Rock, Paper, Scissors - Creativity's Fuel

September 29, 2009

I don’t know about you folks out there, but I have to make stuff. It’s moderately obsessive, but at least it’s productive. My husband is sure there is a code for it in the DSM, not that I’m familiar with that weighty tome.

So my house fills with stuff that I must then jettison, so off to the market I go, my cart laden with the latest hats, puppets, sock monkeys, scarves, beads, sweaters, whatever. This weekend I sold it all, to my amazement, and my husband’s too.

The high point of the day came when a woman with long, thin hair came to my table and plunked a hat on her head. It looked great, deep blue super soft chenille, a welcoming hat on any head.

She loved it immediately.

“I am starting chemo this week and my hair will be falling out,” she said. I gave her the hat. We locked eyes and grateful tears welled up, with a smile of thanks spreading on both our faces. It was a shared moment – one where I gave to her, but she also gave back to me.

I have to make stuff for others to love – it’s my fuel, my creative air … find that in the DSM!