Inspired

I have a rather beautifully-finished basement (if I do say so myself). In that basement is a room “set up” for creativity. The walls are a peaceful mint greenish, guitars lean proudly on stands, books are lined up in a cool vintage bookcase I deliberately searched for on Craigslist. There’s a plaque with some cute motivational quote hanging on the wall. Paint brushes and scissors and sewing supplies are neatly set up on a craft table, and there’s a bulletin board to collect and display bits of inspiration. It’s quiet and solitary.

I never go down there.

As in, not ever. The bulletin board has absolutely nothing on it. There’s a pile of junk in the middle of the floor that everyone in the house pretends doesn’t exist. And frankly, I’ve resorted to completely avoiding going down there because I’m convinced the piano has been mocking me and infusing me with guilt.

It took me a while to realize this, but it turns out that having a creative space has actually been inhibiting my creativity. “When I get the guitars hung up on the wall…” “When it SMELLS right…” “When I have the right chair…THEN I’ll go down there and _____ [fill in the blank with some creative endeavor].”

Nothing ever happened.

Instead, most of my songwriting has been accomplished here:

…typically amidst a backdrop of screaming banshee children and Spongebob. (Table was left dirty for real-life effect).

I’ve recently taken another attempt at pencil sketching, a childhood hobby of mine. Most of my drawing has happened here:

(Couch POV). Also with Spongebob.

Lyric writing and poetry that no one ever sees? Born here:

…all stored of course, in my iPhone. Not in the over-piced, spiral-bound notebook I thought I needed.

Creativity doesn’t have to happen in a studio, in a leather journal, or on a bench in a garden of wildflowers. It can happen at a stop sign, while cleaning the attic, or on the toilet. I thought I already knew this.

So recently, rather than lug my keyboard back downstairs to set it up in the “music room” after my last gig, I set it up here:

(Upstairs, in a neglected, catch-all/awkward second entryway off my living room).

Guess what?

I’ve probably played it more this week than I did the entire past year.

Advice: If you’re ever in need of some creative inspiration, an afternoon adventure, or a mood boost, simply grab a cute kid and a couple of cameras and meander around a random city…

Stole a few minutes at a favorite spot after an afternoon doctor’s appointment. There’s something soul-stirring about standing alone, in the middle of the bay, in late January as the sun begins to set. Sometimes I forget this beauty is only 30 minutes from home…

(Originally posted on Facebook)

In the spirit of the new year, I shall go against my norm and post a reflective sort of post. I have many things and people to be grateful for in my life, but this particular year has been a year of personal growth–possibly more than any other year, and specifically when it comes to creativity and bravery. I was born a creative person, but stifled by insecurity. The past couple of years have been an effort to crawl out of that hole, and this year I have learned a lot. So I figured I’d list some key lessons–for myself and for anyone who is interested. Here goes: