Today’s prompts:

• What is different from when you started this journaling project?
• How is your creative process different now than it was a month ago? / A year ago? / Five years ago?
• What is different?
• What is still familiar, but not quite the same?

 

 

 

What is different from when you started this journaling project? I’ve become much more open about my thoughts and feelings. I’m not just writing to be politically correct or be wary of my audience. I’m just letting my words flow. I’ve become stronger in my faith and always find a way to include it in these prompts. As many probably have noticed, I include bible verses to explain my responses. I also try to leave an inspirational verse at the end of each entry.

How is your creative process different now than it was a month ago? I’m less critical of myself. I allow myself to write because I enjoy it. I don’t focus on trying to impress others or work really hard to inspire them.

     A year ago? A year ago, I was first inspired to create a blog and begin writing. I was working towards crafting news story ideas based on my environment for my web design class. My interest in blogging sky rocketed from there. Previously, I just focused on minor creative feats, mostly for my sorority. You’d be surprised at home much creative juice can flow our of a group of 160 girls.

Five years ago? Five years ago would have put me in my first year of college, fresh off the high school newspaper staff. Once entering college, I gave myself a huge creative break. I didn’t join any newspaper staff, fill my schedule with art classes or even bust open a notebook to conjure stories. Instead, I took a different turn at performing arts. I jumped right into a competitive cheer team and semi pro dance team.

What is different? While recalling all of these creative adventures, I guess I’ve really allowed myself to indulge in self exploration. My entire life prior to high school, I’d been consumed in writing (aside from my Disney Channel morning arts and crafts). I argued I was terrible at any other art and writing was the only thing I was good at. Upon entering high school, I decided to try something different; I enrolled in the graphic design program at my school. For the next four years, I developed an entire new array of creative passions. From digital art to physical art, I wanted to learn everything. From there, I’ve challenged myself to gain expertise in different art forms. To date, I’ve trained in digital art (3D modeling, photo manipulation, web design) physical art (painting and drawing) and performing arts (dance, circus, cheerleading, acting, singing). It’s amazing to reflect on the artistic talents I have developed not because I was born with it but because I had the courage to try something new.

What is still familiar, but not quite the same? Although all of these artistic areas are very different, the way in which I conduct my training is the same. I get that creative itch to be proficient in some area and dedicate myself to learning it. I practice endlessly, whether it’s a good day or bad day, and always push myself to reach high limits. When I was younger, I was always afraid of what others might think of me. I wasn’t confident in taking a risk. Now, I live for that risk. I live to challenge the average and live a life everyone has always dreamed of but was too afraid to pursue. I don’t want these things because I’m competing with others. I do this because this is who I am. I’m not average and a boring 9 – 5 lifestyle will never fit me.

I’ll always be that same hyper girl who laughs until she cries for not apparent reason. And as the years pass, I become a more refined and stronger version of myself.

“Do not neglect the gift you have…Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.” – 1 Timothy 4: 14 – 15