Since I started sharing my blog posts I’ve had people say “you’re so brave to put yourself out there like that, I’d be too afraid to do that.”

The truth is that for most of my life I allowed what others thought to dictate and control my creativity.

Criticism or the thought that I might be criticized stopped me from doing so many of the things I wanted or needed to do.

My need to create was stifled by my need to meet the expectations of others, real or imagined.

I wouldn’t write because I might use the wrong word, punctuation or grammar.

I wouldn’t sketch or paint because I might do it “wrong”.

I’ve finally learned after sixty years on the earth; the only opinion that matters is my own.

I don’t write for the grammar, punctuation or spelling snobs.

I write because I need to.

I don’t draw for the art critics.

I draw because I need to.

I don’t paint for the……well……..I don’t paint because I don’t paint, but that isn’t the point.

There will always be critics.   There will always be people who have nothing better to do than point out the flaws they see in others.

I wonder if the critical people know how their lack of encouragement can have such an impact?

Each person has something within that should be cultivated and allowed to bloom.   A garden of creativity should be fed and lovingly tended.   Encouragement is the water and sunlight.

Thoughtless criticism is like too much fertilizer.  It will burn and kill the garden.

(Note that I am not talking about constructive criticism, asked for and gently given to teach or help. )

Many famous writers ignored the formal rules in their writing.   What a loss it would be if they hadn’t written because someone told them they were doing it wrong.

What about the famous artists who colored outside the lines?

Creativity is finding our voice or our style and having the courage to put it out there.

I finally learned to accept my perfect imperfectness, and I’m learning to ignore the critics.

You can too.

Create something and share it with the world.  You’ll be glad you did.