Cultivating Genius

I am so proud of my 13 year old son - The Artist. He is working so hard right now to put together a portfolio of creative pieces for an audition in 10 days time to a high school with a specialized visual arts program. Whether he actually gets in or not, the process behind the attempt has been such a valuable experience, that it almost doesn’t matter.

The Artist is not particularly interested in sports (although he does have a wicked golf swing). And academics have never been his thing. But his wild imagination and eagerness to express it through pencil and paper is truly phenomenal. And as a mom, it makes me so happy to know that my child is passionate about something worthwhile.

We should all be so lucky to have an activity through which we can shine – regardless of how others may perceive it or whether or not it might actually take us anywhere concrete in this mundane life. True passion is about joy and it is rooted in the soul. And when we follow that kind of calling, it can only be something positive.

The Art of Writing

A piece of blank paper in front of me is neither inviting nor encouraging. Instead, I actually find it intimidating. I’m much better off coming at a page with the idea I want to convey firmly in the grip of my brain, pencil flying. This is why I am almost never prepared when inspiration hits. I’m either in the shower, or driving somewhere when I get the Big Idea. Or I’m in the middle of making dinner or packing kids’ lunches before dashing out the door on my way to work. But if I don’t immediately jot down the thought, chances are it won’t be there by the time it’s convenient enough for me to get behind a computer. So post-it notes, napkins and the backs of old envelopes really are my greatest allies.

While many writers would likely describe their craft as a passion, for me it is something more akin to a compulsion and far more about my desire to communicate. The driving force behind all my work is the need to reach out through expression of the written word. And to my mind, there is nothing quite like constructing a beautifully articulated sentence or finding that one perfect word to describe something so clearly there is absolutely no mistaking the intention. Or on the opposite spectrum, to formulate a concept in such abstract terms that it provokes thought and discussion, and encourages more personal interpretation. 

Writing, like other creative endeavors, has the ability to inspire and unite. But without readers and thinkers who can appreciate it, the art is lost. So if you are reading this now, I thank you!