Le Divorce

(Jack White and Karen Elson, photo by Gareth Cattermole, Getty)

Creativity is defined as a new way of doing something. Based on this definition, I am finding that I am a lot more "creative" than I ever gave myself credit for.

I can draw. And I used to apply this talent in grade school through a variety of sketching projects. As an adult I scaled it back to blind contour portraits of friends and family. Creative? Well, perhaps.

I can style and edit. If you need to put together a complete look for an event, then I am your gal. Want some help editing your magazine, then call me. Creative? Um, okay.

But what about finding a new way to view something that is causing you upset, grief, struggle and discomfort. I can definitely offer some alternate ways to view the event from a perspective that it is actually the greatest thing that could possibly have occurred to you on the grounds of your own growth and ultimate happiness. The trouble is that when someone is experiencing their unfortunate situation, they may not be ready to check things out from a positive vantage point-- yet. In which case, offering them some alternate perspectives is really all I can do... well that and my total support while they process things.

Divorce and break ups are one of those things that seem to cause the most upset, and marinading in negative outlook. And while there are a myriad of alternate viewpoints on this unfortunate situation, here is one that I find very empowering and inspiring. Click here to read about the divorce party that Jack White and Karen Elson hosted earlier this summer.

Now, don't you dare go and label me as pro-divorce. Although I am not exactly sure how I feel about the institution of marriage, I am pretty solid with the concept of being one's word. Regardless, I do admire how Jack Black and Karen Elson chose to view and manage their own unfortunate divorce. Very creative, if you ask me.

Vampires

Vampire (Eng.)/ Vampire (Fr.) noun: Any person, thought or feeling that stands between you and your creative expression.


Vampire is the same word in French as it is in English. I suppose this definition of vampire applies to everyone no matter what language, culture or profession. We are all plagued with vampires in our heads, although some of us have developed better slaying abilities than others.  Here are a few examples of the different vampire breeds, as described in this song:


Pygmee Vampire: They swarm around your head like gnats and say things like "your teeth need whitening", "you went to state school!?" "Shakespeare and Sedaris did it before you and better than you."

Air Freshener Vampire: She might look like your mama or your old fat ass Aunt Fanny, she wants you to clean it up and not write about anything "bad", which will leave your work toothless, gutless and crotchless.

Vampire of Despair: This is the mother of all vampires. It will wake you up at 4am to say things like "Who do you think you are kidding?", "you look like a fool", "no matter how hard you try, you will never be good enough"

"Why is it if some dude walked up to me on the subway platform and said these things I would think that he was a mentally ill asshole, but if the vampire inside my head says it, it is the voice of reason?"

La Créativité

(Installation by Spencer Tunick)

la créativité (Fr.)/ creativity (Eng): noun: Finding new ways of doing something, by tapping into the imagination to recognize and generate ideas to execute on.

My mom used to tell me that she didn't have "a creative bone in her body." And "I can't even draw a straight line to save my life" she would often say. I think that was because my father was a very talented artist and my mom thought creativity meant that you must have a certain skill set such as a talented illustrator, painter, writer, or musician.

What I realize now is that creativity is much more general than that. It is using your imagination to do something new regardless of whether there is a blueprint or something to model it after. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't. The important thing is to go for it and provide an opportunity for change and sometimes mistakes to occur. Because change is the breeding ground for more creativity, and therefore more possibilities.

 So doesn't that mean that all parents are "creative"?

Or better yet that every single one of us is "Creative"? God only knows, there is no blueprint or model for us to live our lives from... we are creating them from the moment we are born.