Lately, in response to my new years resolutions, I have reintroduced painting and writing into my life. I often post a picture of my artwork on instagram to inspire others to let their creative flag fly. I have found that not enough people allow themselves time to sit back and do something they truly enjoy that yields no particular response. Of course, people exercise and practice different things and this is an outlet of for enjoyment. I also advise others to do something that activates their mind. Paint, Read, Write, Meditate, Sculpt, the list can go on and on.
To my dismay, a number of my friends have told me that they aren’t creative, that they can’t do those things. This truly saddens me. If Van Gogh said he could not paint, we would be without “The Starry Night”. If Beethoven said he could not play, we would be without Symphony No. 9. If Michelangelo said he could not sculpt, there would be no “Pieta.” The list can go on and on.
I have been thinking a lot about how others believe they don’t have the ability to create something. I am no Picasso. My paintings aren’t going to be hung up in museums. And yet, I continue to paint. I let me mind flow. I let the feelings inside me carry my brush and create what I would imagine is being bottled up inside me. When I can’t find words, I paint. It’s a balance for my writer’s block. That is what I tell my friends. I tell them to just put a pen in their hand and write anything that comes to mind regardless of grammar. Put a brush to canvas and just let loose. Who cares what the end result is, it’s the journey of letting yourself free for just that moment that truly matters.
So here is my challenge to you: Do something creative today. Anything creative, just let your mind flow. Let yourself be free. Enjoy the journey and don’t worry about the end result. And allow this to carry over to your everyday life. Don’t think about the destination because you will loose out on the beautiful moments of the journey.
Everyone has a creative side. They just have to unravel the bindings they’ve tied around it, suppressing it. -Courtney Ras
{here’s what I painted this week. “Fire meets water. Strength and peace balance. When my soul is awakened.”}
Adventures of a Wayfarer 