Isn't it amazing how many hang-ups we hold on to from childhood? I mean, I know my parents did the best they could and I know that I did the best I could, but that doesn't mean we always got it, or continue to get it, right.
One of my personal hang-ups is in the realm of creativity. I was taught from a young age that you either have it or you don't. Apparently I don't. So the best I could hope for as a way to express my creativity was to knit, cook and bake. I eventually learned to sew when I was 30. In reality I'd always wanted to sew but my grade 8 sewing teacher told me that I was 'useless' (her word - thank you Helen Piercy whatever rock you may be hiding under!) when it came to anything domestic and she would only pass me if I promised not to take sewing again. Who does that to a 13 year old? Seriously! Anyway, I found a lovely woman named Lori Sirove when I lived in London, Ontario who taught me more in a 6 week sewing class than Helen taught me in months of classes. By the time Lori was done with me I had not only completed a few projects but I'd bought my own sewing machine and serger and sewed happily for many years to come.
But even so, all the creative outlets that I felt were available to me were pretty much proscribed with predictable results. Once I mastered the skill things could get boring - really quickly. I have always wanted to paint but I knew I didn't have the creative gene for that so, as much as I wanted to I just left it alone. I wasn't the artist in the family, that was my Mum. Mum's niece, my cousin Jean, and her daughter Ruthie are both artists as well. How lucky for them to have TWO people with the creative gene! Why not my family? Well guess what I discovered? It isn't a gene at all!!! Honest! Apparently anyone can be artistic and there is a formula for getting there -it's called working at it!
I just read a great book by David Usher who you may know of as a Canadian music artist. It is called "Let the Elephants Run" and is all about unleashing your creativity. It's great and he's got a wonderful style. In it he points out that the people who are most successful are those who work at it. Huh. Just like everything else in life. Who knew?!
So as I sit here surrounded by all sorts of paints, brushes and canvases I feel happy. My definition of success is just that...being happy. I'm not out to change the world or sell a painting a week, or even a year for that matter, I do it because I love the way I feel when I'm doing it. When I do sell the odd painting, I tend to think of it in terms of what supplies I can buy with the money!
So, if you've been hanging around thinking that you don't have the creativity 'gene' think again! Grab whatever you need to pursue your bliss and get out there and do it. Do it today, do it tomorrow and do it the day after that. Do it every day you can until not doing it is no longer an option.
Have a wonderful day!
One of my personal hang-ups is in the realm of creativity. I was taught from a young age that you either have it or you don't. Apparently I don't. So the best I could hope for as a way to express my creativity was to knit, cook and bake. I eventually learned to sew when I was 30. In reality I'd always wanted to sew but my grade 8 sewing teacher told me that I was 'useless' (her word - thank you Helen Piercy whatever rock you may be hiding under!) when it came to anything domestic and she would only pass me if I promised not to take sewing again. Who does that to a 13 year old? Seriously! Anyway, I found a lovely woman named Lori Sirove when I lived in London, Ontario who taught me more in a 6 week sewing class than Helen taught me in months of classes. By the time Lori was done with me I had not only completed a few projects but I'd bought my own sewing machine and serger and sewed happily for many years to come.
But even so, all the creative outlets that I felt were available to me were pretty much proscribed with predictable results. Once I mastered the skill things could get boring - really quickly. I have always wanted to paint but I knew I didn't have the creative gene for that so, as much as I wanted to I just left it alone. I wasn't the artist in the family, that was my Mum. Mum's niece, my cousin Jean, and her daughter Ruthie are both artists as well. How lucky for them to have TWO people with the creative gene! Why not my family? Well guess what I discovered? It isn't a gene at all!!! Honest! Apparently anyone can be artistic and there is a formula for getting there -it's called working at it!
I just read a great book by David Usher who you may know of as a Canadian music artist. It is called "Let the Elephants Run" and is all about unleashing your creativity. It's great and he's got a wonderful style. In it he points out that the people who are most successful are those who work at it. Huh. Just like everything else in life. Who knew?!
So as I sit here surrounded by all sorts of paints, brushes and canvases I feel happy. My definition of success is just that...being happy. I'm not out to change the world or sell a painting a week, or even a year for that matter, I do it because I love the way I feel when I'm doing it. When I do sell the odd painting, I tend to think of it in terms of what supplies I can buy with the money!
So, if you've been hanging around thinking that you don't have the creativity 'gene' think again! Grab whatever you need to pursue your bliss and get out there and do it. Do it today, do it tomorrow and do it the day after that. Do it every day you can until not doing it is no longer an option.
Have a wonderful day!
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