Art Creates Depression Creates Art

It's a chicken vs. egg conundrum...

Not having a supportive launchpad for creativity growing up is like a missing hinge on a gymnast's springboard: it will get you nowhere except down, very fast. Having experienced both, I can tell you that floor mats are not as soft as they look, and depression can actually be a good thing. Family expectations can be a tragic damper to a budding creator, causing many to give their art up altogether in lieu of a more "hard science" kind of field. Fortunately, creativity is never lost entirely, as the coupon for creating can be redeemed anytime.

While writing this post, I realized this was a very personal story, and one I'm not yet ready to tell, mainly because I cannot find the words. The deep dark hole of depression runs deep within, and scars of experience abound. They are not easily left behind, but perhaps they should not be. Only under great pressure does coal become diamond; only with intense heat does sand become glass.

I am willing to use my journey as a springboard. Are you willing, too?

 

 

 

Published 21 January 2008 07:34 PM by copper cat
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# qbudoesart said on 25 January, 2008 10:58 AM

You do ask the hard questions!  I'd never thought about the lack of support for my creativity as a child impacting where it went or where I went, but I think you may be right.

I understand about very personal stories that are sometimes hard to put into words.  Just know that when you do manage to find a way to express it, it will be a positive step for you and probably help others, as well.

BYW, thanks for your response to my Blissness Forum post -- that's one I'm going to have to do some research on.  Also thanks for your comment on my blog.  I like the way you think!  I've always thought that anyone employed fulltime needed a wife (just hadn't thought of applying it to creatives) and have many times told my boss of 23 years to quit complaining--he had a wife to do things and I just had to do them myself...lol

Thanks for posting!

Linda aka QBUdoesart

# Julie Burger said on 25 January, 2008 09:18 PM

Hi Jan'ice!

Your post on depression is so poetic and I can not only read the words, but I can also feel them. On a lighter note, when we were in the seminar the other night, a light bulb went off in my head (I can be really slow sometimes). I was so confused about your name. Initially, I just wasn't quite sure exactly what that little apostrophe meant and why it was there and then when we were exchangining e-mails a couple of times you left it out. Then I thought OK, it must just be the regular name Janice that I have heard in the past. But then, in the webinar, I thought "Duh", the apostrophe shows where the emphasis goes. So instead of the traditional Janice, it more like the French, with the emphasis on the Jan'ice - a whole different phonetic sound. Like my Niece is Renee' not Rene or Renee or Renie. Pleae tell me that I have caught up or on!

Hugs,  Julie