This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:10] Laura Camien: When I bump into something that inspires me, I jump in my spark file.

[0:18] Susan Blackwell: Spark file! To be something that I wanna make or how I wanna be, I pump it in my spark spot.

[0:26] Laura Camien: Spark!

[0:28] Susan Blackwell: I jump into my sparks. Let's open up the spark file.

[0:37] Laura Camien: Welcome to the Spark File, where we believe that everyone is creative, but smart creative people don't go it alone.

[0:43] Susan Blackwell: I'm Laura Camien.

[0:44] Susan Blackwell: And I'm Susan Blackwell, and we are creativity coaches who help people clarify and accomplish their creative goals.

[0:51] Laura Camien: You should know that just by listening to this podcast, you are joining a warm and wonderful clan of creatives.

[0:58] Susan Blackwell: But you may also be asking yourself, what exactly is a spark file?

[0:58] Laura Camien: A spark file is a place where you consistently collect all of your inspirations and fascinations.

[1:07] Susan Blackwell: Every episode, we're gonna reach into our spark files and exchange some sparks.

[1:13] Laura Camien: And from time to time, we're gonna talk to some folks who spark us too.

[1:17] Susan Blackwell: And your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take some of those sparks of inspiration and make something of your own.

[1:24] Laura Camien: So without further ado, let's open up the spark file.

[1:29] Susan Blackwell: Laura Camien.

[1:31] Laura Camien: Susie B.

[1:33] Susan Blackwell: How are you doing?

[1:35] Laura Camien: I'm pretty good. I just burped into the mic, but that's not what I'm here to talk to you about.

[1:40] Susan Blackwell: Hey, listen, it's welcome anytime.

[1:42] Laura Camien: I'm gonna tell you I have a belly ache.

[1:46] Laura Camien: I got a belly ache. And but you know what's gonna make it better? The spark.

[1:51] Susan Blackwell: Dr. Spark's good.

[1:52] Laura Camien: Dr. Spark's good in the house.

[1:55] Susan Blackwell: Oh, Laura, I'm sorry that you're not feeling well. It's hard.

[1:59] Laura Camien: It's um we've been working today. This is near the end of our day.

[2:05] Susan Blackwell: And you have had a little bit of a rumbly tummy. And whenever I'm like, do you wanna push pause on this? You're like, let's keep going.

[2:12] Laura Camien: Oh, we can do this.

[2:16] Susan Blackwell: Look at that. Which is not what I'm advocating. Honestly, this is the opposite of what I would be advocating. We need to take care of ourselves.

[2:23] Laura Camien: And I will. After I get sparked by you and you get my imagination flowing, then I'm gonna curl up in a ball.

[2:31] Susan Blackwell: Maybe this'll make you feel better.

[2:33] Laura Camien: That's what I'm saying. That's why I'm here.

[2:36] Susan Blackwell: Sometimes when we record the podcast, it takes my mind off my troubles and it lifts me up.

[2:42] Laura Camien: That's what I am counting on. No pressure, but that's the bar for today, Susan.

[2:48] Susan Blackwell: You know, all those studies that we have heard about and we've discussed even right here on this podcast about how engagement, like this sort of engagement is one of the most important things that we need to continue to cultivate because it it's one of those most important predictors of our health, etc.

[3:10] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[3:11] Susan Blackwell: I think it really is on the day-to-day. It is the feeling that we get after we record the podcast, after we have a class in the spark file.

[3:22] Laura Camien: And we think we're so tired, and we go in to the class with our full community and we leave so pumped up.

[3:31] Susan Blackwell: Like with like triple the energy we had when we woke up that morning. It's a good thing. That's why we're gonna have to we're gonna have to podcast till the day we die.

[3:39] Laura Camien: Okay. I'm into it.

[3:40] Susan Blackwell: That's why I'm here. I've shown up ready to be sparked.

[3:42] Laura Camien: Well, I got a spark for you.

[3:47] Susan Blackwell: And Laura, this spark today is a part three.

[3:50] Laura Camien: What?

[3:51] Susan Blackwell: Or maybe our first part three. I did parts one and parts two way back in I'm gonna say 2020.

