We are all creative beings. We are each endowed with creative gifts. Normally, we explore our creativity as children because we are unburdened but as we enter adulthood we put our creative spirit aside and embrace the reality standard of the status quo. However, some resist and dare to continue on the creative path to become great artists like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Ron Howard, and Elizabeth Taylor – just to quickly name a few. The rest of us admire them because we can relate to their creativity. So, we flock to their concerts and their movies to witness that which they dare to do.
Now, there are some of us who eventually return to exploring our creative gifts. In my own personal experience, I have a good life but there was a huge dissatisfaction in it until I rediscovered the one thing I truly love – writing. It was the one thing I did well when I was young and it always energize me. So, now I am pursuing it as another career.
Due to my own personal experience, I have developed radar for those “everyday” persons like me that are exploring their creativity and putting it out there in the world. I call it searching for “creative coolness”. Recently, I was out-and-about doing errands and grabbing a coffee at Starbucks when I had a truly rare WOW moment. Right there in front of Starbucks was parked a Batmobile ………..and it was drivable!
I literally stopped in my tracks and was thankful for my Smartphone. I whipped it out and started taking pictures of this amazing car. As I headed into Starbucks, a very relaxed and smiling guy sitting at one of the tables in front of Starbucks beckoned to me. I approached him and my instinct told me the car belonged to him. I asked him and he confirmed it. He told me that he created it from an early model corvette actually doing all of the work himself. All I could say was “Wow”. This amazed him because he said he thought my reply would be “Really?’’ in disbelief which was the usual reaction from people. I told him that I believed him because I knew there were “everyday” persons with these type of creative/artistic gifts. I snapped a picture of him with his car and told him I was going to blog about his beautiful work of art. So, here is a big round of applause and a shout out to John Salazar, his “ZBatCar”, and the creative coolness of his soul.
Questions:
What are your creative gifts?
If you don’t think you have any, try to remember that thing you loved to do as a child. Tell us about it.
If you know your creative gifts, tell us about them. Are you using them? If so, how? If not, why not?
Fabulous Batmobile and so cool that you connected with the creator.
That car is cool, the shot of front of care looks sinister. Mr. Salazar is pretty cute!
Yes, I noticed that, too!!
Has anyone ever gotten a “the look” and then silence followed by a deep breath from Elaine?
Elaine isn’t a quiet person but sometimes her actions make a very big impact. Well I received “the look” several years ago while at lunch when I was asking her when she would be publishing her book. We were at lunch. Elaine’s look is something I have never forgotten. Well last night I finally understood her actions. Allow me to explain.
My passion/creative outlet is working with glass. I enjoy every facet of it. I often say I would rather run my grinder than my vacuum cleaner. However I never really saw the potential of retiring and working with glass. I took a class this weekend November 2 and 3rd. This technique that was taught I found fascinating. A 400 year old method. From start to finish my mind was racing. Could not stop thinking about the possibilities. To the point that I signed up for a class in Vegas next March. Elaine called me during the class. So when I got home I was thinking of her but I was still doing on-call duties. I was thinking about Elaine’s writing vs. My glass work and it finally struck me.
“Elaine’s look” was saying this isn’t about me publishing a book Heidi, although I may do that at some point. This is about the process or journey. Yes I (meaning Heidi) have created some interesting pieces of glass but that wasn’t the journey its about learning all these different techniques or processes; getting excited about different aspects of your creativity. If something does explode into the next career great but that’s not the end result.
You cannot just work all these years and say okay I’m done now what? Just working isn’t a complete person. You are mind, body and soul. All aspects need to be fed to be complete. Okay finances and work are very important. I am a single Mom and get that but the body and soul do wiggle into the picture throughout life. Part of my body and soul is a creative venue. I feel differently walking into the studio and feeding that aspect of me. My body reacts differently. I am calmer. Happier. I look at how can I create this better.
Another example is the TV show Dancing with the Stars. How the celebrities develop every week. They don’t care about the scores as much as their journey they are on. Becoming the person that is within you.
Enjoy the journey everybody it wonderful and enlightening ………..