20 Things To Remember If You Love A Highly Creative Person
A friend shared this link on Facebook and I suddenly felt I needed to answer these as if they were directed to me. This is how I recover from insane back pain.
20 Things To Remember If You Love A Highly Creative Person
1. They have a mind that never slows down.
Yup. You might see me staring off into space, I assure you I am not bored. Forcing me to pay attention to something that is not inspirational or creative, that's boring and you WILL loose me pretty quick. Being locked alone with my own thoughts, that's a dream come true. ....Although.... sometimes I really hate what I think up and I can't let go of a bloody idea until I've beaten to death in my mind. Even if I hate the idea I came up with. It's actually really hard for me to literally jump into my own train of thought as say "No, this is really fucking stupid. Drop it." Even after I've told myself that, I find I still cling to an idea to try and make it suck less.
I also find my thoughts creep up on me at odd times. There are times I will be ready to have a full blown conversation, start it up, and suddenly feel my idea pop into the forefront and all I can do is shut up and live in my own world. Poor Eric, I do it the most with him. Especially on long car rides. I try not to do it often with friends and co-workers, I get a little self conscious about the sudden need to be anti-social and slip into my own mind. Probably why I stopped bringing sketchbooks and notebooks with me. I hate people thinking I'm ignoring them, especially when I am ignoring them. I don't know why, the age of cell phones makes me feel like I'm the bloody third wheel when I'm hanging out with someone, but if I had my sketchbook, I'd be doing the same damned thing to other people.
2. They challenge the status quo.
I'm not so sure *I* do that one myself. I do like to think things through in something I'm watching/read/playing, trying to make sense of it on an emotional or political level. Even if someone is unlikeable, I want to feel like I understand WHY they do what they do. And unfortunately I might feel the need to share these thoughts out loud.
3. They embrace their genius even if others don’t.
This is probably why I've given up on taking commissions or getting jobs with companies. Although I've been screwed so many times, doing my own thing feels like the safer bet, even if it's not earning me anything. At least it doesn't have me begging to be paid or feeling low because I didn't please someone 100% on a bloody gift.
4. They have difficulty staying on task.
YUP! I admit sometimes I stop drawing or writing because my brain jumps 10 steps ahead of me and I'll look at whatever I'm working on and think "Why isn't this done? I've already moved on from this." I just need my fingers to stay in sync with my head. It's harder than it sounds most of the time.
5. They create in cycles.
I'm trying to slog my way through this down cycle. It's been with me far too long and not doing anything is crushing.
6. They need time to feed their souls.
My soul is feeding on other fandoms right now. It kind of needs to feed on my own world, but I'm not happy with my own creation right now and feel we are not on speaking terms right now. I'm trying, changes are sort of making me happier, but I still don't know that I love my creation right now. So I'll feed on Dragon Age a bit more until I like my world again.
7. They need space to create.
I do. I need to find that space. I like being in the living room when I write and draw, but I want to use my drafting table up in the office.... but I feel like I'm far away from everything up there. I can't stay comfortable in one place for long. I really do need to find a spot that's mine just to work so I don't get distracted by the bright shiny things that distract me.
....like the internet....
8. They focus intensely.
I can only agree. It's fun to loose myself in something I'm working on, but I hate doing so around people.
9. They feel deeply.
Yeah. I can take offense at things that perhaps aren't meant to be offensive. And I have a long memory so things that bug me deeply take a really long time to get over.
I also hate sharing my feelings. I stopped bringing sketchbooks to public places because too many people want to see what I'm doing. Sometimes it's a little too personal and I don't like trying to explain that I might have been in a dark place when I drew something. I also don't like people reading notes I write in my sketchbooks, either. If I wanted you to know what I was thinking, believe me, I'd tell you. If I want you to see what I'm drawing, I'll share it. Don't ask to see my sketchbooks, I'm going to say No from now on.
10. They live on the edge of joy and depression.
YES! I can't tell you how many times I've made myself laugh then cry less than a second later with just my own thoughts.
11. They think and speak in stories.
Which is why I write a lot of things down. One of these days I may even feel like sharing again.
12. They battle Resistance every day.
I'm trying to learn how to deal with it better. Fear has become a companion I don't like, but it's always on my shoulder. I have given that Fear certain peoples' faces, as they have been the voice that has crushed me over the years. But it also has my face. It's my own fault I've let myself fall into long periods of dis-practice.