[3:59] Laura Camien: Oh my gosh.

[4:00] Susan Blackwell: But it feels like it's time and timely to revisit it.

[4:04] Laura Camien: Oh, I like time and timely.

[4:06] Susan Blackwell: Mm-hmm. So if you've listened to this podcast for a long time, all of this may ring a little bell.

[4:13] Laura Camien: Ding-a-ling-a-ling.

[4:15] Susan Blackwell: If you remember, or if you don't, I told you all a story about a guy I met way back in 2016, shortly after Donald Trump was elected president for the first time.

[4:27] Laura Camien: I met a guy. I'm gonna call the guy Dave.

[4:30] Susan Blackwell: I remember this like it was yesterday. I remember this so clearly. I meet Dave, I say, hi, I'm Susan.

[4:37] Laura Camien: And then he said, and I am quoting this to the best of my ability. I'm not sending this up.

[4:43] Susan Blackwell: He said, Hi, I'm Dave. It's nice to meet you.

[4:46] Laura Camien: Oh boy.

[4:48] Susan Blackwell: Can you believe this? Can you believe what's happening in the world? It's out of control. I mean, I can't believe this is real. I'm just freaking out. Can you believe that this is our world?

[4:58] Laura Camien: And I said, It's nice to meet you, Dave. Looking back, I think Dave's nervous system was jacked up because of the election.

[5:09] Susan Blackwell: Safe to say. And Dave had some idea, but really no idea what was coming down the pike.

[5:10] Laura Camien: No idea.

[5:17] Susan Blackwell: I went on a little journey when you told that story, Susan, because I do not know the name of this comedian, but there's a comedian out there that does this whole bit about um there are four words in the English language that can get you out of that can like engage you in any conversation that you like might get roped into when you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[5:40] Laura Camien: And he's like, you know, someone comes up to you, how about that game on Sunday? Your four words are, can you believe it?

[5:45] Susan Blackwell: Can you believe it?

[5:50] Laura Camien: And so anything can how about that gossip about so and so and so and so? Oh, can you believe it?

[5:55] Susan Blackwell: That's hilarious.

[5:57] Laura Camien: All you have to do is say, Can you believe it?

[6:01] Susan Blackwell: Amazing.

[6:02] Laura Camien: So I went on that little journey, but that's not what Dave was talking about. Dave started with that, which is a totally different conversation.

[6:09] Susan Blackwell: And then if Dave starts with can you believe it, do we just keep saying, Can you believe it to each other? Like two mirrors facing each other.

[6:15] Laura Camien: Yes, I know. Can you believe it?

[6:18] Susan Blackwell: So even though I had just met Dave, I've totally recognized that look in his eyes, and I empathized. I've seen that look in a lot of people's eyes.

[6:27] Laura Camien: The look when someone is overwhelmed by the injustice in the world, and maybe they're again fearing for their personal freedoms, the moral distress and the moral distress of it all.

[6:38] Susan Blackwell: And that fear and overwhelm had Dave turned inside out. And even though I just met Dave, uh this is like this is a true story. It's a story about my lack of boundaries.

[6:44] Laura Camien: Even though I just met Dave, I reached over, I put my hand on his heart, and I said, Dave, let me ask you a question.

[6:59] Susan Blackwell: How many times have you initiated this conversation? I just met you. I don't know you, but if I may be so bold, I'd like to offer you something.

[7:09] Laura Camien: You can always tell me to go fuck myself.

[7:11] Susan Blackwell: Dave. Always an option. I think I know what's going on here.

[7:16] Laura Camien: And then I said, this was bold of me, but I was like, I think you might be addicted to this conversation and this sh this sort of swirl.

[7:26] Susan Blackwell: We're searching for answers, searching for something. Yes, this is making feel better. But what happens is you talk, talk, talk until you're blue in the face, and you stew and you worry. But I swear there are other options.

[7:39] Laura Camien: There is actually something that you can do, which is my spark today.

[7:44] Susan Blackwell: Oh, I'm so happy for this spark.

[7:47] Laura Camien: Oh, Laura Camien. This spark is my making change part three spark.

