My daughter gave me The Creative Act by Rick Rubin during one of the lowest points in my life. I skimmed it at first, but didn’t truly dive in until I landed in Bozeman for the ski season on December 31st of 2024.
We’d bought our townhouse back in late October, spent about eight days getting it set up, then left it untouched until we returned in December. Almost everything in it came from Amazon, Wayfair, or Ashley. It’s simple, functional, and comfortable—just how me and @Wild_Woman_MT like it.
You already know how we feel about simplicity.
Before I left Maine, I made a commitment: read one chapter of Rick’s book every morning before I fully woke up.
Catching the Creative Wave
Those in-between hours—half-asleep, half-awake—are a goldmine for creativity. I’ve written about catching that creative wave before. If you’ve ever surfed, you know that sweet spot—just before the wave breaks—when the power is at its peak. That’s the moment gravity takes over and you’re flying.
Creativity is like that.
Over time, I’ve come to believe that anything that sparks creativity brings you closer to God—or Spirit, or Source. I don’t get hung up on the label. This morning is my first back in Montana after a tough stretch in Maine. Some seasons in life are just heavier than others. If you’ve been there, you know.
I wrote about it more fully in a separate post called Remembrance & Legacy.
If you’re navigating something hard, maybe that one will resonate.
Back to Rick Rubin—his book isn’t one you have to read cover to cover. In fact, I think it’s better if you don’t. I just open to a random page each morning and see what finds me. That’s how creative flow works—don’t force it. Let it lead.
Here’s a line I landed on recently, from page 51:
“Of all the great works that we can experience, nature is the most absolute and enduring.” – Rick Rubin
Back to Nature and the Great Outdoors
@wild_woman_MT had always loved nature more than I did. While I chased skiing and calculated risk, she chased wild places and wild things. It runs in her family—animals, trees, fresh air. Her dad even raised elk back in Maine.
Here in Bozeman, our weekdays in the winter are for skiing. I work Eastern Time since I’m a wealth manager, so my day starts early—markets open at 7:30AM Mountain Time and close at 2PM. That leaves my afternoons wide open.
I avoid trading right at open or close—liquidity is lower, and that’s when prices get weird. Think of it like selling a house: when there are more buyers and sellers, prices are more accurate. That’s a healthy market.
I ski with a MacBook in my backpack, just in case a client needs something urgent. I can trade from the trail but most days, I shut it down by 1PM and disappear into the snow.
Weekends?
We chase beauty. Montana has no shortage of it. And I’ve got to admit: I’m just as hooked now as Kerry.
Wilderness lights up my creativity like nothing else. There’s something about forward motion—skiing, hiking, cycling, climbing—that clears the static.
So what’s the takeaway?
If you’re feeling stuck—creatively, emotionally, spiritually—get outside and move. Go where it’s quiet. Let your body lead, and let your thoughts catch up later.
Or not. Just be.
