AUTHENTICITY: EMBRACING MY DESIGN
I stepped into creativity without realizing it. As a child and teenager, I admired music, poetry, dancing, and art museums. I believed creativity was reserved for the naturally gifted—something I was not. I told myself I wasn’t creative.
At some point, I began journaling to process my feelings privately. It was therapeutic. Inspired by poetry, I began experimenting with words and self-expression, now amassing a collection of my own personal pieces which I plan one day to publish. Eventually, I started sharing my writing on Facebook and later on Instagram, where I received heartfelt comments from readers that connected to my writing.
In 2017, I designed and built a custom shelving unit with a mirror to optimize space in my bathroom in my rented home. Using SketchUp, I created the design, purchased materials, and constructed it (yes! using tools). The satisfaction of bringing an idea to life sparked a passion for woodworking. Since then, I’ve built a bench, table, and taken woodworking classes. I love the problem-solving and creative process of it all. I even started volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, which has allowed me to share this passion while giving back. When I do this, I get lost in time and I’m flow. It is also therapeutic and fulfilling.
I love singing for fun and even started a YouTube channel in my twenties to upload covers. My father, a singer-songwriter and musician, often invited me to perform with him, but fear held me back. Eventually, I faced my fears and sang with him at two of his gigs. Though nervous, I embraced the experience, and received encouragement from friends and acquaintances to continue doing it.
I also dance because it heals my inner feminine energy.
Not everyone has embraced all of my creative endeavors and journey, including some family (especially the hobby involving power tools). However, I’ve learned not to let that deter me. Creativity lights up my heart, brings me joy, and harms no one- despite what the creative expression may look like or entail.
I don’t create to prove anything—I create because it is part of who I am. My path of healing and self-discovery through creativity has only deepened my self-love and acceptance.
“I sing, dance, build and write because each one heals a different part of me – sometimes it’s my inner child, sometimes my feminine, and sometimes my masculine.”
Turns out, I am creative after all. And my plan is to continue discovering this gift even more.
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What’s a creative idea or part of you that you’ve been holding back on?
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