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A few years ago I discovered a book by Elizabeth Gilbert called, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear and devoured its words and ideas zestfully. Because it inspired me as much as it did, I also got the audio version, read by Gilbert herself and have taken to listening to the book at least once a year if not more often. Sometimes, I will put it on in my headphones when I head to bed because the ideas feed my soul and Gilbert’s voice is mesmerizing to the point of relaxing me. Truly, the book stirs my soul and empowers me in my creative pursuits and creative living.
At one point recently, I had hoped to introduce my teenagers to Big Magic, but it did not grab them the way that it did me. Perhaps one day it will. If not, I hope they find a book or some other source of inspiration that encourages them and reminds them to continue pursuing their lives with the same boldness they do now. I have watched the way fear can ebb away people’s confidence and crush their creative spirit, leading people to believe the lies that creativity, creative pursuits of pottery, art, cooking, knitting, writing, sketching, painting, learning to dance, whatever, that creative pursuits are not something they get to do. Too many people fall for the lie that only a select few people get to be creative.
That idea couldn’t be further from the truth.
Which is why I am always beyond thrilled that I get to watch the ways our teenagers dive into creativity and embrace a willingness to try new things, whether that is trying a new art style, choosing to change their hairstyle, post a story to a platform, or sharing a new character or sketch with us, their sister, or the world around them. Like Big Magic, my girls’ creative journeys inspire me and stir my soul. Even more, they encourage me not only to show up each day for my stories, they push me to take risks and consider new creative possibilities.
In recent weeks, I have witnessed the positive transformations courage and new ideas and adventures have created in each of our teenagers. I cannot help but applaud their efforts because I am also privy to the apprehension and uncertainty that accompanies their jumping in the deep end, feet first making the splash they’ve more than earned. Whether it’s a seemingly simple change, like one girl decided to grow out her short spiky hair and having to override broken soundtracks and self-perceptions to come to a glorious place of self-acceptance and appreciation or if it’s the other girl opting to revisit an online animation and story platform and deciding to upload the opening of an original story, I have stood by in awe and delight, listening to each of them embrace these choices.
I’m fairly certain they likely would say some of the things they’ve done are no big deal. And while that may be a little bit true, what I hope they come to understand is that those small beginnings, those seemingly small steps feed their resolve and their courage. Those “no big deal” moments hold some incredibly powerful precedents, foundations upon which they can continue to build as they embrace this creative journey of life.
Boy, do I love that I get to tag along on those journeys with them. I love having a front-row seat to the things they create, the chances they take, and the new ideas they boldly embrace. Their actions bring to life in clear focus the words Elizabeth Gilbert speaks into my earbuds each night. How great it is to witness the effects of my own creative life on my teenagers, the way my life feeds my girls’ journeys even as their creative explorations feed mine. True kismet indeed.