One of the biggest reasons that I hear for why creative play doesn’t have a bigger place in people’s lives can be boiled down to three words:
“What’s the point?”
In other words:
“I’ll never be a master.”
“I’ll never be as good as So-and-So.”
“I’ll never make a living from it.”
Etcetera, ad nauseum.
And the conclusion drawn from all of these truisms is, “so why even bother?”
I wrote a blog post about this back in 2012, which I republished last year, but it’s an issue that can never get too much attention, as far as I’m concerned, so that’s what we’re talking about today — the gremlin that I refer to as the “Why Do I Even Bother” Gremlin.
My answer to “what’s the point?” involves a trip to the San Francisco Library, Baryshnikov, spinner dolphins, and even a little bit of evolutionary theory.
Have a listen.
And to read the original post that inspired this episode, click here.
Quotes In this Episode
“Why bother? Because you love it. I know I’ll never dance like Baryshnikov, but it’s still fun to wiggle around on a dance floor!” -paraphrased from Annie Cicale
What’s the point of creative play? Because it’s fun! Why should there have to be any other point? (Click to tweet.)
Why shouldn’t “because they can, and it’s fun” be a good enough reason to do something? (Click to tweet.)
Resources In this Episode
The original post that this episode is inspired by: The “Why Do I Even Bother?” Gremlin, Spinner Dolphins, and the Point
The Richard Harrison Collection at the San Francisco Public Library (ask for Andrea Grimes!)
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Now go get creating!
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Listen to this reminds me of two quotes. First one: “If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.” Marc Chagall. Second: “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr Suess. We have to just create for the reason it came about. For the love, and passion of it. When it becomes a competition our creative desire slumbers, and waits once we slay the dragon of What if. Not all will love what we make, but their are those who treat our work like Saturday morning cartoons. Coming back to us every time to enrich their souls every time we create something new.
Yes, amen, Ronnie. 🙂 LOVE those quotes, btw. Thanks for sharing them.