clients.

There is something thrilling about getting mail.

I've been thinking about something like this for music therapists, but I'm not exactly sure what it would include. We don't have lots of cutesy stuff like pencil sharpeners and the like as music therapists, but not having that stuff might be something that we MTs could use - a collection of weird stuff with therapeutic music experiences attached to them. I don't know. I just enjoy getting my own mail so much that I want other people to get that same feeling. Just a thought that is percolating in the back of my mind - it may never move into reality, but it's fun to think about...

The problem is that this habit and joy-filled activity adds to my hoard. I have to figure out ways to use these things or they will take over my life. In the meantime, though, I am just going to enjoy the random frog pens and snarky cards that I am receiving.

I hope that there is something in your life that gives you joy - whether it be stationery boxes or other things - there has to be joy in a life. If you want more information about my ideas for music therapists, comment below. I would love to be able to flesh out the idea and make it a reality...

Happy Thursday.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Going on a Squeegee Hunt

One of the songs that I sang over and over and over again as a song leader in Girl Scouts was "Going on a Squeegee Hunt ." Now, you may be wondering what a "squeegee" is - good question! It is an imaginary creature that was probably invented by some obscure girl scout in Southern California many, MANY years ago! Anyway, similar to the traditional children's song of " Going on a Lion/Bear/Tiger Hunt ," the song takes you through a sequential process over, under, around, and through various obstacles towards a goal. Today, as I am sitting here writing, I am thinking about the poor squeegee being hunted. It is just in its cave, trying to do its squeegee things without interruption, when suddenly, BOOM! Some Girl Scout arrives to poke it! The poor squeegee does what it can - it jumps up and chases the Girl Scout all the way home!! This has not been a good work week. It is amazing how people will make mountains out of molehills. Here is the deal. I se...
Read more

Songwriting Sunday: Client Goals First and Foremost

Image
When I am writing music, I tend to do one of two things. I either start with a specific client in mind and write for that client's goals and objectives, or I start with an idea and let the idea grow regardless of the clients that I am serving at the time. I spend time with lots of hypothetical clients - thinking about the vast number of clients and their unique goals as I develop songs and therapeutic music experiences (TMEs). Today, though, I would like to start with the first focus - that of a specific client and his or her or their goals. Currently, I am sharing a wall with a class of students who are experiencing lots of life and school changes. Two students have transferred from residential care to home care and are now day students. One student is brand new to the classroom. Another student recently left the class. All of these changes have shifted the dynamics in the classroom group, and old behaviors of concern have reemerged as well as finding new behaviors to contribute. ...
Read more

Dear AMTA

Dear American Music Therapy Association: I am debating long and hard about remaining in this relationship. I have been in this relationship since college, and this is not a decision that I am taking lightly or without great cost.  I am not happy with what you are bringing to this relationship. Now, I have been a selfish partner over the past several years - mainly because I am not feeling like we share a common mission anymore. It is easy for me to place the blame on you, but I know that this is not all on me. I have tried to be invested in communication and support and understanding, but everyone comes to a time where enough is enough. I am trying very hard to decide if the benefits that you provide to me are worth the feelings that I have about where I think you and I are going. I am not sure that our destination is the same anymore, and this makes me sad. To be completely honest, I am only in this relationship these days for the music therapy interns. I don't think that is a hea...
Read more