The world needs your creativity 🌈

... And why it matters now more than ever

One of the most fun art projects I’ve done, which I completed by following a YouTube tutorial (will share the link below).* I lost track of time and tapped into a sense of childlike curiosity — the best feelings!

Life has subtle ways of nudging us in the right direction. It may not be clear in the moment, but in hindsight, we think, “That’s exactly where I needed to be.”

Such is my most recent experience with a poetry class I took last month. On a whim, I signed up in January, not sure what to expect from the 4-week course at a local art studio. Now that I’m on the other side, I can say with complete confidence that it’s one of the most illuminating, inspiring experiences I’ve had in a while. 

Each Thursday evening, a group of ~17 of us gathered in a wide, white-walled room. The faint smell of paint hung in the air as we settled in and waited for our teacher — a 24-year-old recent MFA graduate who constantly made us laugh by simply being herself — to kick off the class. Throughout the month, we cracked jokes. We teared up. We sat in silence as we gave our fellow classmates space to share vulnerable stories. 

Some spoke of motherhood, others delved into the world of heartbreak, and everyone opened up — in ways big and small — about their biggest challenges. 

We walked in as strangers and walked out as friends. It was beautiful, and it filled me with joy to see this many people so passionate about poetry — and creativity in general. 

However, I also felt sad knowing that this was an anomaly; that outside the eclectic, lighthearted atmosphere of the studio, creativity doesn’t receive the same reverence. The arts have long taken a backseat when it comes to funding. And according to a 2021 survey by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, only 22% of those surveyed believed artists contributed “a lot” to the general good of society. (Ouch!)

Creativity is also seen as an all-or-nothing issue. We’re led to believe that it involves a certain level of accomplishment — a published novel, a painting in a gallery, award-winning photographs. This mindset holds many of us back from taking creative risks; from allowing ourselves to try new things solely because they interest us, and not because we expect to get anywhere in particular. 

Since January, I’ve also been going through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This 12-week creative recovery program has inspired millions of creatives (current and aspiring) in every corner of the globe for the past few decades. 

Cameron’s central premise is this: creativity doesn’t require grand gestures, major life changes, or even large chunks of time. We are all creative, and we can channel our creativity in countless ways. And above all, creativity isn’t a frivolous afterthought. It’s a spiritual activity, one that allows us to connect with divine powers — however that looks for us — and contribute to the world in a positive way. 

I made this during the pandemic at the same art studio where I took the poetry class, and honestly? I’m still not sure what it’s supposed to be. But I guess the joy of art lies in its ample room for ambiguity.

As I’ve gone through the chapters of The Artist’s Way and completed the weekly exercises, I’ve slowly returned to many of the passions I’d abandoned. Not just poetry, but drawing, painting, and dance. I’ve also acknowledged how much my own perfectionism has kept me from delving back into these endeavors, or exploring new ones. And I’ve realized that I don’t want creativity to feel like a luxury I must earn, I want it to be woven deeply into each day; into my identity.

When thinking of my relationship with creativity, I’ve also been turning to another sentiment by the brilliant

Suleika Jaouad

. In her Oscar-nominated documentary, American Symphony, she shares how creativity has been a survival act, and I wholeheartedly agree. When the rest of the world seems like its caving in on itself, creation serves as salvation, allowing us to make sense of the nonsensical; to find meaning in times of uncertainty. 

Of course, we can’t have a conversation about creativity these days without mentioning the growing ubiquity of AI. I have VERY strong opinions about using these technologies within a creative context, having been required to use them on a daily basis throughout last year. Yes, AI can be useful in specific situations (for example, it helped me formulate outlines and brainstorm topic ideas when writing courses at my last job).

There’s a lot more I want to say, but for brevity’s sake, I’ll stick to the point: when it comes to producing work that people want — people need — AI lacks soul. It can’t compete with the rawness of real experiences. It hasn’t gone through the heart-shattering anguish of a breakup or the blissful exuberance of falling in love. You have. 

Our little poetry squad during our graduation ceremony last Wednesday

In an age where (unnecessarily verbose and often factually inaccurate) Chat GPT-written blog posts take seconds to generate, human-created work is more important than ever. Work that’s had time to unfold, that captures the nuances of the human experience. And I’m not just talking about writing. Any creative form applies — playing with watercolors, experimenting with your phone camera, baking one of grandma’s old recipes. Creativity is only as limited as we allow it to be. 

Creativity connects us. Creativity is the gateway to a more compassionate world. Creativity expands our perspectives of life and our role in it. 

Creativity is healing. Creativity offers hope. Creativity allows us to tap into childlike curiosity and happiness — feelings many of us have long buried. 

I hope you allow yourself to fulfill more of your creative dreams. Maybe that’ll look like coloring every evening before bed. Or turning on your favorite playlist and dancing like no one’s watching. Whatever it is you do, keep doing it. Because the world needs your creativity, now more than ever.

Until next time,

Brina

*For anyone who’s interested in the YouTube tutorial I used for the turtle painting in the thumbnail image, here it is.

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🌹 Reflection

Consider your relationship with creativity. In what ways, if any, has creativity felt off-limits to you? What forms of creativity bring you the most joy, either as a creator or consumer? How can you make creativity more of a priority in your life?

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🎨 Creativity Corner

• Book: Desertion by Abdulrazak Gurnah (I recently delved back into fiction and couldn’t put this one down; Gurnah brilliantly touches on themes of colonialism in Africa and forbidden love)

• Song: “Champagne” by 311 (the carefree vibe makes me feel like I’m dancing on the beach during sunset)

• TV show: One Day (based on the novel by the same name, this beautiful yet heartbreaking Netflix series follows Dex and Emma, two best friends, for several years as they adjust to the pressures of adulthood; the underlying question remains: “Will they end up together?”)

• Documentary: Ascending (this Coachella mini-documentary chronicles the six South Asian artists that performed at the festival last year and discusses the importance of representation, particularly in creative fields — it brought me to tears!)

• Instagram Account: @strengthmarks (I recently connected with the photographer behind this project which centers around society’s unrealistic beauty standards by challenging, in her words, “how we see our imperfections [to] influence formable change” — very important work!)

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🐶 Prem’s Thoughts on Creativity

“I don’t make art. I am art.”