[7:54] Susan Blackwell: Part trois. How did the French say it? I wanted to do this episode because we find ourselves yet again at the beginning of a Trump presidency.

[8:03] Laura Camien: And the next several years may be a lot of things.

[8:07] Susan Blackwell: And I believe that we each have some critical choices to make. And one of those choices is how we are going to respond, not react, but respond to this.

[8:19] Laura Camien: I'm really happy for this, Susan, because as you know, I've been um struggling with trying to find a balance between how do I make sure that my nervous system is not just off the charts and out of control for the next four years.

[8:39] Susan Blackwell: And also, how do I not completely disengage?

[8:44] Laura Camien: Because that's one way.

[8:45] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[8:46] Laura Camien: One way to approach it is like I just refuse to pay any attention to it.

[8:50] Susan Blackwell: And that for responsible citizens who want to be part of the positive energy in the world, that can't be the option.

[9:03] Laura Camien: I we have discussed this privately offline, and this is just a like mini side spark. I think one of the critical pieces of this is taking in news when you choose on a cadence that you are choosing, not just sort of like the mindless scroll, the constant drip, but and also what news sources you are taking in.

[9:28] Susan Blackwell: And two things that I would offer people are Heather Cox Richardson and her substack that arrives in your inbox daily tangle, which uh gives us a balanced view of the news from the right and the left.

[9:47] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[9:47] Susan Blackwell: And that's not sensationalized.

[9:50] Laura Camien: Not sensationalized.

[9:51] Susan Blackwell: Though sometimes it will share. This is how the right and the left are sensationalizing this.

[9:56] Laura Camien: So you do get a bit of that.

[9:58] Susan Blackwell: And also PBS, man. You ever just dial into the PBS news hour?

[10:04] Laura Camien: Because it is non-sensationalized.

[10:08] Susan Blackwell: It is the facts. How it's the facts can be distressing, but it's not sensationalized.

[10:14] Laura Camien: It's how it used to be when news was a public service.

[10:18] Susan Blackwell: And then that you know changed in I think the 80s.

[10:21] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[10:22] Susan Blackwell: And we started to see it as entertainment. And you know, that driving our blood pressure up is part of the strategy that is intended to keep us addicted to Addicted to the conversation, to the shitty swirl.

[10:38] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[10:39] Susan Blackwell: So that was a little bonus side spark. Now back to the main spark.

[10:42] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[10:43] Susan Blackwell: To kick it all off, I thought it might be helpful to take a moment and reflect on the great work of Dr. Jill Bolty Taylor.

[10:49] Laura Camien: Go with me on this, Laura Camien and I'm listeners.

[10:54] Susan Blackwell: For those of you who don't know, Dr. Jill Bolty Taylor is a neuroanatomist and an author who wrote the book Whole Brain Living, which we've covered on the podcast.

[11:02] Laura Camien: Dr. Bolty Taylor taught us that there are essentially our four circuitries in the brain, and she summarized them in an article on her website, Dr. Jill Taylor.com.

[11:12] Susan Blackwell: And you can learn all about these in her book, Whole Brain Living as well. So, in the most basic nutshell, character one, this brain circuitry, this is the rational character in your brain, amazingly gifted at creating order in the external world.

[11:30] Laura Camien: This part of your brain defines what is right or wrong, what is good or bad based on its moral compass.

[11:37] Susan Blackwell: It is a perfectionist that cares that the stapler goes back where it belongs and insists that you color within the lines. This is our type A character one.

[11:48] Laura Camien: Character two circuitry tends to fear the unknown and perceives life through a lens of lack rather than through a filter of abundance.

[11:57] Susan Blackwell: So there's a lot of fear, sadness. But but character two really does protect us and keep us safe.

[12:05] Laura Camien: So we want to we want to treat our character two with the same respect that we would any of these.

[12:11] Susan Blackwell: Okay. Character three is our emotional experiential self that seeks similarities rather than differences with other people because it wants to connect, explore, go on adventures with others, sharing time, having fun, or deeply connecting through empathy. Those are all character three traits. And character four is the part of the brain which exists as our most peaceful, open, and loving self. Character four is attuned with the gift of life, immense gratitude, acceptance, openness, and love. So when you meditate, pray, or repeat a mantra, you are quieting your left brain characters one and two so you can experience the deep inner peace of your character four. Character four is always there and always available for you to access.

