By: MaryRose Cobarde Candare
What a wonderful encounter with inspiration just before midnight going into a weekend. I happened to be looking forward to that one particular Saturday – the day I celebrate my son’s work on a short film and the experience of being at the sidelines watching the process. When filming was underway I had thought to myself, this peek at creative work is going to help my writing; just might put in a barrel or two of fuel for that elusive spark.
In fact that was not the first time I had let myself acknowledge (to myself) how much I appreciate the act of making something; the creative endeavor. It always seemed more profoundly human than conventional human labor or what one might call technical jobs. I recognize that creating may necessarily not be with my bare hands. It may be about letting my thoughts run bare and my fingertips catching tidbits of thoughts; setting them down on paper (or monitor as the case may be).
That night’s visitor was inspiration in the form of an interview with the gifted writer Elizabeth Gilbert talking about her latest book “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear.” I don’t know about you but the title itself rouses the muse!
I was particularly struck by the idea of laying down the fear cards and seeing fear for what it is–the bane of all creative aspirations. It runs in the opposite direction from the spontaneous instinct to produce something out of one’s unique abilities. I felt myself nodding to the idea of how creativity can be terrifying because it is very likely to introduce you to failures and uncertainties. And it may not necessarily feed you in the material sense. I could understand how one may tend to second-guess out-of-the-box creative impulses because the bills cannot be ignored and a “regular” job falls within the safety net. For this reason, I deeply appreciate the affirmation that one’s creativity need not put food on the table (although I can say from experience how that productive outcome makes for both a filling and fulfilling meal!).
I really needed to hear that originality in expression consists not so much of the fact that your idea has never been thought of by anyone or expressed as eloquently before. This is simply not possible given the age of humanity. But every single one of us has a shot at a fresh take on any useful “old” truth. It is by way of our very own individual imprint that our ideas take on an authentic character. We don’t need to unlock deep secrets as there are hardly any left, if at all. We only need to release what is seeking expression from within.
As a child I was never good at drawing and I dreaded occasional art projects at school so I grew up discounting “artistic” or “creative” among words that described me. But here comes Liz (and indeed many others before her) saying there is more than one form of creation to make. A dance, a film, a poem, a class, a book (perhaps even one that you ghostwrite for someone else!) is just among the varieties of artistic expression. But it takes guts to even start calling yourself creative. Venturing towards your passion is not all rosy. Truth is, it is quite a pricey undertaking. You give up the comfortable and familiar. You take risks. But the process is not short on rewards.
Following one’s bliss, or inner voice or your passion if you like to put it that way, is an act of creating. Only that it does not always yield a tangible output. Along the process, Liz Gilbert says what is truly being created is yourself.
To this I say creativity is the path of the brave. Along this path I timidly put these words out there. Not aiming them to be perfect. Quickly as they occurred to me. Before the day breaks.
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MaryRose Cobarde Candare or MaryMom as she is fondly called by family and friends is a hands-on, working mother of 2 harmonizing her love for her children with her passion for writing and teaching as forms of service to others.
