I love the quotes that set me back on my heels and make me go, “Huh.”
That’s exactly how I reacted to what Duke Ellington said — only I smiled when I said, “Huh,” and then I told my husband he had to read the quote, too.
Let’s just all admit we pout. The question isn’t really what do we do about the pouting. It’s more: What do we do with it? Do we let our moodiness squelch our creativity — or do we find a way to use the negative emotions to energize us?
I admit to pouting that sometimes tips over to outright sulking. But the older I get, the less time I spend in a funk. I’ve learned to give myself a limited amount of time to be in a bad mood — an hour or maybe even an afternoon — and then I move on. And you know what? Usually I’m over the mood before the allotted time is up.
Maybe the next time I feel a pout coming on I’ll try the Duke Ellington method and write me some blues — or maybe the next scene in my work-in-progress.
In Your Words: How do you handle a pout? Have you ever turned a funky mood into a creativity session?
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Comments 9
Interesting question, but not up to answering coherently. Sorry.
Praying for God to wrap you in His bubble of peace until this passes, Andrew.
Author
I do hope you are feeling better, Andrew!
Things that could make us pout do provide energy that can also be used creatively. Maybe a bit like an irritating sand grain or foreign irritant initiating a [earl. It’s good to let the upset stir, harness it, and go forward.
Author
What a wonderful simile, Dee! 🙂
What a great quote. I loved what you said about what you do WITH a pout. Too often, I’ve let the pout control me rather than me controlling it. Your philosophy of feeling the mood for a little while and then determining to move on makes sense.
Sometimes I handle a pout by eating chocolate. Note that I said, Sometimes. 😉 Most often I try to push through it and move forward. Sometimes I just need to escape into a good book. When I come back to reality, the pout is usually gone.
Author
Jeanne:
I’m so glad you mentioned that there are different ways to handle a pout — and I think chocolate is an excellent choice.
Escaping into a book is also a wonderful choice, too. 🙂
I like what Dee and Jeanne said, especially the chocolate part. And I know I must pout, but for the life of me, can’t remember when in the last few years. lol
Author
Pat:
You don’t strike me as a pout-er. You strike me as a do-er.