So that's just like a quick little rundown, but whole brain living, well worth your time. So good. Such a good book. So Jill Bolty Taylor also introduced us to the brain huddle exercise, which she encourages all of us to do several times a day. In essence, the brain huddle exercise asks us to slow down and assess which brain circuitry would be most useful in any given situation. To remind you all of the steps, it is lined up in the acronym brain, B R A I N. And here's what it stands for. The B stands for breathe, focus on your breath. This enables you to hit the pause button, interrupt your emotional reactivity, and bring your mind to the present moment with a focus on yourself. The R stands for recognize, as in recognize which of the four characters circuitry you are running in the present moment.

The A stands for appreciate. Appreciate whichever character you find yourself exhibiting, and the fact that you have all four characters available to you at any moment. The I stands for inquire. Inquire within and invite all four characters into the huddle so they can collectively and consciously strategize your next move. So that's also in I. You're also maybe saying, Okay, character two has been really afraid, really anxious, really going up to people and saying, Can you believe this? Can you believe the world we're living in? But inquiring which of those brain circuitries might best be used from moment to moment to moment. And the N stands for navigate. Navigate your new reality with all four characters, bringing their best game, and perhaps choosing a different brain circuitry to be dominant in any particular moment.

So that is her brain huddle exercise. So good. I tell you all of this because as we enter into this new chapter in our world, you may, if you're anything like me, maybe I won't speak for Laura, but maybe like Laura. Maybe you may feel yourself pulled into your character two, your fear, your anger, your feeling of difference, separateness, us versus them, anxiety. And I want me and Laura and you and all of us to have the tools to consciously choose what part of our brain circuitry we want to utilize and therefore strengthen. Because I don't know about you, but I don't want the next four years to only strengthen my character two.

[15:10] Laura Camien: Oh gosh. No.

[15:43] Susan Blackwell: But if I'm not conscious about it, I could see myself definitely. I see it in myself already. I see it in myself already, Laura.

[15:52] Laura Camien: Well, it's intentionally done, Susan. It's by design, it's not accidental. Both the news organizations that want to get our clicks and want to get us to tune in, but also the politicians.

[16:05] Susan Blackwell: Yeah, the politicians that are like, I make myself relevant by threatening and you know, being a blowhard and people wondering, will they do it? What will happen? And it's it is like taken the entertainment factor way too far.

[16:05] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah.

[16:26] Susan Blackwell: So we're fighting against a current here.

[16:26] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[16:29] Susan Blackwell: Um, but we're gonna do it. We're gonna do it consciously. In addition to consciously choosing what part of my brain circuitry I want to utilize, I want, I invite you all to consciously choose how you want to focus your creative energy in the coming seasons. Because it really, really can make a difference. Huge. Huge. In this podcast, I have shared a formula for making change, aka creating a difference, and I would like to share it again. Oh for those of you who might have missed this story the last time I told it, or the first time I told it, or if you just need a refresher. So good. So let's check back in with our friend Dave. Remember him from two minutes ago, the one who was freaking out, the one who I thought might be addicted to the conversation about how scary the world was. The same Dave whose character two brain circuitry seemed to be running the show. Let's pick it there.

[17:24] Susan Blackwell: Okay. So I said, now I just met you, Dave, and I don't know you, but if I may be so bold, I'd like to offer you something. You can always tell me to go fuck myself. But I think I know what's going on here. But Dave didn't tell me to fuck off. In fact, his eyes lit up, and he wanted to know what I was proposing that might disrupt this swirl. He's a man in need. He wants an answer. He needs some help. Yeah. So I shared with him a little formula that my meditation teacher, Emily Fletcher, take a shot. Hi, Emily Fletcher. Um, Emily Fletcher shared this with me on November 9th, 2016. Classic. When I was freaking the fuck out, like a good friend Dave. And it's a four-step formula, and it goes like this.