13. They take their work personally.
I guess I've been shot down so many times so many times, never been a teacher's pet, or overlooked so much, I can't take myself as seriously as I did years ago. Unless I'm offering to draw something free, and then being bitched at for not making it perfect even thought I offered it to you for FREE, I don't really care if someone loves or hates what I draw. I'm drawing what I want, so if you don't like it, it's on the internet, there's always another page to look at.
I only die a little inside.
14. They have a hard time believing in themselves.
Yup. The internet is terrible for that. Also seeing old classmates and former roommates making it in the comics industry while I struggle to draw a little sketch everyday is kind of crushing. Kind of? Fuck, it's very crushing. And I know I can draw, it's not that I lack a talent, only when I think I completely lack the talent.
15. They are deeply intuitive.
eh.... I'm not so sure I always fall under this.
16. They often use procrastination as a tool.
BAH HA HA HA HA! I've been procrastinating for a really, REALLY long time then.
I have a bad habit of thinking I suck, so I end up putting things off. I could call it artists/writers block, but it's all just procrastination. And the internets has games to play and Facebook for me to spend all day on!
17. They are addicted to creative flow.
I admit, it's crack and I do live for those long stretches when I loose myself in writing and drawing. But the real world always slips in and I either have to get some sleep or leave for a soul-crushing job in the outside world. So I loose myself in the creative flow a lot less than I'd like. And I see it everyday, and I feel like such a slacker for it. I try to convince myself that I can sleep 4 or 5 hours a day and write for so many hours, draw for so many hours, and then endure a scheduled 9 hours of my life away from my passion, but it never ends up that way. I do feel happiest when I've stuck my nose in a sketchbook or something I've written all day, than living in the real world.
18. They have difficulty finishing projects.
It's why I have sketchbooks full of drawings and dozens of pages of notes, but nothing finished to show for it. I do love finishing a project, but sometimes I finish an idea/sketch and suddenly feel like hopping to something new.
19. They connect dots better than others.
Me? I'm not so sure that's true about me. I feel like I'm the last one to get it most of the time. *LOL* My observational skills are getting pretty lacking too.
20. They will never grow up.
AND THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS WHY ....I bought a toy two days ago. And why I keep playing with it. Because I don't care that I'm almost 40! I have a toy that looks like someone cross bred Audry from Little Shop of Horror with a piranha. And it's fucking cute as hell with it's sharp pointy teeth! You spin it's little leaf arm around and it CHOMPS! I LOVE IT. Who needs kids to keep buying toys!? Don't judge me.
20 Things To Remember If You Love A Highly Creative Person
1. They have a mind that never slows down.
Yup. You might see me staring off into space, I assure you I am not bored. Forcing me to pay attention to something that is not inspirational or creative, that's boring and you WILL loose me pretty quick. Being locked alone with my own thoughts, that's a dream come true. ....Although.... sometimes I really hate what I think up and I can't let go of a bloody idea until I've beaten to death in my mind. Even if I hate the idea I came up with. It's actually really hard for me to literally jump into my own train of thought as say "No, this is really fucking stupid. Drop it." Even after I've told myself that, I find I still cling to an idea to try and make it suck less.
I also find my thoughts creep up on me at odd times. There are times I will be ready to have a full blown conversation, start it up, and suddenly feel my idea pop into the forefront and all I can do is shut up and live in my own world. Poor Eric, I do it the most with him. Especially on long car rides. I try not to do it often with friends and co-workers, I get a little self conscious about the sudden need to be anti-social and slip into my own mind. Probably why I stopped bringing sketchbooks and notebooks with me. I hate people thinking I'm ignoring them, especially when I am ignoring them. I don't know why, the age of cell phones makes me feel like I'm the bloody third wheel when I'm hanging out with someone, but if I had my sketchbook, I'd be doing the same damned thing to other people.
2. They challenge the status quo.
I'm not so sure *I* do that one myself. I do like to think things through in something I'm watching/read/playing, trying to make sense of it on an emotional or political level. Even if someone is unlikeable, I want to feel like I understand WHY they do what they do. And unfortunately I might feel the need to share these thoughts out loud.
3. They embrace their genius even if others don’t.
This is probably why I've given up on taking commissions or getting jobs with companies. Although I've been screwed so many times, doing my own thing feels like the safer bet, even if it's not earning me anything. At least it doesn't have me begging to be paid or feeling low because I didn't please someone 100% on a bloody gift.
4. They have difficulty staying on task.
YUP! I admit sometimes I stop drawing or writing because my brain jumps 10 steps ahead of me and I'll look at whatever I'm working on and think "Why isn't this done? I've already moved on from this." I just need my fingers to stay in sync with my head. It's harder than it sounds most of the time.
