Scattershot

Yesterday's post, made in a moment of angst, was my usual mixed bag of nonsense. "Prattle" as dervish was kind enough to point out...though to be fair, I wasn't railing against free enterprise as a concept, but the pursuit of profit as an end unto itself. Unfortunately, I offended more than a couple people (some quite unfairly), so I've taken the thing down.

I'll repost the "good" (constructive) part of the post:

Please, Please, PLEASE: EVERY person is capable of creating things: music, writing, fiendish D&D adventures, blueberry muffins, computer apps, friendships based on shared human fellowship. Try to create something new every week and share it with other people. Put it out there; charge money for it, even (I'm not talking about doing free labor!). But everyone can be constructive; everyone can be an active force in the world. Money is just a means of exchange, not an end to itself. "Creating wealth" is not an act of creation.

That bit was meant to encourage folks. Sometimes we underestimate our own potential for creation. Sometimes we underestimate just how much of a positive impact we can have on those around us just by sharing our creativity. And sometimes, even when we know these things, we forget them.

I'd just like to re-emphasize that when I use the word "share" I'm not saying you have to give away the the fruits of your creative labor gratis. If you create something that's cost you time and money, it's not unfair to ask for compensation. No, what I mean is: don't hide your creations. Don't hide your talent. Don't feel like you're not good enough or smart enough or whatever enough to make something worth showing to the world.

No, perhaps you aren't a Rembrandt...and perhaps no matter how hard you try you'll never be anything remotely close to a great master of your art (whatever that happens to be). But the mere act of doing it and sharing it has an impact. It inspires others. You may not be Rembrandt, but maybe someone who sees the joy you get from your creations to take up her own brush and she will be the new Rembrandt...and even if she isn't, maybe her creations will give her joy and inspire someone else. And so on and so on. See how that works?

Any person can be a match that lights a fire that makes a brighter world. That's not bullshit folks. Oh, it sounds all floofy and rah-rah, but it's true. Write a haiku per week and post it up at work. Maybe you're shit at writing haiku; maybe your co-workers will think the same. But you'll probably inspire someone else to try their hand at writing haiku, too (maybe just to see if they can do a better job, or maybe because they think it's funny or whatever). Bam...you just encouraged someone else in the world to be creative. That's kudos for you, pal. And what if someone, inspired by haiku, goes on to write other stuff...long form poetry, novels, screenplays, newsletters, blogs, whatever...that ends up inspiring other people? It could happen...it really just takes a spark...and all because you wrote a silly 5-7-5 bit of fluff and put it on a bulletin board. Or a cubicle wall. Or whatever.

But regardless of whether or not you have a "dramatic impact" or not, creating and sharing is good for the soul. It feels good to be a contributor. It increases our sense of self-worth, makes us feel a part of our society, helps us build a relationship (i.e. a rapport) with our fellow humans. We create, we share, we get feedback: this builds in us a sense of our value. It helps us find meaning and purpose. Which makes life all the more worth living.

Create and share. Find your art. That's what "art" is...look, here's the definition from google:

"the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination"

[expression is defined as "the process of making known one's thoughts or feelings." Sharing, in other words]

Find your art...that creative thing in you, that comes from your skill and your imagination, that you can share with others. Tell jokes. Share recipes. Organize Happy Hour events for you co-workers. Draw a picture of a fighter decapitating an orc, scan it, and post it to your blog. It doesn't have to be a Big Thing, just something.

And do it once a week. That's all I suggest. Create and share once a week. It doesn't need to be a lot of people; heck, it can be an audience of one (your child? your spouse?). If you DM a weekly game, you have a good opportunity to create and share and inspire, just waiting at your fingertips (provided you don't phone in your effort for the session). For the rest of us...well, we'll just have to get creative.

Ya, basta.