I recently read, “Just Kids” by the singer, poet, artist, Patti Smith. A friend recommended the book and I instantly knew it was exactly what I needed on many, many levels.
I dove into it and after the first few pages I thought, “Oh no, not what I’m looking for – this is too serious, too many words!.” But, I carried on reading primarily because I was curious about her first meeting with the controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
And then it began to happen. I began to feel nourished, fed and a new/old seed of recognition began to sprout.
I read about their passion for creating, poetry, drawing, painting – their commitment was so complete and uncompromising. They had no guarantees or even food in the fridge. They endured hunger, doubt and loss and still they moved forward towards their dreams as thirsty lovers.
By the the time I finished reading “Just Kids” I had fire in my heart and questions about my dreams and creative expression. How could I have forgotten my creativity? Why did I allow doubt and distractions to cloud my focus?
The truth is that we all get distracted one way or another. We want to lead healthy lives but we forget to eat well and exercise. We want to have fun but work endless hours. We dream of freedom but dare not open the gates of possibility.
Our art and dreams need more than the first breath of inspiration, they require our commitment to endure. They need us to persist even on doubt-drenched days and those times when exhaustion is our companion. Instead of turning away from them, they need us to turn to them. Art, dreams, creative expression feed the spirit which in turn allows us to unfold our deepest happier self.
I needed this reminder that I could pursue and persist in following my dreams even fearlessly. “What would it be like to commit to all those unwritten, unshared stories and bring them to the page?” I wondered. Instead of angst or resistance, I felt excitement and drawn to following the creative impulses.
Somehow, reading this heartfelt, real book flung open those doors, and words, characters and snatches of conversation have now begun to step into the light. They are ready to be written as first drafts, scripts and stories about space.
That’s me and my stories! What about you? Are you feeling stuck or is your creativity not flowing? What has inspired you to open the doors of possibility in the past that you could use now?