Budding

Quite an ominous start to my next blog entry I know guys but we had to go somewhere different for my next outing, otherwise we would just end up in a world of bread and hip hop! What a mess that would be, I’m sure fiddy and snoop dog wouldn’t be “down” with that. So I started to question something that bothers me greatly, the question that gripes at my soul and the attitude some people take that could stifle any budding talent….. “So are you a creative sort then??” The answer I have to that is NO! Well not in the context you mean with your condescending tone anyway…. I use that question to exemplify all the many ways others can sap the enthusiasm from another persons body!

Something you need to know about me is that I have about as much talent in my little toe as my whole body, I posses no expert skills in anything guys and that is something that I am fine with. The real question is do I possess creativity, not am I creative…. And personally that question I feel I would answer yes! I love creating, how good I am at crating stuff is a different story but no one every did anything the first time round perfectly, did they?? Michael Jordan has been quoted saying

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

Now that story could have ended so differently, just try to imagine a time when young Mike missed his first shot as a kid, what could have happened if his coach or a friend made a stupid comment and crushed his budding urge to play hoop. What if Mr and Mrs Dylan told their son Robert to “quit that racket”…

We all see this type of negative behaviour that is sometimes meant with malice but often in jest, that friend who thinks its funny to make a snipe at your budding journey on a new creative road as its not something your yet good at and your first efforts may seem infant like but rather than giving a positive pat on the back, some constructive feedback or just an “awesome”, often these new beginnings get a snigger or a nonchalant shrug, not the encouragement we all need to go on and be amazing. This brings me back to my question… Creativity v’s Creating…. I feel I am a creative person and this manifests itself in a desire to try new things and learn new things. Ultimately to see if this is “my thing” and lately I have been spreading my wings in some new areas, blogging being one of them and for the most part I am fortunate enough to work and socialise with like minded positive people who will provide effective and stimulating positive affirmation but some behave in the manor that I have mentioned above and whilst I am big enough and old enough to shrug this off or laugh along it could easily quell the flame so to speak.

So I ask you all, question yourself. Do you encourage those around you, do you nurture the smallest of flames, do you try to leave everything you touch in a better place than you found it… If the answer is yes then keep doing that, keep up the good work, you are special! If you can’t say yes to that then you need to stop and think, you could have just stopped the next Chopin from ever of happening or a budding amateur from going pro… Question your actions and be a bowl for great things to be made within…. Not the lid that caps it.

Creativity breeds talent, talent breeds creation, creation breeds inspiration.

Enjoy.