Transient Steward Inspired by Willa Cather

I wanted to create a page that offers some resources and explains the process and the inspiration for this piece called "Transient Steward". I will have a whole write up but for now I just needed a placeholder to create a URL for the QR Code. So as of 05/22/2025 the image is being completed in the next few days and will be shipped off to hook up with the Impact Willa Cather show. I will update this post in a week or so to finish it off. The text and images below are placeholders.

As a heads up I will be doing a local art drop sometime this week. If you have not participated in the riddles for the wild goose chase, you should. It is really fun, very competitive AND you could end up with a piece of art. If you want to follow along, I typically put the riddle to finding the art on my Face Book page as well as the NPCS Pics page.

I love the connection between science and creativity and but my favorite is the connection with God and creativity. I love to co-create with the Holy Spirit. We all were made to create, recognizing and improving on how to do that is my primary focus. It is easier to create when we are joyful but what about when we don't feel joy? Can we trigger Joy on demand?

Finding joy and living joyfully are high up in my daily living skill development. Can one trigger joy on demand? I think so, I think it is like anything else. We get better as we recognize it as a skill and put in more practice time.

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of everyday stress and distractions, and forget about the simple pleasures that can brighten our days.
One of the keys to happiness lies in the small, seemingly insignificant moments that make up our lives.

From scratching your fur babies ears to that first satisfying sip of your favorite tea or the first marks made on canvas for the day, these little moments of joy have the power to instantly transform your mood. By understanding the chemistry of happiness in your brain and identifying your personal "joy triggers," you can unlock a constant source of positivity that’s always within reach.
There are four main neurochemicals that are fundamentally linked to pleasure and well-being. Together, they are responsible for creating the emotions and sensations we have come to associate with joy and happiness. I have talked about these at length over the past year. This immersion into creativity and neuroscience has been fascinating.

• Dopamine. This neurotransmitter plays a major role in motivation and the anticipation of reward. When you achieve a goal, accomplish a task, or hit a target, you receive a pleasurable hit of dopamine. It’s basically your brain telling you that you’ve done a good job. Many types of pleasurable experiences—such as dancing, running, hiking in the woods, writing and reading and most creative and inspirational activities—increase dopamine release and therefore make you want to repeat them.

• Serotonin. While serotonin has a complex biological function, it’s popularly known as the molecule of happiness. A variety of antidepressants called Serotonin-Specific Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) work by interfering with the normal reabsorption of serotonin after it’s done with the transmission of the signal, therefore augmenting serotonin levels in the synapses. They don’t work for everyone but show the important role of serotonin when it comes to happiness.

• Oxytocin. Often called the molecule of bonding, it’s associated with close relationships, skin-to-skin contact, affection, and loving touch. This is what makes you feel good when you receive a hug or play with a pet. Oxytocin is also produced in abundance during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Endorphins. Short for "endogenous morphine"—which means self-produced morphine—they are produced by the central nervous system to help us deal with physical pain. Even though endorphin molecules seem to be too large to pass freely across the blood-brain barrier, some researchers think they are associated with the runner’s high—the feeling of euphoria people get when exercising.

Another molecule that was discovered relatively more recently are endocannabinoids, basically self-produced cannabis. Research found that both humans and dogs show significantly increased endocannabinoids following sustained running, so they’re also a potential candidate for the runner’s high phenomenon.

 
The great news is that there are many activities that can increase the levels of "happiness neurotransmitters" in your brain. While some activities have been extensively studied – such as exercise – many can be personal to you, for example creating in the studio, if they activate the reward system and release dopamine.

"Joy triggers"—simple ways to feel instantly happier. The expression defines exactly what it is: a way to trigger a feeling of joy. There are two ways to define your joy triggers: retroactively or in the moment. The first one consists in sitting down, remembering all the times you felt happy, comfortable, relaxed, joyful, or positively excited, and writing them down. I think this works because of the power of gratitude. It’s an interesting exercise but research suggests that we tend to not remember ordinary, mundane experiences very well – the small things get forgotten easily.

This is why the second approach can be more effective. It consists in being more aware and mindful of these joyful moments when they happen, and writing them down as you go. Here’s one way to do this:

1) Collect joy triggers. Create a dedicated note called "joy triggers" on your phone, and add to it every time you feel good. You will end up with a list of small sources of joy in your life.

2) Keep your list accessible. Ideally, your joy triggers should be simple activities that you could easily repeat any time you need to quickly improve your mood. For example, drinking a cup of nice tea, listening to a specific song, looking at a picture of your children when they were babies, going for a quick run, re-reading one of your favorite poems, petting your dog.

3) Use your joy triggers to boost your mood. Every time you feel down, stressed, or anxious, and need a shot of joy, open the list and pick something that you can do right now. Stop everything else you are doing and focus on that one simple activity. Be present and mindful. This will of course not get rid of all of your problems, but this small moment of joy may be just what you need to manage to get through the day.

Incorporating small moments of joy into your daily life can have a profound impact on your overall well-being. By taking the time to identify your joy triggers and making a conscious effort to experience them regularly, you can create a powerful tool for managing stress, boosting your mood, and finding happiness in the present moment.

Below are a few recent videos from my Art Geek Teaching YouTube channel.

Saltwater paint technique/Mixed Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nGw4xnR1SM

Top 5 Favorite Mixed Media Tools
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvejMo3NgPo&t=109s


Have an AMAZING week!
TO