Step one pick a pressing issue, a need in the world. Pick something that really sparks you. Clean drinking water, animal rescue, elementary education, trans rights. Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade. If you are in a safe place where you can do so right now, shut your eyes for a second. For real, right now. If you are not driving or walking, take a moment to identify one of the most pressing needs in the world for you. And it can be big or small, and it doesn't have to impress your neighbor. I know there's a lot. Just pick one. Got it. At the count of three, open your eyes and say it out loud. Even if you're listening to this walking down the street, say it out loud. One, two, three, go. Beautiful. Did you say it?

Did you fake me out? That's okay. Now step two. This is important. This is critical. You have to absolve yourself of the responsibility for the millions of other issues on the planet. Sure, like Laura Camien, be informed. But if you aren't going to do anything about a particular issue, don't get trapped thinking you have to have a solution or a reaction to every single crisis. It will only spin your wheels and drain your energy and wear you out. It will actually keep you from being able to make an impact in any other area.

[19:43] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah.

[19:44] Susan Blackwell: It just will drain your battery. That's right. Like freaked out Dave. Remember him from three minutes ago. Step three, ask yourself, what are my unique gifts and talents? What are my superpowers? And I bet you've got a lot of them. But consider: are you a great woodworker? Are you a gifted speaker? An illustrator, an organizer, a healer, a musician? Are you stylish as fuck? Are you fantastic with kids or animals or the elderly? Can you speak French or sign ASL? Again, no wrong answers. I know you got a lot of gifts. Just pick one you're really feeling. And at the count of three, say it out loud, no matter where you are. Ready? One, two, three. Oh, yeah. Did you say it? Did you just think it?

We know a lot of talented people. Wow. We do. We do. All right, let's review. Step one, pick a pressing issue. Step two, absolve yourself of saving the world. Step three, define your gifts, your talents, your superpowers. Step four, ask yourself which one of these gifts do I want to use right now? Now let's put it all together. So right now, are you a super stylish person who wants to use your superpowers to make the world a better place? Then maybe you could do, like my friend Nicole does. She is the most stylish person I know. She has a great eye, and she uses her superpowers to volunteer at a place called Clothes That Work. Their mission to clothe, educate, and empower individuals to prepare them for employment success.

I love that. Nicole, did I mention great eye? Nicole's able to meet a person, understand where they're at style-wise, and then provide them with a polished work and or interview wardrobe so they can go out and shine and succeed. She loves doing it. And she loves going through racks and racks and racks of clothing and finding pieces that she's like. This is quality, this has promise. She's doing it. She's using these superpowers that she has, doing work she loves, making positive change right in her own hometown. And she's just using her creativity to do it. That's what it's all about. That's what it's all about. That is the way in which you can affect change. That's right. That is right.

[22:09] Susan Blackwell: Or Samantha Gibson, who wrote to me on Facebook and said, though I don't really consider my work to be creative in a traditional sense, I do have to think creatively in how I interpret medical terms into visual ASL. And also how to best communicate the needs of deaf patients, thereby providing equal access to communication, which is sadly often overlooked by medical professionals. I like to think by advocating for my patients and being sympathetic and empathetic to their situations, their life in that moment is a bit easier. And I wrote to Sam and I said what I'm telling you all now at the Spark File, we define creativity as applied imagination that fights for the powers of good. So, Sam, you are nailing it. You are totally nailing it. This is extraordinary. It's so creative, and it is making people's lives better. It is changing their world. That is exactly right.

[23:04] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[23:04] Susan Blackwell: Or on Facebook, Kathy Boggs wrote, My passion is helping defenseless cats and kittens with medical help and spay neuter services. I seek out and assist owners who do not have the means for medical care for their animals. This makes me want to cry. And help those who find these helpless sick animals that suffer through no fault of their own. I believe this makes the world a better place and helps those who love their animals and don't know where to go. Kathy has got, I know Kathy. Kathy has got superpowers when it comes to caring. And she's flowing that care towards these cats and towards their owners or people who just find stray cats. And she's like, let me help, let me jump in, let me make sure they have the medical service they need, that people are able to afford it, that all of this.

