Do you ever look at certain people you know (or maybe you don't know, but have seen online and have that false sense of knowing) --people who are doing amazingly creative things-- and wonder how they got to be doing those things and doing them so well and wondering when, or if, you'll ever get to that place of prolific and beautiful creativity?
I'm not usually one to suffer from the symptoms caused by comparing ourselves to other people, but when it comes to creativity, I admit I fall into the trap. I'm surrounded by creative people in my daily life and in the blogs and sites I follow for inspiration, but sometimes instead of being inspired I feel discouraged. Is there any room for more creativity? Is it possible to add something original and worthwhile to the pot? And what would I add? And how do I get to the point of sustaining myself with creative work? All these questions bog me down until I surrender to some delightfully mindless activity, like watching more episodes of 30 Rock than I care to admit.
Lately, I've been really inspired by Kinfolk Magazine, and even sent a submission inquiry email yesterday, containing some of the photos in this post, but I've noticed in myself lately a hesitancy to let myself hope too much. It was hard for me to send that email. Hoping much very often means being much disappointed, and I am a person who allows disappointment to sink deep into my bones and knock me out of the ring for longer than most people. Many of my friends are choosing one word for 2012 and all they want it to mean, and I haven't settled on my one word, but I imagine it would/should be something to do with hope or joy: allowing myself to hope means opening myself up to the potential for disappointment, but it also allows me the possibility of deeply gratifying joy.
I'm an IDEAS person: I come up with all these grand ideas (build a desk, make a quilt, shoot a cookbook, start a goat farm, write a book about upcycling your clothes, the "necket"...etc etc), but rarely begin to act on the ideas, and even more rarely follow through and see them to completion. I'm realizing the importance of partnership in creativity--- having someone to bounce ideas off of; someone who will help me get started or at least fuel the fire of excitement by encouraging me and talking through practicalities with me.
Kinfolk's manifesto is a celebration of gathering together-- eating together, talking together, collaborating, and enjoying life together. As I begin 2012, I look forward to putting myself out there, allowing myself to hope, and embracing new partnerships and creative collaborations.
So, is there any room for more creativity? Yes. And we are at our most creative when we're together, instead of sitting in our homes at our laptops and comparing our projects to one others'.
2 comments:
this is great. i find myself wondering the same thing too often.
and i also have more started projects that i haven't followed through on than i would care to admit. but having some partnership to keep you inspired & accountable is definitely key.
So true. I was just thinking about this this morning, actually on the way to work! To non-bloggers, our sites are completely creative and full of talent. But within the blogging community, sometimes I feel like I could offer more. And I can - I'm just not there yet. I don't think one should expect a fully-sustainable career based of their hobby for at least a few years. It takes patience, focus and collaboration (as you said, partnering); and it can't be done overnight. It's hard lesson to learn, but we're still young :) Will be thinking about you! Best to your submission!
Kristina
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