The last time I was in London I got a small tattoo on top of my right wrist: “create”
Simple, clean, and facing away from me. As a music teacher I am beyond blessed to create for hours and hours a day. I get to make a whole career of teaching ways to make art both big and small. When the artist asked me why I got the word facing away from me, I thought it was as simple as anything. The tattoo isn’t a reminder for me, but for all of the wonderful young people I work with everyday.
This piece is so beautifully that. A reminder, an urge, almost a plea to continue creating amidst the copious amounts of consumption available in our lives. Beautifully written, thank you both Will and Sydney 💕
Couldn’t agree more, because creativity and making things, pulled from a rich inner world of living and the human experience, is the medicine we’re all craving and the cure for our aching souls.
Bringing more light to the dark places within and to the world, it’s all beautiful.
I think we truly ALL need to create to understand ourselves and the world and make a difference.
And my favorite, to feel more alive and bring more aliveness to a world that’s gone numb.
I use that phrase and see the same thing in my work. people are hurting. numb, distracted, and depleted. it’s time to remember who we really are, and to start creating from that beautiful inner space.
Couldn’t agree more ! 🫶 love that last line “it’s time to remember who we really are, and to start creating from that beautiful inner space”. Thanks for being here !
Yeah I will be coming back to this piece again and again and again. I feel like I've been stuck in a creative rut for years... heavy on the point made of thinking, "I'll write when I'm inspired..." and that day rarely comes. I too scroll past my own life. I get overwhelmed by art on pinterest and tiktok and feel inspired yet intimidated and less than comparing my talent to others'. I haven't lost my impulse to create, I want to do it every day. I have too many ideas and instead of focusing on one, I think of trying to start them all at once and end up accomplishing nothing. It's been years since I was in my creative prime across several mediums, and I am not creating at the efficiency of what I once did. Social media plays a massive part in the reason why. I am also scared of my own individuality and being perceived in general, which is a whole other thing to unpack. I would love to know what media you have substituted into your life to still feed your creativity but not engulf you with anxiousness. Thank you for the therapeutic post <3
Thanks for reading ! 🩵 I struggle with alllll the same things you’re talking about here. I really mean it when I say you’re not alone! I would say that it’s really important to create more boredom in your life by limiting Screen Time. I tried to only check my social media on my desktop at a desk (so not on my phone lying down and passively scrolling through addictive content). I’m really trying SO hard to work on discipline because it actually creates more freedom. I get a lot of inspiration from Podcasts, walking with no screens / headphones, beautiful storytelling on YouTube (like Life of Riza), watching films and then unpacking them in conversation with my partner. I’ve realised I really only have a finite amount of energy in the day and I need to be careful to protect that if I want to not just have ideas but actually execute on them. Genuinely is something I have to mentally challenge myself with every day to finish a creative act. Another thing that has really helped me is doing the Enneagram personality test, and working with both my strengths and my weaknesses. Be gentle with yourself, keep going !
this actually made me cry. i have been an observer to my life rather than a participant, this substack awake something in me 🤍
🥹🥹🥹 well, I’m so glad you’re here ! I think it’s normal to oscillate between both… I often need to remind myself of this.
I feel exactly the same
A lot of great points hit me here! I too envy the creative before social media. What a time to be weird.
Right ! It’s harder now, but not impossible.
Needed to hear this, thank you!!! Your work means a lot
🫶🫶🫶
Post showed up at the right time, i needed this. God bless🧿
💫🫶
The last time I was in London I got a small tattoo on top of my right wrist: “create”
Simple, clean, and facing away from me. As a music teacher I am beyond blessed to create for hours and hours a day. I get to make a whole career of teaching ways to make art both big and small. When the artist asked me why I got the word facing away from me, I thought it was as simple as anything. The tattoo isn’t a reminder for me, but for all of the wonderful young people I work with everyday.
This piece is so beautifully that. A reminder, an urge, almost a plea to continue creating amidst the copious amounts of consumption available in our lives. Beautifully written, thank you both Will and Sydney 💕
That story about you tattoo is so beautiful 🥹 thank you for sharing & reading ! ❤️
Just finished the piece.
Couldn’t agree more, because creativity and making things, pulled from a rich inner world of living and the human experience, is the medicine we’re all craving and the cure for our aching souls.
Bringing more light to the dark places within and to the world, it’s all beautiful.
I think we truly ALL need to create to understand ourselves and the world and make a difference.
And my favorite, to feel more alive and bring more aliveness to a world that’s gone numb.
I use that phrase and see the same thing in my work. people are hurting. numb, distracted, and depleted. it’s time to remember who we really are, and to start creating from that beautiful inner space.
Appreciate your writing and perspective. 🙏
Couldn’t agree more ! 🫶 love that last line “it’s time to remember who we really are, and to start creating from that beautiful inner space”. Thanks for being here !
My pleasure, nice to meet you, will definitely follow!
Yeah I will be coming back to this piece again and again and again. I feel like I've been stuck in a creative rut for years... heavy on the point made of thinking, "I'll write when I'm inspired..." and that day rarely comes. I too scroll past my own life. I get overwhelmed by art on pinterest and tiktok and feel inspired yet intimidated and less than comparing my talent to others'. I haven't lost my impulse to create, I want to do it every day. I have too many ideas and instead of focusing on one, I think of trying to start them all at once and end up accomplishing nothing. It's been years since I was in my creative prime across several mediums, and I am not creating at the efficiency of what I once did. Social media plays a massive part in the reason why. I am also scared of my own individuality and being perceived in general, which is a whole other thing to unpack. I would love to know what media you have substituted into your life to still feed your creativity but not engulf you with anxiousness. Thank you for the therapeutic post <3
Thanks for reading ! 🩵 I struggle with alllll the same things you’re talking about here. I really mean it when I say you’re not alone! I would say that it’s really important to create more boredom in your life by limiting Screen Time. I tried to only check my social media on my desktop at a desk (so not on my phone lying down and passively scrolling through addictive content). I’m really trying SO hard to work on discipline because it actually creates more freedom. I get a lot of inspiration from Podcasts, walking with no screens / headphones, beautiful storytelling on YouTube (like Life of Riza), watching films and then unpacking them in conversation with my partner. I’ve realised I really only have a finite amount of energy in the day and I need to be careful to protect that if I want to not just have ideas but actually execute on them. Genuinely is something I have to mentally challenge myself with every day to finish a creative act. Another thing that has really helped me is doing the Enneagram personality test, and working with both my strengths and my weaknesses. Be gentle with yourself, keep going !