Acknowledging your creative self

This first chapter begins with these words...

"yes you are a creative woman!!!!"

which led me to pick up some pastels and my sketchbook and create this quick drawing. She is a creative woman. Her entire body is a vibration of creative love and energy and she is constantly emitting and reflecting. Something I plan to later paint. Then I thought about creating a children's book. well a book full of illustrations not just for kids but for grown women too. Don't you like to look at pictures? I do. This is something I hadn't thought of before, but that is what acknowledging your creative self is about, reaching out and honoring all of the crazy amazing creative ideas that you have in your mind that you never really thought about moving on...why not? if you dreamed it then it is attainable!!!

What I found interesting is that the authors story is similar to mine. She became sick and in the process of healing and changing her life, she reached out for art and creative expression in order to create a fulfilling life. I never thought I would want to be an art therapist or open a healing center of creativity or write a memoir looking at my journey from depression to now. who knew?! I believe that my sickness was a divine intervention. while it sucked, it also slowed me down and allowed me to make necessary changes in my life. sweep out the old dust and make room for newness for light for love for energy and infinite possibilities.

A quote from the chapter:

"We continue to be stifled by a host of factors that cause us to censor our inner voices and follow someone else's dream"

Have we not all been here? I have lived 23 years listening to what other people think I should do with my life. The other day my mom said, oh look these jobs for the president why not apply. And I told her NO!!!! I refuse to do anything else in life that has nothing to do with my calling and my passion. I am fortunate enough to be so young and understand what it is i am passionate about and know what I am supposed to do with my life. My calling from God.

By acknowledging my creative self I know that I have to do better. I must incorporate more mediation into my daily life. I must take time to practice my creativity and allow it to flourish. I must be loud and bold with my creativity and not allow others to violate who I am and what I choose to do with my creative self. I must share my creativity with others who in turn share with me so that we are true reflections of one another. Namaste. I am blessed to have a creative circle in my life of women who are all encouraging me to grow.

I will finish this post with an excerpt from my memoir... I think it can describe one of the first times I can remember being creative...

I remember art class in elementary. Every Friday afternoon. The art teacher had a tight asymmetrical bob and always wore fly earrings. She played the radio during the entire creative process. I think that's where I developed my music addiction. I cant do much of anything without music playing. I remember pastels staining the ridges in my fingertips. Construction paper and magazine collages. Watercolors and tempra paints. Feeling relieved. No grammar. No math. Just fingers deep in clay. Friends laughing and jamming to the latest tunes. And now while writing this sitting at the bar in a Maryland Starbucks, I deeply want to recreate this sanctuary for others. For myself. To be creative and free.

-jade andwele. Copyright 2009.