Crazymakers

I have mentioned on here before that I’ve done "The Artist’s Way" by Julia Cameron a few times. In case you are not familiar with it, it’s a book that is a ’12 week spiritual course to higher creativity’. I think I’ve done the 12 weeks three times.

In the book, each chapter is a week. One of the weeks is about ‘crazymakers’. These are the people who are hell-bent on creating drama and trouble with everyone around them. I’ve had a few experiences with exactly this type of person in my life. I don’t think we can fully ever get away from this type… but her book certainly helps to deal with them.

I’ve always had family members who are crazymakers. And let me tell you, when you take back the power, and don’t get sucked into their whirlwind of destruction, they get so mad! Then they guilt you, they put on a front, anything to get you sucked back in…

I will not go into any details about any specific people in my life, but I will tell you that when you are in control, and no longer getting sucked in, it’s the best feeling in the world! When I was younger, there was one crazy maker who I really felt like I needed approval from. Every creative endeavor I would run by her. Every single act of child rearing, I would try to gain her acceptance with. That turned into her copying my every craft, and taking over my parenting to show me how she could do it better.

Luckily for me, I was shown Julia’s book during this time. I learned how to see things for what they actually were. And I learned why I had lost any self-worth. During that 12 weeks, I gained strength that I had buried ever so long before. And by the time it was over, I had stood up to the crazymaker, regaining control of my life. It was the hardest thing I had ever done.
These days, it’s not as difficult, because I see situations for what they are, and I do not get that far into it. I still may befriend a crazymaker… but when I see what they are doing (and it might take 2-3 instances because I want to see the good in them), I back up. I take back the reigns before they are too comfortable with them.

I have been thinking a lot about doing The Artist’s Way again. I think sometime soon I will. I have learned that when I have this yearning, there are reasons… there are things that I need to learn again. There are so many more facets to the 12 weeks than crazymakers, like I said, that’s only one week. I found an online group, but I believe they are in week 7 right now.

I will put this out there, because I feel like I’m being led to. I will be doing the program in the next couple of months… so starting in February or March. If anyone out there would like to join me, let me know, and we will coordinate weeks, and possibly create a forum for it. That’s another thing I’ve learned… it’s always better to do this with at least one other person.
One more thing… happy Friday!!!