Twelve-week creativity workshop!

Ooh, I actually wrote about my hesitation here, in the last paragraph. I had no idea it was so common to cut off and suppress the inner artist. Heck, even the word has faintly negative connotations for me.

In a way, creativity might not be so much the purpose but the symptom of an integrated life. When you don't like some part of yourself and try to suppress it, you've splintered yourself in a very real sense and are no longer whole.

In my case I think casting off my inner writer, or trying to, was out of a desire to be loved and accepted. What part of herself wouldn't a kid sacrifice if it means her parents will love her? I've faced a lot of these issues over the course of the past few years, and I suspect reintegrating my artist will be a key step in the process.

The exercise is a good one. Here are some of my common blurts, and my edits:

A billion other people want to be artists. What makes me stand out?

Edit: A billion other people want to be artists. I have a billion potential friends!

What makes me think I have anything to offer the world?

Edit: I think I have myself in my uniqueness and idiosyncrasies to offer the world.

I can't create anything that anyone will be interested in.

Edit: I can create anything that I am interested in.