Dear Ones,
Gail’s kitchen at Christmas
Creativity cures all that ails us. I believe this with every cell of my being. If you asked me for a magic potion that would give you a more vibrant, joyful life in the coming year, I would prescribe creating something, consistently and daily. With that in mind, I wrote this post for you called The Creativity Cure.
The Creativity Cure
If you’re lonely, make art.
If you’re unhappy, make art.
If you’re confident, make art.
If you’re confused, make art.
If you’re bemused, make art.
If you’re angry, make art.
If you feel misunderstood, make art.
If you feel depressed, make art.
If you feel invisible, make art.
If you feel unloved, make art.
If you want a purpose in life, make art.
If you’re distracted, make art.
If you overthink things, make art.
If you take care of everybody else instead of yourself, make art.
If you feel sad, make art.
If you feel scared, make art.
If you feel bored, make art.
If you feel happy, make art.
If you feel lost, make art.
If you feel joy, make a lot of art and pass it around.
ART = writing, drawing, dancing, sculpting, singing, baking, flower arranging, composing, painting, gardening, drumming, journaling ….
Creativity is anything that makes you feel more alive, more vital, more YOU.
Want a perfect resolution for the New Year? MAKE ART for at least 20 minutes a day. You will find very quickly that you are living a more creative and artful life.
Thoughts? Comments? Please consider sharing this post on the social media of your choice, or forwarding it to friends.
xo
P.S. I am an ex-shrink and an acclaimed novelist who makes art. Check out my novels and other books here.
Nice thoughts. Thanks.
I think I’ll go make some art…
Good idea, John. Let me know how it goes.
I recently read a Seth Godin quote that said: Communication is the transfer of emotion. After I read that quote I wondered what I felt strongly about that I might want to transfer. This is what came. To me, writing is about making art. To me, creativity can save us. It has certainly saved me.
Susan, I am making art right now, writing my third Kay Driscoll mystery that I hope to submit to my publisher this month. It’s taken me over a year to write it.
You are an incredibly positive person. I’m so glad to have met you. Happy New Year!
P.S. I love the kitchen in the photo above. And those cookies…yummy!
AWWWW! Sweeet!!! And Susan, you are so right. Art and creativity are what gives life meaning. You have inspired me to stop procrastinating and get out my painting supplies and start doing something with them, so thank you! I am barricaded in the kitchen because the rest of the house is freezing but I can work at the table (now that the cookies are gone!). I have been reading this – there is also a cool video in the sidebar you might like: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/01/first-artists/walter-tex
Thanks, Susan. Good luck with your third cozy mystery! I’m glad to have met you, too.
Just so you know, I’m not always positive. I can get as lonely as scared as the next person. I just like to share the things that help me keep going in the hopes that it will help other creative people keep going, too.
I’m at work on a new novel, too! I can’t think of a more wonderful thing to be doing. xo
Hi Gail,
Thanks for letting me use the photo of your wonderful kitchen! It looks like the perfect place to create. Not only spacious, but with that wonderful table. I love the idea of you getting out your painting supplies and creating something now that the cookies are gone.
Stay warm! xo
Just read this and I thought it might make an interesting addendum to your post, as well as relevant to your life’s experiences as well. I know it resonates with me. Many times when I was younger I tried writing something, only to fail because I didn’t have enough experience in the bank yet. I don’t regret being a “late bloomer.” On the contrary, in this field I think it’s the best way: http://flavorwire.com/497311/in-praise-of-late-bloomers
That’s a great article, John. Thanks for sharing it with us. That Bloom website looks interesting, too. Like you, I am a late bloomer. But at least we ventured to bloom. Some people never get around to it.
> But at least we ventured to bloom. Some people never get around to it.
Many of both my and Deborah Eisenberg’s stories are about people who never or barely get around to it–not that I am for a second comparing myself to Deborah Eisenberg.
And then there are days I wish I was a happy carrot. i.e. Someone who has no interest in blooming and doesn’t worry about it.
Some days I wish I thought less, period. Most days, in fact. Actually that was my New Year’s resolution–to think less.
I like that resolution. When I overthink things, it usually means I am under-feeling, or avoiding a feeling. If I just allow myself to feel scared or confused or whatever, then my mind lets go of it. I’m not that good at it yet, but–for me–it’s a worthy pursuit.