When did you become creatively 'beige'?

I pushed my son off a balcony once. Surprisingly therapeutic.

Actually, it was part of a short film so, not as crunchy as it sounds but, fun nonetheless.

Some of my favourite memories involve the creativity of our children. Someone was always playing music, filming, taking risks, editing, discussing creativity; these days were beautiful for me. The artistic outcomes were important but they were not filtered through the lens of other people's opinions. The outcomes reflected the artist's unique vision - a story, style and personality that was anything but the colour of conformity - beige.

Let me ask you a question...

When was the last time you enjoyed your own creativity for yourself? When did you last spend time singing and NOT film it to post (for approval)? Recording seemingly endless self tapes, creating content to influence tickets sales; or anticipating that conversation with your parents, justifying your arts degree.

When did you last enjoy your creativity without a filter?

Filtering ourselves through the lens of pleasing others influences our creative choices. It impacts our relationship with artistic risk, and we begin to avoid unsuccessful attempts, exploration and artistic freedom, all of which are necessary components of creating fantastic art.

Dear One, you have to fight for your artistic freedom.

You've learned to conform. Your individuality wasn't necessarily celebrated, so you became 'creative beige' in the name of chasing a "national tour" - and that's fine but what happened to that person that loved performing regardless of the size of the audience; who had an opinion on the art; who did more than replicate a character track?

I know you love performing but I want to challenge you to consider whether you're enjoying a creative freedom - do you have enough opportunities to perform without the need to satisfy some sort of expectation or outcome; to know that deep joy that feeds your soul. It's there. You just have to look for it.

Keep going.