Dreams

Creativity is?

I think it is in all of us – expressing it  unrepressed is often an issue.

Take me – I don’t sing as well as the rest of my family. I play do not play any instrument well – largely due to the fact I didn’t realise I hadn’t learnt to read music – and that may be related to the first point. So in with the shame of poor comparison and the inability to magically understand what others could – I stopped expressing myself musically in any way and was quickly relegated to the far section of the school band where those of us only fit to shake maracas were found. Yet I listen to music and I soar – my mood lifts if I am sad and  my creativity flows into words on a page – now.

I had the same ‘problem’ with all kinds of crafts – those not requiring glue and sprinkles – everyone else was better, more talented – what ever – and a Brown Owl christened me Tarzan when I broke the wool rather than wait for the scissors – 45 years later I still feel crushed!

The rest of the family cook – and luckily so do I – and not having any competition for the kitchen in our household I could have a go without fear. Up until I started writing regularly and working out how to put those ideas into a novel shape- I would have said my only creative outlet was cooking – an specifically cooking for other people’s enjoyment – my way of expressing love.

I was listening to a Marie Forleo video this afternoon and she was interviewing Elizabeth Gilbert  Author of Big Magic – I was expecting a cheerfully inspiring  Marie offering – but found my self really drawn into their long conversation an for what it is worth I stopped multi tasking – and just sat and listened…

I am fairly launch hardened these days after 18 months  Out And About On Line – but I bought this book ‘Big Magic ‘ and am already reading it.

Creativity is the flame of our souls – we forget to shelter it from forces beyond our control at our peril – without it we are just puppets. Don’t dance to someone else’s tune – make your own music, sing your own song, write your own story, colour your own world and feed your own soul with the foods that nourish you – feed others with love and tolerance as you will – but savour the essence of you in everything you do.

Colour your own world…