It also got me thinking about how different my life was when I was a creative professional (I've been an illustrator and display artist, and a freelance writer and editor), and made me realize that while I take in the occasional art show or play or concert, I don't make nearly as much time for that sort of thing as I used to. It's not like the opportunity isn't there for me, either...the neighborhood I live in is actually called "The Arts District" and I walk past an art museum and a whole string of galleries literally every day. I'm within earshot of a bunch of clubs and concert halls, and within spittin' distance of independent book stores and at least one art college.
In other words, I basically have no excuse.
When I was a young creative professional, I did have some odd ideas about what such a life should include. I adopted edgy clothing and hairdos, lived in questionable neighborhoods, drank coffee 24/7, and of course smoked like a chimney. Even though I'd been creating art since I was old enough to finger paint, I somehow thought that smoking "helped" my creative process, was an integral part of my artsy image, and that I wouldn't be creative without my smokes.
In fact, I was a little bit more focused and a lot more productive once I stopped having to take all those smoke breaks to "push past my creative block." Turns out the nicotine itself was the thing blocking me. Who knew?
Many of us are quietly creative, too: inventing and re-inventing favorite recipes, spending time playing music for the pleasure of it, filling sketch books or journals that few others see, taking a dance class, learning how to knit or make jewelry, capturing the world around us with a camera, creating a beautiful garden out of a neglected patch of earth at the edge of our driveway, or finding just the right accent piece as we redecorate a room. In nearly every case, we do these things because they feed the soul, make us feel good, and take us out of the routine, everyday minutia of our lives.
Current members of the fabulous GUS team:
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