Yes. Love it. Yes. This is how I think this is how we make a difference. And it is sometimes by you know that spark we talked about a few weeks ago, join the joiners, and that is like communities, those communities of people that come together locally and usually around a local, a local thing.

[24:21] Susan Blackwell: You can affect change by simply deciding I'm gonna be on that team that gets rid of the potholes on this street.

[24:28] Laura Camien: That's right.

[24:29] Susan Blackwell: Four block radius.

[24:30] Laura Camien: That's what I can affect.

[24:31] Susan Blackwell: Or I'm gonna be on the team that makes sure like the lampposts are all working and our streets are not dark at night.

[24:38] Laura Camien: That like you can, that's where we can all make change and how it all like ladders up to big change.

[24:44] Susan Blackwell: Okay. I may have talked about this on the podcast, don't know, don't remember, but just here's a refresher if I did. My friend Mike had a back injury and was completely down for the count, bedridden for quite some time.

[25:01] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[25:01] Laura Camien: Yeah, you know.

[25:01] Susan Blackwell: And Mike is a doer, he's very active, very vibrant, very alive, and he was flat, laid flat.

[25:12] Susan Blackwell: Been there. That is hard. But like for weeks. Guess what he did with his time? He got on his little computer, which he could still do, and applied for a grant to have trees planted all throughout his neighborhood.

[25:28] Laura Camien: Come on.

[25:28] Susan Blackwell: So he planted hundreds of trees that are now over the years growing and growing.

[25:36] Laura Camien: That's God's work right there, literally.

[25:38] Susan Blackwell: Planting trees.

[25:39] Laura Camien: Yes. I know you love a tree, Laura.

[25:42] Susan Blackwell: I do love a tree, and I love a person who plants a tree because they are most often not the people who are gonna get to enjoy the full beauty of that tree.

[25:52] Laura Camien: So it is such a selfless act. It is an act of I care about the people in the future so much. I don't even know them, but I care about them so much. I'm gonna plant this tree that's gonna make a difference to them.

[26:07] Susan Blackwell: This reminds me of something that you told me, Laura Camien, which was something you heard at a talk that Susan Laurie Parks gave about the impact or the correlation between trees planted in an area and young women in that area going to college. Did I make that up?

[26:23] Laura Camien: No, you didn't make it up at all. She uh she was a fountain of knowledge in terms of community building and ways in which you support a community and how like resources like places that have we talked about this places that have a community center, less people die in natural disasters when they have a community center.

[26:45] Susan Blackwell: Yeah.

[26:46] Laura Camien: And more young women go to college in places where they live in like tree-lined streets, trees, trees are present in the community.

[26:57] Susan Blackwell: So because my friend Mike was bedridden that was looking for something to do, and he planted all those trees, it could potentially make a difference.

[27:07] Laura Camien: Absolutely.

[27:08] Susan Blackwell: And I'm gonna say, without a fucking doubt, it's gonna make a difference in making in the lives of people.

[27:14] Laura Camien: Yes.

[27:15] Susan Blackwell: And that that's exactly it, right there. What can I do? I'm I'm bedridden. What can I do? I can apply for a grant and have some trees planted.

[27:25] Laura Camien: That's incredible.

[27:26] Susan Blackwell: Isn't that crazy? I'm really inspired by that.

[27:28] Laura Camien: Yeah, I was I'm like, uh, you are unstoppable, Mike.

[27:33] Susan Blackwell: Uh Maggie Kinnan Bulger wrote, These days I have to remind myself that living my life each day as a disabled person is an act of revolution. And while I'm not able to do the same sort of concrete acts of change that I was able to do when my body was more able, being present, being vocal, and trying to find ways to exist in a world that would rather disabled folks disappear into the background makes way not only for other disabled people to thrive, but offers alternatives for how we can all live our lives in a work-oriented capitalist society.

[28:05] Laura Camien: Yes.

[28:06] Susan Blackwell: I loved that.

[28:07] Laura Camien: Yes.

[28:08] Susan Blackwell: I love that. Like your superpower, one of your superpowers is living, Maggie, but also Maggie has a real voice.

