I've been reading a lot of great books lately. Last week I finished "The Kite Runner". I absolutely loved this book. I finished it in two days. Friendship, love, betrayal – it all captivated me. I also loved reading about a different culture.
This past weekend I finished "The Memory Keeper's Daughter". It took me over two weeks to finish it. I read it out of obligation... it's for my book club that meets next week. I just couldn't get into it. I guess because I didn't agree with the actions of the main characters, so I had a hard time caring for any of them.
A couple of people have recommended some books for me to read. Which I can't wait to get myself to the bookstore to buy. But until I get there, I decided to see if I have any books in our library that I haven't read.
While perusing the stacks, I came across a book that I bought + read almost ten years ago, "Orbiting the Giant Hairball. A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace" by Gordon MacKenzie. It's a great little book by a fabulous man that I had the privilege of meeting.
This book "inspires one to slip the bonds of Corporate
Normalcy and rise to orbit - to a mode of dreaming, daring, and doing
above and beyond the rubber-stamp confines of the administrative
mind-set. In his deeply funny book, exuberantly illustrated in full
color, he shares lessons on awakening and fostering creative genius. He
teaches how to emerge from the "giant hairball" - that tangled,
impenetrable mass of rules, and systems, based on what worked in the
past and which can lead to mediocrity in the present."
Gordon use to work for Hallmark Cards, where his title was "Creative Paradox". {how fabulous is that?} He worked there for over 30 years. In 1991 he started giving workshops on maintaining creativity in bureaucratic environments.
One of the paper companies here in Boston had hired him to speak to a bunch of designers. I was fortunate enough to be invited to a dinner with him prior to the function. I remember – he was so inspiring, so creative, so full of life + wisdom. Though I worked for a small design boutique at the time + not a corporation, a lot of of the themes + concepts he spoke about resonated with me. In fact, you don't have to work to appreciate what he has to say.
I have decided to reread this book. And it's just what I need. Something to jump start my creativity... get me thinking again. And, make me laugh.
Even though I no longer work for a someone else, in a company, I sometimes feel stuck...creatively...as well as just well, stuck. I feel like there are too many rules I have to follow... which is funny, because the only rules I have to follow are my own!
One of the stories he tells in the book is called, "No access". Gordon tells about the time he was visiting La Jolla, CA.. He found himself at the beach after giving a presentation. He decided he wanted to swim. But to get to the beach, he had to get down these cliffs. He saw large signs saying, "danger, stay back, no beach access" But figured, hey, those people got down there, so can I. So he writes how he manages to climb down the cliffs. Marveling at his climbing skill + feeling exhilarated he kept going till he could go no more.
As you read his words, you can imagine his voice. You can feel his excitement. His giddiness. Well, he ended up getting stuck... 40 feet above the water, with no way down. He did not know what to do. He just sat there, on the cliff... wondering how he let that happen. Some people finally noticed that he was hanging out on a cliff, with no way down... and they realized he needed help. He had to be rescued by a helicopter.
He writes how all of us, at one time or another experience an impasse in our lives. How sometimes, it's hard to admit, you're stuck. That you need help. The moral of this story? {there's always one at the end} Courage. Not courage to break the rules... but courage to admit you need help. Sometimes, we need courage to cross boundaries, and courage to deal with the consequences of breaking those boundaries :) He reminds us that in order to grow, explore we must.
After reading half the book, I'm feeling a bit better, a bit, unstuck. I guess a lot of those rules I follow + have in place are there for a reason. But some rules, I can + should reevaluate. It's realizing which rules are beneficial, and which ones are detrimental that I need to pay attention to. I guess this was the kind of help, I was needing to hear. :)
What books are you reading?
Do you have a favorite book that you read that inspires you? Encourages you?
