Monday, September 13, 2010

A place to be free.

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Last weekend I spruced up my "office" at home. More than ever, I want it to be a place that inspires and frees me to create stuff. I don't know what stuff, exactly, but I know I need to give my creativity room to breathe. For at least ten years, I've tried to limit it and label it and stuff it in a box, and whenever it escaped, I told it that it wasn't good enough and imprisoned it again.

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But now I'm beginning to learn the art of not caring. I'm trying to remember what it was like when I was a kid, before my inner critic woke up. I drew things and made things, and most of all, I wrote with abandon, because it made me happy. There was no pressure to produce something that pleased everyone else.

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So I'm going to start spending more time in my office, with my art supplies and scrapbook paper and inspiration book, and hopefully writing too, just for the joy of creating something. I don't know much about what I "should" be doing with my new life, but I do know that I need to take advantage of the quiet, because one way or another, it won't last forever. So I'm opening the gate and setting myself free. We'll see what develops.

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I first read this quote back in May:

It's all been said better before. If I thought I had to say it better than anybody else, I'd never start. Better or worse is immaterial. The thing is that it has to be said; by me; ontologically. We each have to say it, to say it our own way. Not of our own will, but as it comes out through us. Good or bad, great or little; that isn't what human creation is about. It is that we have to try; to put it down in pigment, or words, or musical notations, or we die.
- Madeleine L'Engle, A Circle of Quiet

7 comments:

  1. It looks so lovely, B! If my office looked that nice, I'd be in there all the time, too. :) Can't wait to see what you come up with!

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  2. You have a pretty office! I want one! You totally deserve it, though, with how neatly you keep it.

    And so true--definitely write and create for the sake of helping yourself! It doesn't have to meet other people's needs to be a good thing. My sister recently encouraged me in this exact area.

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  3. I love your office! I'm glad you're letting yourself be free to be creative, and that you have a place to do it in. That quote is so true.

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  4. It looks so good in there! I still need to come over and see your awesome new couches and pet the kitties :)

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  5. Thanks everyone! Caroline, yes you need to come over. You know you're welcome anytime. :)

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  6. It looks lovely! And yay! I see you have the Yada-Yada series (yes, I shamelessly browse titles even on PICTURES of book shelves ;) )

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