[28:18] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[28:18] Susan Blackwell: And that you could use a voice to share a cause that is important and personal. You decided, like if you number one, picked that thing that was important to you, and then decided one thing you were gonna do is amplify the message and increase awareness around something that people need to be more aware of.

[28:38] Laura Camien: Yeah.

[28:39] Susan Blackwell: That's doing something with intention and uh again biting off something that you can actually chew.

[28:47] Laura Camien: Yeah, yeah.

[28:48] Susan Blackwell: This one, I love this one. Heidi Jones wrote, I teach in a school where the kids may come from great poverty. One of the things in our school that we do is finding moments of joy. This month, being that it is Christmas, this was from December. I head the hunt for presents for each of the 500 kids at the school.

[29:08] Laura Camien: Some kids, it is their only gift for the season.

[29:11] Susan Blackwell: Today was the day Santa came to every class, every student got a present with their name on it from him.

[29:17] Laura Camien: It is magical.

[29:18] Susan Blackwell: The excitement is palpable, the joy is immense. Some kids didn't unwrap theirs because they want something to open on Christmas.

[29:26] Laura Camien: Oh, bless them.

[29:28] Susan Blackwell: And some kids cried from being overwhelmed.

[29:30] Laura Camien: Oh, but every one of the kids felt love today.

[29:34] Susan Blackwell: Talk about making a change. And I feel like the superpowers that Heidi Jones is talking about is the ability to identify and seek and create moments of joy and taking action to let those kids know that they are loved.

[29:52] Laura Camien: I think that's creative as hell.

[29:54] Susan Blackwell: Absolutely. And I'm sure there are times. I mean, let's be honest. Like there, I'm sure there are times when Heidi Jones is like, oh God, like the night before when Heidi's trying to work with a team of elves to get all those presents wrapped.

[29:58] Laura Camien: I'm sure there are times when it is tiring or overwhelming, but I hope that the joy that those children experienced creates fuel for Heidi and her fellow teachers to keep going.

[30:22] Susan Blackwell: Absolutely. The thing that all of these folks have in common, all of these people have picked a thing that they're passionate about. They've used their superpowers to actually take action and make change.

[30:36] Laura Camien: And here is one of the magical tricky parts. Like I told Dave when we were talking, there is no one busier or lazier than me.

[30:44] Susan Blackwell: But if you want to change the way you feel right now, if you want to make a change, you have to do something.

[30:50] Laura Camien: You have to pick a thing that's right.

[30:52] Susan Blackwell: And you actually have to do it. You have to do it.

[30:55] Laura Camien: And Susan, that step, I don't know if it was two or three, but you have to absolve yourself of all the other things that you are not doing because we cannot do it all.

[31:06] Susan Blackwell: And getting stuck in that trap of guilt actually makes you ineffective across the board.

[31:14] Laura Camien: Absolutely.

[31:15] Susan Blackwell: Hey, if this is interesting to you, but you're like, uh, I'm just listening to this podcast and I'll get back to it.

[31:15] Laura Camien: I'll get back to it.

[31:23] Susan Blackwell: If you would like to have some dedicated time to apply this process, we are hosting a workshop on Zoom on Thursday, January 16th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time.

[31:35] Laura Camien: The workshop is free, but you must register.

[31:39] Susan Blackwell: So go to thesparkfile.com, thesparkfile.com, and click on the link for the making change workshop.

[31:48] Laura Camien: Go there now.

[31:49] Susan Blackwell: Do it. Don't wait. Don't forget. Sign up. Lickity splickities.

[31:52] Laura Camien: Join us in.

[31:53] Susan Blackwell: I love how you work that in there. Here's the here's the very first thing you can do. Join us at this workshop and consider how are you going to use your creativity this year to make change and make a difference.

[32:06] Laura Camien: Well, I think sometimes, I don't know if you're anything like me, podcast listener. When I I love podcasts, and when I'm listening to them and they're like, you can do this, like here's step one, two, three.

[32:18] Susan Blackwell: I'm like, that's awesome.

[32:21] Laura Camien: And I save it for later.

