Art and creativity have been a big part of my life. So much so that I couldn't remember when I was not trying to be creative or entertaining myself, friends, and family with some innovative polish. A friend had recently asked me how I ended up being so clever and responsible for so much creative direction in my life. As simple and straightforward as possible, I could not give one solid answer. So I decided to look into my history to remember to try and make some sense of when I started and when certain people or events significantly impact me.
First, I would like to say there were no cellphones or computers. As much as I love to use them both daily, I am very much convinced that I would not be interested in the arts if those things were available then. I am not against either of these things, but I can honestly say that I don't believe I would have ever been interested in creating and sculpting my imagination in the way that would become my life and the very essence. I often joke with friends and family that if I had any of the distractions that kids have today, my only aspiration would probably be to become an internet star or YouTube personality. While these things can be excellent, I do not feel humanity has ever created a healthy balance between devices and actual human interaction. But that is an entirely different story for another time.
When I was a very young boy, my younger brother Brandon and I would spend our weekends with my dad. And I have to say that was not only our first introduction to a creative childhood but probably played the most significant part in our lives as far as developing a genuine love for anything related to creativity and exploring different aspects of my imagination. Our parents did everything they could to see that we had a great childhood, even though they were divorced. They never let their differences interfere with our upbringing, and that is something I will forever be grateful to them.
Growing up, we didn't have a lot of financial stability in the sense that when extracurricular events were available, it was always a huge deal. And my brother and I were always so grateful and excited about whatever we were doing, whether getting a new toy or going to the park to play a baseball game—going to the movies or going to fish and skip rocks at the lake. Growing up in that kind of environment nurtured a great sense of quality over quantity.
I honestly feel a great sense of empathy for children nowadays. While I hold no judgment with electronic devices, I do not believe I would be the passionate creative I am today if I had the world at my fingertips. That said, I do feel lucky. My perceived 'boredom' that I would often find myself whining about in those moments would eventually become one of the most significant catalysts in what would become my lifelong journey as an out-of-the-box creative. What at the time was an unbearable prison of boredom would, in retrospect, become the very best thing that could have ever happened to me.
My childhood memories are full of many different moments of me asking my parents, "what should I draw"?. They usually responded with, "..Whatever your little heart desires ". What was once an annoying answer would, later in a mind of hindsight, look like an answer that I wouldn't have changed if I could have. Thinking back on that response now, I find it to be an exciting way of saying to me, "...Derek, I don't know, but the sky is the limit? Do not limit yourself. You can create anything "! Even if that was just a polite parental way of saying I don't know, Derek. We all learn as adults that there are plenty of things that have happened to us that, whether it was something fun or not, certain events shape us in such profound ways even if they seemed subtle and insignificant and annoying at the time.
So that was my first experience of stretching my imagination and becoming the constant undercurrent of my subconscious drive and creative drive. I will be posting again soon with a follow-up on my early to adolescent years that nourished my blooming into a relentless visionary. This time will be an exciting time of reflecting. I have not thought about some of these things in quite some time. Thank you for your interest and time. Be blessed and Namaste. 🙏
Derek
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