006 · Creativity as a River
and other clumsy metaphors for making sense of life
I ~ OPENING
Summer is upon us and my body and mind feel more alive than any time I can remember. Now is a time for movement & fluidity, free from gelid temperatures and premature nightfall. I feel good.
Agency of happiness is a dual blessing/curse. In acknowledging that you are in charge of your own mood, you accept that you are the only one who can help yourself. Doing so also empowers you to be aware of your moods and have the ability to affect change. No matter what our support systems look like we only have ourselves, but at least we have ourselves.
II ~ THINKING... ONLINE
As of late I've been reexamining my ideas of and relationship to creativity. In a time where "creative" is an identity to wear and creating "content" is a practice vital to many professions (including my own) the very idea of creativity becomes something bland, corporate, mechanical. It's impossible to ignore the commodification of creativity, as well as the binary & often gatekept "you have it or you don't" mentality surrounding it.
This attitude leads to those who adopt the "creative" moniker feeling panicked when inspiration is not constant, and others believing they're simply not creative. Creativity does not deal in absolutes.
The pervasiveness of "creative" concepts are inextricable from digital media, as all information consumed online is designed or crafted in some way; an Instagram infographic, a Spotify podcast, a news article. In stepping away even slightly, we can realize that creativity still exists and has always existed outside of the internet. It is unintelligible & elusive force completely different from the on/off machine model established today.
Creativity is a river, constantly flowing, able to be harnessed but never captured or controlled. To dip a bucket in a river doesn't mean you've captured the river but merely a product of it.
This is an arcane energy we all tap into at different times, in different ways. Enjoy it, and don't get bogged down with expectations.
III ~ BIG IDEAS
1️⃣ Go easy on yourself. You are your most important friend.
2️⃣ What's important will make itself known. Don't over-architect your dreams, leave room for intuition and opportunity to coalesce.
3️⃣ By choosing how you spend your days, you choose how your spend your life.
IV ~ THINGS THAT MADE ME THINK OF YOU
✳️ Tiny Awards - An awards collection for the best internet projects from small & independent creators, put on by
of . Part celebration and part curation, they aim to bring the best of the web beyond algorithmic monoliths.✳️ Scoby - A webpage builder created by & for Are.na. This tool allows you to create webpages using an Are.na channel as content styled with custom CSS. The site also contains links to sites built with Scoby for both entertainment & inspiration.
✳️ Idea Generation - A wonderful YouTube channel that interviews creators of various media and provenance. It allows for a more comprehensive look at their creative processes, beyond finished products & curation on social platforms. Two of my favorites are Nicole McLaughlin and Action Bronson.
V ~ CLOSING
I appreciate you taking the time to read as always. I hope you read something that you needed to hear. I hope you continue to be a friend to yourself. I hope you create when it feels easy, and rest when it feels difficult.
Go in peace, indulge in little pleasures, and make sure to use all of your nicest things you’re convinced you’re saving for something.