Phew. This was a full course meal, Lisa! As I continue to digest your words I’m really seeing the connection between the desire to fix and the pressure to feel like creativity is a means to an end. The pressure to work things to a resolution - to wrap everything up neatly, contain it, understand it, present it, prove it, move on to the next thing - is so strong! It has been such a process to let myself create in a way that leaves loose ends. I need to work it out of my body, not to a place of resolution. If we’re only allowed to give space to the parts that have overcome and figured it out, creating something deemed presentable, then no wonder we don’t feel alive and whole. Thank you for the continuing invitation to be alive in our full humanity. <3
I love the feeling when I begin a creative project begrudgingly, but then get so caught up in the joy of doing it that it becomes something magic and I forget that I ever found it hard to get started and can't wait to do it again!
The number of times I've created something and had someone ask "why" or "what is it for" is staggering. So much so, that I began to ask myself the same thing. I so appreciate you giving breath to the idea that we can do what we do simply to do it, and not for an outcome or purpose other than it brings us joy or meaning or comfort in doing so. Thank you for this. There are so many gifts in your words.
"I love us for trying so hard to protect ourselves from what’s hard." I love us too. Movement and talking to people spark this same aliveness for me. I am not always good with words, especially speaking them aloud. When I have time to think and write, I can usually get out what I'm actually trying to express, but I can rarely articulate my inner world, which can be very frustrating. But movement has always been "easy" for me. I never used to think of it as a way to express myself necessarily, but I do believe basketball and especially climbing has allowed me to express my inner world in ways I never realized. Sometimes I wish I could just be at "recess" all day, maybe I wouldn't find life to be so cruel. I often feel like I'm trapped in a bubble. But movement is freedom, or at least it can feel like it at times.
I'm glad you have writing. And I'm glad that you share it with us.
This is a beautiful and touching letter, Lisa. I’ve found so much solace and validation in creativity. I believe deeply that Art (both making it and engaging with the Art of others, in all its forms) is something that makes life worth living and can make us feel so much less alone.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words! I resonated with this so much - especially what you said about feeling most like yourself when your creativity is buzzing, and feeling least like yourself when it’s harder to get in touch with it. That is definitely also true for me - on the darker days, I often find it difficult to connect to my creative self, while creativity comes much easier to me when my soul feels less heavy. I have also been exploring recently how I can allow creativity to soothe and heal me - and how I can let go of the belief that what I create needs to be seen by lots of people in order to be worth something. Which is why your reminder, that creativity can be just for myself, felt very relevant. Again, thank you so much. Your newsletter is always a spark of light and inspiration that brightens up my day. Sending you so much love🫶🏻✨
Good morning, Lisa. As usual, your words meets me in this moment. I’ve been asking myself how to find balance between honoring challenging times and making necessary changes: How do I know when to make space for grief, allow myself to sit in the liminal space, reflect, and just BE; how do I know when I’ve reached the tipping point and need to get support, fill an unmet need, and step into my power? I don’t have answers. But I am going to spend some time writing now--to explore and express, without expectation of a conclusion.
I'm working my way through your newsletters, and want to say thank you, sincerely. Your words are so gentle and direct, too. Hearing them in my head is helping me remember that I can talk to myself and view my life this way, too.
Your work is honestly one of the most valuable, helpful resources I have right now as I go through changes, and prepare for graduate school to become a therapist, myself-- it's helping me re-orient, again and again, to the human side of it all.
Also, I completely relate to the buzz and the magic of writing. A lifelong lifeline, and my favorite practice - I feel the same. It's so important to me, too. Keep writing. :)
What a gift! Your words resonate so deeply. Thank you Lisa. I’m going to keep this one (and many of your other essays) close to my heart during this season of embracing the creative being within me. ❤️
What a fabulous read, I say fabulous, because it is so extremely well written, (not that I'm a critic, nor am I particularly well read), but rather because you have written my own creative life. It is, as a potter of over fifty years, how I teach, and as a writer of merely twenty years how I flow.
I believe it a tragedy, that there are still people who believe they are not creative. There are still people who believe that the "artists" of the world have been struck by the creativity lightening bolt by the gods, set aside for only a select few. I have counseled many on exactly what you speak of.
We are all human, created, by G-D, that is my knowingness, but should you have another knowingness, we were all none the less, created, and therefor possess the capacity to create.
Thank you for this fabulous read, that makes me breathe deeper. Our tribe is, indeed, growing.
Your words are just so beautiful and moving every week 💖 have you read “finding your unicorn space” by Evelyn Rodsky? I feel you would really resonate well with it in regards to creativity!
