Needlework by Barbara Mattio

Creativity is like a plant in that it needs to be fertilized and watered. It needs quite a bit of attention and stimulation for it to flow out of your minds and heart and soul. All of life is in a constant state of change and often I, for one, have not been comfortable with that. We need to look at change as opportunity. It is amazing that I am able to say this with a straight face, but I am and the changes in life stimulate the flow of cosmic consciousness and the flow of creativity.

Another essential aspect of creativity is love. You must love yourself and those in your community. Darkness will hide your artistic voice. You need to love the people who agree with you as well as those who do not. A singer exercises their voice. To exercise the love aspect of your being will encourage your artistic voice.

Look at your work as an uphill climb and move gradually and steadily toward the summit. It is like a tiny stream in a landscape. If the stream is flowing, it can change the topography.

You can arrive at artistic purity, not today or tomorrow perhaps, but the more your creativity flows and the more your art flows out of your being, the closer you will become to the purity. So breathe. This doesn’t happen overnight, but then teachers don’t function in a classroom overnight. A construction site doesn’t turn into a skyscraper overnight either. Keep breathing and allowing change and believe in your self. You will shine!