Wingin’ It
Whether you consider yourself a “creator” or not, the concept of inspiration (and how to find it/seize it/feed upon it) is familiar to us all.
Personally, I am constantly running around inside my skull with a figurative butterfly net, hoping to ensnare any shimmering, fluttering revelation I can find. Sometimes the active hunt comes up fruitful (insert heartfelt quote about never giving up), but most of the time, inspiration gently lands on my head or foot just as I’ve surrendered myself to a reality in which I’ll never create anything of any value. Ever.
Yes, it’s while l am laid out in this motionless tantrum, mind empty of thoughts and soul drained of hope, that inspiration graces me with its presence. It does not enjoy the tempest of my pursuit, but instead prefers to pupate its gooey, shapeless potential through my panicked storm, emerging beautiful and triumphant right when I’ve convinced myself it doesn’t exist.
While the first instinct towards inspiration’s arrival is to reach out and grab it, I know from personal experience that my grubby, greedy fingers will likely maim or kill it.
And so, my fellow net-bearing friends, what I am telling you is to snap the net in half and let your inspiration fly around you.
Observe it from all angles.
Watch how the light hits it.
Follow its journey through the air of your mind.
Capture it only through your personal medium, because, like a pinned butterfly, captive inspiration is not only exponentially less beautiful than its free counterpart — it’s also harder to share.
Wild inspiration, when allowed to roam and grow and live as it likes, is also more likely to return.
And maybe bring some friends along with it.