Phew. This was a full course meal, Lisa! As I continue to digest your words I’m really seeing the connection between the desire to fix and the pressure to feel like creativity is a means to an end. The pressure to work things to a resolution - to wrap everything up neatly, contain it, understand it, present it, prove it, move on to the next thing - is so strong! It has been such a process to let myself create in a way that leaves loose ends. I need to work it out of my body, not to a place of resolution. If we’re only allowed to give space to the parts that have overcome and figured it out, creating something deemed presentable, then no wonder we don’t feel alive and whole. Thank you for the continuing invitation to be alive in our full humanity. <3
I love the feeling when I begin a creative project begrudgingly, but then get so caught up in the joy of doing it that it becomes something magic and I forget that I ever found it hard to get started and can't wait to do it again!
The number of times I've created something and had someone ask "why" or "what is it for" is staggering. So much so, that I began to ask myself the same thing. I so appreciate you giving breath to the idea that we can do what we do simply to do it, and not for an outcome or purpose other than it brings us joy or meaning or comfort in doing so. Thank you for this. There are so many gifts in your words.
"I love us for trying so hard to protect ourselves from what’s hard." I love us too. Movement and talking to people spark this same aliveness for me. I am not always good with words, especially speaking them aloud. When I have time to think and write, I can usually get out what I'm actually trying to express, but I can rarely articulate my inner world, which can be very frustrating. But movement has always been "easy" for me. I never used to think of it as a way to express myself necessarily, but I do believe basketball and especially climbing has allowed me to express my inner world in ways I never realized. Sometimes I wish I could just be at "recess" all day, maybe I wouldn't find life to be so cruel. I often feel like I'm trapped in a bubble. But movement is freedom, or at least it can feel like it at times.
I'm glad you have writing. And I'm glad that you share it with us.
This is a beautiful and touching letter, Lisa. I’ve found so much solace and validation in creativity. I believe deeply that Art (both making it and engaging with the Art of others, in all its forms) is something that makes life worth living and can make us feel so much less alone.
Thanks as always for your wise words that speak to my soul.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words! I resonated with this so much - especially what you said about feeling most like yourself when your creativity is buzzing, and feeling least like yourself when it’s harder to get in touch with it. That is definitely also true for me - on the darker days, I often find it difficult to connect to my creative self, while creativity comes much easier to me when my soul feels less heavy. I have also been exploring recently how I can allow creativity to soothe and heal me - and how I can let go of the belief that what I create needs to be seen by lots of people in order to be worth something. Which is why your reminder, that creativity can be just for myself, felt very relevant. Again, thank you so much. Your newsletter is always a spark of light and inspiration that brightens up my day. Sending you so much love🫶🏻✨
Love this post so much! Thank you for always inspiring me. 💕
Good morning, Lisa. As usual, your words meets me in this moment. I’ve been asking myself how to find balance between honoring challenging times and making necessary changes: How do I know when to make space for grief, allow myself to sit in the liminal space, reflect, and just BE; how do I know when I’ve reached the tipping point and need to get support, fill an unmet need, and step into my power? I don’t have answers. But I am going to spend some time writing now--to explore and express, without expectation of a conclusion.
I'm working my way through your newsletters, and want to say thank you, sincerely. Your words are so gentle and direct, too. Hearing them in my head is helping me remember that I can talk to myself and view my life this way, too.
Your work is honestly one of the most valuable, helpful resources I have right now as I go through changes, and prepare for graduate school to become a therapist, myself-- it's helping me re-orient, again and again, to the human side of it all.
Also, I completely relate to the buzz and the magic of writing. A lifelong lifeline, and my favorite practice - I feel the same. It's so important to me, too. Keep writing. :)
you are such a beautiful writer. thank you for your words <3
What a gift! Your words resonate so deeply. Thank you Lisa. I’m going to keep this one (and many of your other essays) close to my heart during this season of embracing the creative being within me. ❤️
As always, thank you for sharing your soothing, stimulating words. You have a way of lifting the veil to let hope in. ✨
What a fabulous read, I say fabulous, because it is so extremely well written, (not that I'm a critic, nor am I particularly well read), but rather because you have written my own creative life. It is, as a potter of over fifty years, how I teach, and as a writer of merely twenty years how I flow.
I believe it a tragedy, that there are still people who believe they are not creative. There are still people who believe that the "artists" of the world have been struck by the creativity lightening bolt by the gods, set aside for only a select few. I have counseled many on exactly what you speak of.
We are all human, created, by G-D, that is my knowingness, but should you have another knowingness, we were all none the less, created, and therefor possess the capacity to create.
Thank you for this fabulous read, that makes me breathe deeper. Our tribe is, indeed, growing.
Thank you as always. Your words always hit the mark.
Your words are just so beautiful and moving every week 💖 have you read “finding your unicorn space” by Evelyn Rodsky? I feel you would really resonate well with it in regards to creativity!