Hello, friends. Lori here. As you may know, I’m the founder of this site. As you may not know, I’m also an aspiring filmmaker and lover of all things creative.
Two years ago I co-wrote and produced my first short film and have been writing my first feature screenplay, (which I recently finished) ever since. I’ve also been quietly admiring other people’s creations, dreaming of following in their footsteps but not always feeling the confidence needed to start.
I’m in awe of the breathtaking work I see all over the web, from vivid paintings and eclectic art journal pages to elaborate cakes and sculptures made with unconventional materials.
I could spend hours watching short films and mini docs that follow artists through their process and showcase their beautiful creations.
Whenever I see a work of art, I know I’m seeing a piece of someone’s soul—their love, their passion, their perspective—and I’m inspired to connect with that little creative spark inside myself that wants to fully blaze.
To be honest, I’m also a little envious because I haven’t always prioritized creativity, even when I’ve had space in my schedule to do it. I’ve often busied myself with mindless distractions instead of picking up a paintbrush or a pen. And I’ve made excuses to avoid connecting with myself and expressing myself in new ways.
I’ve told myself I don’t have enough time. And don’t know what I’m doing. And shouldn’t spend money on supplies. I’ve told myself I’m not good enough. Or experienced enough. Or too old to start something new.
But I want to move beyond these fears, doubts, and excuses and make creativity a more regular part of my life—because I believe we never feel as alive as when we’re lost in a moment of creation. Time slows down, along with the thoughts in our busy minds, and it’s like nothing else exists except for the canvas or the camera or the clay.
Creativity heals. It gives us a space to work through feelings we may otherwise have never fully acknowledged or processed.
Creativity calms. When we’re in the zone, crafting something with our hands and our hearts, we’re not thinking about everything that hurts or could go wrong—we’re blissfully in the now.
Creativity empowers us to fill the void inside ourselves with our own passion instead of stuff and other distractions. The more time we spend creating things we need to create, the less time we spend consuming things we don’t need to consume.
Creativity is the freedom to experiment and try new things, without any rules or restrictions except the ones we place on ourselves. It’s an invitation to play, explore, and have fun, and it inspires us to see both the beauty that exists in the world as it is and the beauty that can be.
This year I want to be more creative—more expressive, more courageous, and more seen—and I want to inspire others to do the same.
If you’ve put your heart and soul into a creation of your own, I’d love to share your work in the new “Community Creations” feed on the blog. Every week this feed will showcase:
- Artwork (paintings, illustrations, comic strips, etc.)
- Photography
- Music
- Short films
- Poetry
- Art projects not mentioned above (the more creative, the better!)
To submit your work to be considered, please follow the instructions here. Thank you in advance for sharing your work. I can’t wait to see what you’ve done, and to see how it inspires the community!
About Lori Deschene
Lori Deschene is the founder of Tiny Buddha. She’s also the author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal and other books and co-founder of Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that helps you let go of the past and redefine yourself. An avid film lover, she recently finished writing her first feature screenplay and would appreciate advice from anyone in the industry to help get this made. You can reach her at email (at) tinybuddha.com.
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