Simple Gifts

Curiosity and Clues

Simple Gifts

Allowing a sense of awe can bring a simple gift. Wonderment, a little bit of mystery and a snapshot of the big picture @ all systems go. Yes.

Regarding the gray fish image at the top of this post. I have very few words to say about it. I have a sense of awe about it. Yes, I did it but it wasn’t all me. I have not signed it yet. I don’t necessarily think it’s beautiful. It doesn’t exactly catch my breath. Who cares? I am stopped. For a moment. Now and again when it catches my eye.

The why of my own art has been nagging and I may have gotten a clue when I began to ask about the neuro-chemistry of flow time. It’s the good stuff: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, etc. I lean into it.

This from the web:

Being “in the zone”—scientifically known as a flow state—is driven by a unique neurochemical cascade and a process called transient hypofrontality, where parts of the brain temporarily dial down to let optimized performance take over.

Instead of your brain working harder, specific regions quiet down while a powerful mix of neurotransmitters sharpens focus, rewards the action, and erases self-doubt.

Quotes from Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/27446.Mih_ly_Cs_kszentmih_lyi

…..

Transient hypofrontality is the temporary reduction of activity in the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking, planning, and your inner critic—when your brain shifts energy to handle intense physical movement or deep focus.

Quieting the mind: Higher cognitive networks temporarily slow down or “turn off,” which stops overthinking and self-doubt.

It helps unlock the flow state, where you feel completely immersed, creative, and effortless in your actions.

Yep. Seems like a pretty good clue to me.

…..

Since 2003 I have seen eight counselors or therapists. Six men. Two women. One therapist for two sessions and one for three. They are people.

I met with CBS, a woman, for five years. Currently, number eight and I, are at about three and a half years.

I finally figured out that to bring my best self was the best thing I could do for me. New Art, Ideas, Joy.

I do not go there to weep and moan. No bitching or complaining. Well, not none, but nearly none.

Some of it is her of course. She doesn’t challenge me to do very much differently. She’s not fixing. She is listening. She has a few ideas and comments. She is a connector. Being heard helps. A lot.

And we’ve decided that I’m fine enough that I don’t necessarily need any heavy lifting. I asked. She said.

She is Hispanic. She’s an artist, a guitarist and does not share a last name with her spouse. Like me with mine. Those are lovely points of contact.

Her initials are G and D. Oddly she has no middle name. She is my therapist number eight. Number eight in Spanish is Ocho.

Secretly I call her G Ocho D. And once I shortened it up to GOD. Out loud. The look on her face was such that I’ve only done that once so far. Where’s the camera when you need it?

At any rate, I recently brought a piece of art to leave on the table next to ‘my’ chair. A little piece of art standing up with a paper clip and a dollar bill as an easel.

I have asked GOD not to go on and on about me, but just asked her to share her space that I may leave tokens behind. Unsigned. No propaganda or QR code. A simple gift. A surprise.

Apparently GOD also has a patient that has gotten all three of them so far. Anonymous as much as we can be. And I’m sure she’s had lovely interactions on her end. She hasn’t described the hell out of it. That’s GOD for ya.

Simple Gifts

Traditional/Shaker

’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free,
’Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
’Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan’t be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
’Til by turning, turning we come ’round right.

’Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free,
’Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be.
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
’Twill be in the valley of love and delight.