With And Without
Not too long ago, I found myself walking through the isles at Michaels’ circling the store looking for the woodburning tool I was eyeing for months. I picked it up with hesitation, questioning if this would be just another tool collecting dust at the back of my craft closet after a few tries.
I put it back on the shelf and circled the store again to find myself right back at the same aisle, but this time with a firm resolve to get said woodburning tool. I didn’t suddenly have the extra funds to get it, but rather, my gut was telling me this tool would help me create the art I’ve wanted to try my hand at, and that enough was worth it. And there went the best $26.70 I spent that month.
My daughter loves when I open a new package, especially when I remember to include a treat for her on my shopping trips. This time, she got a stamp to play with while I plugged in my new tool. I collected scraps of wood from our unfinished basement and itty-bitty keychains to practice woodburning (otherwise known as pyrography, which sounds way cooler). Instinctively, my first attempt led me to burn my daughters’ name into a slice of wood, just as the memory of her home birth will always be burned in my heart and mind. I practiced pressing the tip with varying pressure until I got the curves and etching just right. The smell of burning wood made me feel warm even though the room was cold. There, in that space, I was the kind of Asma I love being. When I am with my creativity…
I am open.
I am trusting.
I let my intuition guide me.
I am generous and giving, as I think of ways to share my new art with those I love.
I see the good.
I see possibilities.
I struggle, go back, persist, pour myself in, and try again.
I am hopeful.
I can imagine a new reality before it’s real.
I stay open to a sense of wonder and amazement, just like a child.
I get to feel proud of myself and excited to make what wasn’t there before.
I feel most human.
Without my creativity, I’m missing a piece of my core. I am searching, at odds, or stuck consuming. It’s only after a few days in this space when I realize I must create to feel alive.
Writing Prompts // Reflection
Who are you with and without your creativity? What does it do for you?
What sacrifices are worth it? Which aren’t?
