Ask Dali Mama

DEAR DALI MAMA:

People always tell me I am creative but I don’t see that at all. I work at a bank as a teller and do nothing creative. I’ve never been good at art or music or writing or anything creative. What’s the deal? I get so irritated when people tell me I’m creative. What does that mean?

–Frustrated non-poet, non-artist, non-creative person (Canada)

DEAR FRUSTRATED:

Well, maybe you’re creating proof you’re not creative, which would be very creative of you! Ha ha.

Bank tellers can be very creative, just as much as anyone else. Maybe some just tend to use their creative energy differently at work or on their own time.

Maybe you get irritated because there’s truth to the statement that people keep telling you. If someone went up to you and told you that you have purple hair, would you get mad? I’m guessing not. Because you know it’s not true and there’s no energy around that statement either way. Now, as far as being creative….

I believe that every single one of us is creative in some way. It’s up to each of us to find out what that means for us. What do you love to do? Start by playing—play with media you don’t normally do. Go to one of those shops where you show up and paint yourself a mug, for example. Doodle in the sandbox. Get one of those zen drawing tablets. Don’t be attached to the outcome. Just do it with the sole goal of having a great time—of playing. Then see what happens. Try the exercises in Practice of Poetry by Robin Behn or Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. Make art everywhere—create sculptures with your spaghetti or oatmeal or anything you eat. Create outrageous and delicious combinations of smoothies tomorrow morning. Doesn’t matter if it’s good or not–look at it as an experiment you can enjoy and modify over time. Draw designs on your stomach with chocolate sauce. Play! Have fun! See what else you can create while having a blast.