5. They create in cycles.
I'm trying to slog my way through this down cycle. It's been with me far too long and not doing anything is crushing.
6. They need time to feed their souls.
My soul is feeding on other fandoms right now. It kind of needs to feed on my own world, but I'm not happy with my own creation right now and feel we are not on speaking terms right now. I'm trying, changes are sort of making me happier, but I still don't know that I love my creation right now. So I'll feed on Dragon Age a bit more until I like my world again.
7. They need space to create.
I do. I need to find that space. I like being in the living room when I write and draw, but I want to use my drafting table up in the office.... but I feel like I'm far away from everything up there. I can't stay comfortable in one place for long. I really do need to find a spot that's mine just to work so I don't get distracted by the bright shiny things that distract me.
....like the internet....
8. They focus intensely.
I can only agree. It's fun to loose myself in something I'm working on, but I hate doing so around people.
9. They feel deeply.
Yeah. I can take offense at things that perhaps aren't meant to be offensive. And I have a long memory so things that bug me deeply take a really long time to get over.
I also hate sharing my feelings. I stopped bringing sketchbooks to public places because too many people want to see what I'm doing. Sometimes it's a little too personal and I don't like trying to explain that I might have been in a dark place when I drew something. I also don't like people reading notes I write in my sketchbooks, either. If I wanted you to know what I was thinking, believe me, I'd tell you. If I want you to see what I'm drawing, I'll share it. Don't ask to see my sketchbooks, I'm going to say No from now on.
10. They live on the edge of joy and depression.
YES! I can't tell you how many times I've made myself laugh then cry less than a second later with just my own thoughts.
11. They think and speak in stories.
Which is why I write a lot of things down. One of these days I may even feel like sharing again.
12. They battle Resistance every day.
I'm trying to learn how to deal with it better. Fear has become a companion I don't like, but it's always on my shoulder. I have given that Fear certain peoples' faces, as they have been the voice that has crushed me over the years. But it also has my face. It's my own fault I've let myself fall into long periods of dis-practice.
13. They take their work personally.
I guess I've been shot down so many times so many times, never been a teacher's pet, or overlooked so much, I can't take myself as seriously as I did years ago. Unless I'm offering to draw something free, and then being bitched at for not making it perfect even thought I offered it to you for FREE, I don't really care if someone loves or hates what I draw. I'm drawing what I want, so if you don't like it, it's on the internet, there's always another page to look at.
I only die a little inside.
14. They have a hard time believing in themselves.
Yup. The internet is terrible for that. Also seeing old classmates and former roommates making it in the comics industry while I struggle to draw a little sketch everyday is kind of crushing. Kind of? Fuck, it's very crushing. And I know I can draw, it's not that I lack a talent, only when I think I completely lack the talent.
15. They are deeply intuitive.
eh.... I'm not so sure I always fall under this.
16. They often use procrastination as a tool.
BAH HA HA HA HA! I've been procrastinating for a really, REALLY long time then.
I have a bad habit of thinking I suck, so I end up putting things off. I could call it artists/writers block, but it's all just procrastination. And the internets has games to play and Facebook for me to spend all day on!
17. They are addicted to creative flow.
I admit, it's crack and I do live for those long stretches when I loose myself in writing and drawing. But the real world always slips in and I either have to get some sleep or leave for a soul-crushing job in the outside world. So I loose myself in the creative flow a lot less than I'd like. And I see it everyday, and I feel like such a slacker for it. I try to convince myself that I can sleep 4 or 5 hours a day and write for so many hours, draw for so many hours, and then endure a scheduled 9 hours of my life away from my passion, but it never ends up that way. I do feel happiest when I've stuck my nose in a sketchbook or something I've written all day, than living in the real world.
18. They have difficulty finishing projects.
It's why I have sketchbooks full of drawings and dozens of pages of notes, but nothing finished to show for it. I do love finishing a project, but sometimes I finish an idea/sketch and suddenly feel like hopping to something new.
19. They connect dots better than others.
Me? I'm not so sure that's true about me. I feel like I'm the last one to get it most of the time. *LOL* My observational skills are getting pretty lacking too.
20. They will never grow up.
AND THAT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS WHY ....I bought a toy two days ago. And why I keep playing with it. Because I don't care that I'm almost 40! I have a toy that looks like someone cross bred Audry from Little Shop of Horror with a piranha. And it's fucking cute as hell with it's sharp pointy teeth! You spin it's little leaf arm around and it CHOMPS! I LOVE IT. Who needs kids to keep buying toys!? Don't judge me.