[32:23] Susan Blackwell: Yes.

[32:24] Laura Camien: And I maybe don't find my way back to it.

[32:27] Susan Blackwell: But we are providing you with an opportunity where we are going to take the time and guide you through a series of exercises so that you can identify your superpowers and what is important to you, and then articulate how you want to focus your energies to make a change in your neighborhood, your community, your work, or in the world.

[32:50] Laura Camien: Again, go to thesparkfile.com and sign up.

[32:53] Susan Blackwell: The next four years are going to be Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

[32:55] Laura Camien: So let us get conscious about the change we want to see in the world and the change we want to be in the world.

[33:06] Susan Blackwell: That is my spark for you.

[33:07] Laura Camien: Oh, I love it.

[33:09] Susan Blackwell: I love it, Suze.

[33:11] Laura Camien: I just also want to say one thing I love about it is this makes it all measurable too.

[33:17] Susan Blackwell: Because you know, when we're just living in this sort of um swirl of there's so much, so many problems and so much to do, it's hard to know if we made any difference at all.

[33:28] Laura Camien: But if I decided this year, my mission is going to be to fight against banning books.

[33:36] Susan Blackwell: There are ways to measure the difference that I made, you know, from January 2025 to 2026.

[33:45] Laura Camien: And that's very satisfying.

[33:47] Susan Blackwell: Yeah. And if I decide that my mission is going to be to decide to fight for banning books.

[33:52] Laura Camien: Well, then we've got an interesting.

[33:55] Susan Blackwell: We got a real horse race going.

[33:57] Laura Camien: Oh my gosh.

[33:59] Susan Blackwell: Oh.

[34:01] Laura Camien: I didn't expect that twist something.

[34:03] Susan Blackwell: Oh no.

[34:05] Laura Camien: Can you believe it?

[34:07] Susan Blackwell: Spark file got canceled that day.

[34:09] Laura Camien: And on that day, oh Laura Camien.

[34:19] Susan Blackwell: For anyone who's heard it before, like me, I'm so happy that you reminded me because it's exactly what I need when I am swimming in that despair of what am I gonna do and how am I gonna make an impact?

[34:34] Laura Camien: Now I know.

[34:36] Susan Blackwell: Thank you.

[34:37] Laura Camien: I'll see you on January 16th.

[34:39] Susan Blackwell: Word.

[34:40] Laura Camien: All right, that's it. This episode of the Spark File was made on the lands of the Lenape and the Mohican people.

[34:47] Susan Blackwell: And as always, we hope this put another bunch of sparks in your file.

[34:51] Laura Camien: Listen to me. If there's a spark you'd like us to explore, or if you'd like to learn more about how to coach with us to accomplish your creative goals, you can email getcreative@thesparkfile.com or reach us through our website, thesparkfile.com.

[35:07] Susan Blackwell: We will even happily take your feedback if you have any.

[35:11] Laura Camien: But you know, the price of admission?

[35:12] Susan Blackwell: First, first you have to share a creative risk that you've taken recently.

[35:16] Laura Camien: You can follow us on social at the SparkFile and be sure to subscribe, rate, and five star review this podcast to talk about making a change.

[35:24] Susan Blackwell: It really helps other listeners to find us.

[35:26] Laura Camien: Also, if you like this podcast, we hope you'll share it with people that you love.

[35:30] Susan Blackwell: And if you didn't like it, you can make a change to a different podcast.

[35:36] Laura Camien: And if something lights you up and gets your creative sparks flying, we're writing you a forever permission slip to make that thing.

[35:45] Susan Blackwell: Make that change that's been knocking at your door.

[35:47] Laura Camien: It's your turn to take a spark and fan it into a flame.

[35:51] Susan Blackwell: You know you gotta take it and make it.

[35:56] Laura Camien: When I bope into something that inspires me, I dump it in the spark files.

[36:06] Susan Blackwell: Could be something that I wanna make or how I wanna be.

[36:11] Laura Camien: I'll pump it in the spark files.

[36:15] Susan Blackwell: I jump into my sparkfiles.

[36:20] Laura Camien: Let's open up the sparkfiles.