Creators

A few people have asked me where I got the inspiration for Elizabeth. Coming from a fairly well off, suburban, conservative family, I haven’t experienced some of the events I have written about in the story. One person asked me “But if you’ve never experienced it, how can you write about it?” The question made me laugh and left me slightly confused. Isn’t that what every person does?

So much cooler than a spaceship

            If you were to walk through a kindergarten classroom, what kind of activities would you expect to come across? Coloring? Arts and crafts? Story time? From the time we are born, society grooms us to become creators. We listen to stories, draw pictures, and build spaceships out of Legos.

            Another statement I hear rather often is, “I can’t even draw a straight line.” Well when was the last time you sat down and practiced? I do it for hours a day. I’m sure if you did the same, you’d be just fine at it.

              My mechanical response to most of these statements and questions is that I simply never stopped drawing or writing. Every five-year old is an artist. Some stick the path and become the painters and authors of our world; others apply their creativity to science and become the engineers behind the next undiscovered invention. Regardless of titles, however, I’ve yet to come across a person who wasn’t a creator. It’s just a matter of passion and application.

            My unknowns are characters and plots. Doctors search for new medicines, bartenders try new drinks, and businessmen lift start-ups to staggering heights. And the best part? Our teachers create the next generation of creators. Passion and application.

            Do I think art is for everyone? No, of course not. But creating? That’s about as all encompassing as a description of people can be.

            Here’s to teachers, creators, and the faded line that divides the two.