Creativity – Do I Dare

July 7, 2012 8 Comments

Opening one’s self to other’s views and opinions. I’m writing this as I contemplate posting a doodle to facebook. It’s a doodle of wavy lines from which my daughter sees mermaid hair. For me, it was just a moment of letting go and letting whatever flow out of me. Now all I see is mermaid hair.

I’m a writer. I’m writing this and am letting you into my thoughts and opinions. In a very true sense, opening myself up to criticism and, dare I even think it, praise. All writers do and we know it’s a difficult exposure.

The, now do I really dare say—artist, in me has never seen the light of day. I rarely show hubby my drawings/sketching/doodles. Twenty-two years married and I think I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve shared. I believe two hands would cover how many times my parents have seen them.

However, and this is how my mind runs through rambling thoughts, I haven’t hesitate to share my photography. Now in this moment of fear and doubt, I realize my photos are very much an extension of me and how I see the world around me.

Same for the music in me. My guitar sits just over there. I do pick it up and play…nothing like a real guitarist plays, just stroking to my own pulse…I like that word better than rhythm.

The pulse which flows through me. Yeah, that fits. At least today it fits, tomorrow, who knows I change like the air around me.

Okay, back on track before you think I’m more flighty and airy than you might already.

I think too much. I’m in my head too much. I allow “other’s opinions” direct me too much. Worse, I allow myself to compare what I can do to what they do, way too much.

If I want my daughter to freely express herself then maybe I should walk through the door we open for her, too.

Here goes…

8 thoughts on “Creativity – Do I Dare”

  1. Lady Chris

    Remember – you should probably ignore me on this. After all – I'm an Idiot :-P.
    You're a you.
    Heck – you're damn good at being a you.
    In fact, you're so damn good at being a you, everybody else gave up on the idea of being you before they were even born. So you're the only one there is :-).
    And it's funny, this being a 'you' thing. Because we all do it (some – like you – better than others). But we often manage to do it without really knowing what we're doing. What this 'you' is.
    It's OK. There is a point here. Really :-P.
    When we talk about 'opening ourselves up', about 'putting ourselves out there' – we may know even less about the thing we're trying to put on display than others. Because we only really 'put us out there' when we stop thinking about it, stop trying to make it happen – and just let it. Happen, I mean :-).
    There comes a point in learning anything when you stop having to think about how to do it – and it just happens. It's 'there'. You do it without conscious thought. And you're damn good at it already :-). In the exchanges we've had, I think I've seen more of you in the casual one-liners than the deep-screeds. Of course, that's mostly because the deep screeds consist mostly of 'now go away and bloody change this. Or else. Remember Vladivostok!' :-).
    You're a you. You're the best you there is. And the best times I've seen it were some of the most unconscious :-).

    Declaration of Interest: I have had the honour and delight of Ms Speakman as my Content Editor one and a half times (because one of them is still in progress :-P). And she hasn't even killed me yet! Well. There was that time in Vladivostok – but we don't talk about that :-).

    The Idiot

  2. Isn't it wonderful how we find ourselves doing things to show our children how to become more than we ever dared and end up helping ourselves in the process?

  3. Chris, you go Girl! Beautiful mermaid hair and you are beautiful too. We all are inspired to be the heroes our children know we are.

    Hugs
    nancy

  4. Chris, I'm glad you're able to put yourself out there for your daughter and for yourself. One of these days, I intend to pick up my crayons again 🙂

    My daughter is now the artist in the family, although I recall sitting and drawing with her when she was younger. She often got frustrated and wanted to know why she couldn't draw as good as I did. Now I look at her paintings and my silly doodles, and I know our time drawing together gave her the confidence to pursue her dreams.

    You're a great mom! Thanks for sharing.

    BTW, I can see the mermaid hair, but my first thought was translucent jellyfish

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