I recently had the pleasure of talking with two different ladies about creative things. One told me about her personal journey, the other described what she was doing with a group setting. What caught my attention in both situations was their excitement. I love meeting people, hearing their stories and gaining insight from their experiences. It is my heart’s desire to inspire people to find and use their creative outlets; but just because this is my passion, doesn’t mean I don’t need encouraging from time to time.  Seeing, hearing and partaking in others’ creative journeys stirs my own creative flame and keeps me on track so I can continue to motivate.

I had just met the first lady, and while we talked she showed me a piece of her art. She explained that this piece was done in a very different style from her other paintings. It was then she discovered that I was the author of, Created to be Creative.  With a big smile she said, “Oh, you’re Arleen? I’ve read your book; it is a pleasure to meet you.” She went on to tell me how she had always had a desire to be creative, but it wasn’t until she read my book about six years ago that she seriously started developing her talents.

Talking about getting a needed boost! This wasn’t a proud moment or a praise me, praise me moment, but a happy moment. A moment when I realized all the time and effort I put into writing my book – and even now, trying to faithfully write new blogs – is worth it, because others are moved to action. We can have all the talent in the world, but without action, we will never benefit from the personal fulfillment and no one else will ever be blessed by our efforts. This woman writes and paints, and though she wasn’t ready to show her work on my blog, she’s faithfully working toward improving her talents. There’s no harm in her not wanting to put her work out for the masses to see, but knowing it was good enough to do so says something and seeing her enthusiasm was fantastic. Plus, she’s already shared some of her art with family and friends.

The second lady, Bev, took the time to explain a painting class she was teaching later in the week. She has several people coming to her studio, all at different skill levels, and they’re each going to paint their interpretation of the same painting.  She picked a fun and colorful piece of art and she’s excited to see what everyone will come up with. I said this in my book, but I’ll say it again here, “There’s nothing so infectious as a room full of creative people excited about being creative.” That’s an added benefit of a friendly setting where the artists can relax, paint, and enjoy each other’s company.  Apple Tree with Red Fruit by Paul Ranson is the painting she’s using for the class. (These photos were sent to me after the class.)

So whether you enjoy doing creative things in a group setting or in the privacy of your own home, it matters not. What’s important is that you put forth the effort to use your talents. The joy on these ladies’ faces reminded me of all the benefits of using our creative outlets. In a nutshell, creativity is good for us on a personal level and it’s a blessing to others. Amen!

I’m the author of: Created to be Creative
to purchase my book  Click Here
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