Our theme for September is REFLECTION. It was chosen by our Oklahoma City chapter in Oklahoma and illustrated by Aditi Heins.

Just like an echo is a reflection of sound… and how a camera lens focuses reflected light to form a photograph… our subconscious reflects on our experiences to form our beliefs.

Without reflection, there can be no personal growth. Learning from our past yields greater wisdom and happiness. But don’t let self-awareness turn into self-absorption. Take heed of the Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own handsome reflection in a pool of water. 

Reflecting on difficult moments can be painful but also healing. When our Oklahoma City chapter selected this theme, they mentioned a reflecting pool at the site of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that was designed to help people reflect on how they were changed by that tragic event. 

Pondering the world around us and following our curiosity adds depth to our creative work. As William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, the purpose of acting is “to hold as ‘twere the mirror up to nature.” While George Bernard Shaw said, “you use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.” (Although Bertolt Brecht countered, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”)

Reflection turns our traumas and triumphs into lessons. It’s how we can create a vision for a brighter future.

Make your feed more reflective with this month’s hashtag: #CMreflection

August’s global CreativeMornings theme RITUAL will be discussed by Melinda Rothouse on Friday the 23rd.

Our musical guest will be The Soul Supporters.

Join us for free Cuvée Coffee & breakfast tacos.

We’ll be meeting at Austin PBS.

All thanks to our partner Preacher.

Get your free ticket on our site. (Registration opens Monday, August 19th at 11:00 a.m.)

Share your thoughts with intention using this month’s hashtag: #CMritual

Our theme for August is RITUAL. It was chosen by our Charlottesville chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matt Smithson.

Rituals add meaning and a deeper sense of connection to our lives. They allow us to practice mindfulness and reflection. Unlike our daily routine and habits, rituals have the power to inspire us. 

Brushing your teeth is routine. Going for a morning walk would be a good habit. And writing a gratitude journal could become your morning ritual. The key is to act with intentionality. 

Our CreativeMornings events have their own rituals. Getting a cup of coffee creates an opportunity to say hello to someone new while you wait your turn in line. Reading our manifesto out loud reinforces our beliefs that everyone is creative and everyone is welcome. 

What rituals do you practice in your relationships, your spirituality, and your creative work? How do they heighten your sense of purpose and belonging in this world?

Share your thoughts with intention using this month’s hashtag: #CMritual

July’s global CreativeMornings theme TRUST will be discussed by Nhi Nguyen on Friday the 26th.

Join us for free Cuvée Coffee & breakfast tacos.

Our musical guest will be THEBROSFRESH.

We’ll be meeting at SXSW Center.

All thanks to our partner SXSW.

Get your free ticket on our site. (Registration opens Monday, July 22nd at 11:00 a.m.)

Expand your circle of trust with this month’s hashtag: #CMtrust

Our theme for July is TRUST. It was chosen by our Islamabad chapter and illustrated by Ibrahim Nasir.

Trust is the invisible thread that weaves the fabric of our relationships and society together. But, in turbulent times, doubt can unravel our strengths. 

So, go with your gut. Put your trust in a higher power, in our institutions, and in karma. Believe that people will do the right thing. Trust the process. And that your creativity is a well that will never run dry. 

When we trust each other, we feel safe to share ideas, give feedback, and take risks. It requires vulnerability and a willingness to be open to the possibility of disappointment or betrayal. So, trust is not purely belief or faith. It is an active choice. 

Trust is a gift. It must be given before it can be earned.

June’s global CreativeMornings theme PATTERN will be discussed by Nick Barreiro, the Co-Founder and CEO of Clay Imports on Friday the 28th.  

Join us for free Cuvée Coffee & breakfast tacos.

Our musical guest will be The Maliximus Project. 

We’ll be meeting at Almost Real Things HQ. 

Special thanks to our partner SXSW. 

Get your free ticket on our site. 

Create a new pattern in your social feed with this month’s hashtag: #CMpattern #CMATX

Our theme for June is PATTERN. It was chosen by our Chennai chapter and illustrated by Nishant Saldanha.

Recognizing, forming, and breaking patterns are core components of creativity. Visuals, sounds, movements, and the passage of time all form patterns that shape our existence and our work. 

Our Chennai chapter’s selection of this theme was inspired by the art form of kōlam; which features patterns of dots that are encircled or connected by straight and curved lines. These intricate, geometric designs are created on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples and businesses using rice flour. The practice is deeply rooted in South Indian culture to welcome guests into the home and bring good fortune and prosperity.

Traditionally created by women, our Chennai chapter shared that these beautiful designs are often created by family members and neighbors as a communal activity. Connections between people form patterns in our lives too. 

Which patterns in your relationships, work, and habits are worth repeating? Which ones should be changed? What new pattern do you want to create?

(Images from Wikipedia.)

May’s global CreativeMornings theme VIBRANT will be discussed by Sean Petrie, poet, author, professor, and a founder of Austin’s Typewriter Rodeo on Friday the 24th.

This event is co-presented by AAF Austin.

Join us for free Cuvée Coffee & breakfast tacos.

We’ll be meeting at the Austin Central Library. 

Get your free ticket on our site. (Registration opens Monday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m.)

Let’s bring more energy and brightness into our feeds with this month’s hashtag: #CMvibrant #CMATX

Join us for a film screening on May 17.

Creative collaboration is the engine behind so many of the things we love. And the creative teams that tap into it every day in entertainment, technology, and design understand the power of building something together.

Assembly Required is a short documentary exploring the particular challenges of creativity at work.

It features interviews from executives including:

• Ed Catmull (Pixar)
• Shona Brown (Google)
• Gina Rudan (X)

and creative professionals including:

• Nelson Coates (production designer)
• William Joyce (writer/illustrator)
• Leah Rama (fashion designer)
• Ken Kocienda (Apple hardware designer).

Join us for a screening of the film (30min), followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers led by CreativeMornings/Austin co-founder and filmmaker, Erik Proulx.

May 17, 2024
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM CDT

Assembly Hall
1121 East 7th Street
Austin, Texas United States 78702

Registration is free, but space is very limited: https://cmaust.in/assembly-required-screening

*Note: This event is not in place of our monthly talk. Consider it a fun, bonus event. We will still be hosting our monthly talk the following Friday, May 24.

Our theme for May is VIBRANT. It was chosen by our San Antonio chapter and illustrated by Isabel Ann Castro.

When was the last time you experienced something that made you feel more alive? 

Heard a melody pulsing with a beat that made your body move. Taken in the view of a lush landscape or sparkling city skyline bursting with light and shadows. Locked eyes with a striking stranger. Poured yourself into prose that crackles off the page with electricity. Lost track of time in a conversation punctuated by spirited laughter. Stopped in your tracks in front of a canvas in a museum or a mural on the street with colors so bold and bright it popped from the paint straight into your synapses. 

It might not happen every day. But you can live a life full of energy and enthusiasm. You can strive to bring brightness into every interaction. 

Because our world is full of all kinds of vibrant masterpieces. And you are one of them.

Let’s bring more energy and brightness into our feeds with this month’s hashtag: #CMvibrant