1. Observe your cat (or any cat)

Cats do not get the blues.  They show appreciation by bringing you their latest capture as a token of their love.  Their tails give fair warning when it’s time to quit – whatever it is you’re doing.

Leah Piken Kolidas does a wonderful rendition of cats with her Itty Bitty Kitty Stories.

2,  Listen to music

Music is a touchstone for almost all of us.  It takes you back to before you knew so much, when there were long stretches of lay-around-and-listen time (you can still choose that, you know).  Lyrics, like poetry lines, can shine a light into dark corners and bring bright “ahas.”

Here’s Leonard Cohen doing Anthem (many thanks to Silver Springs who wrote a wonderful blog on the glory of imperfection and included this clip along with a clip by K.D. Lang.)

3.  Knowing you are never alone

Even though it feels like it sometimes.  Especially we artists who work so often by ourselves in our studios.   We humans all share in lonliness, overwhelm and wondering why everyone but us gets (fill in the blank)(or blanks).

4. (Because delivering more than is promised is always such a surprise and pleasure!)

Believe in magic

Because it really is there, just out of the corner of your eye, or around the corner, or maybe already in the palm of your hand.  You have to take a breath and then believe (sort of like

clapping your hands for Tinkerbell to live-and she still does, doesn’t she?!) and it will appear.

Wylde Women’s Wisdom:

General Wolf Rules for Life:  1.  Eat; 2. Rest; 3. Rove in between; 4. Render loyalty; 5 Love the children; 6. Cavil in the moonlight; 7 Tune your ears; 8. Attend to the bones; 9. Make love; 10.  Howl often.     Clarissa Pinkola-Estes