Every day is new; there is a lot of certainty in that. Life can bring us something new daily, but sometimes, it shows us the same thing, so we pay attention to it. Sometimes, we don't have to look very far to be able to make our day a new and wonderful one, even when nothing special has happened. I would like you to stop for a moment, close your eyes, and ask yourself:
What inspires me?
What inspires me to work every day?
What inspires me to take care of my family?
What inspires me to create something with my hands?
What inspires me to prepare a special meal?
What inspires me to visit someone I love or with whom I feel joy?
Etc, etc, etc…
I'll tell you a story:
A few years ago (a little more than two decades), I was in the room of the house where I lived. I had drawn a character on a 45x60 cm piece of paper. I have always drawn, but the truth is that it had never occurred to me that I could draw on a large piece of paper. Years later, I spent my afternoons sewing purses and mending clothes. I simply loved the idea of creating with my hands. Then, I tried painting clay, decorating pillows, painting my house, knitting many scarves, and even making a blanket for my son before he was born. Then I remembered that even when I was younger, I liked to create: I made drawings for my father. The drawings always talked about things he did; for example, when he came home from work with his briefcase, I saw him get out of his car through my living room window.
I am neither an artist nor think I will ever be one. I don't consider myself one, and I don't pretend to be one, either. But then I started to think: what inspired me to create with my hands? Beyond entertaining myself (mainly because I come from the era of no cell phone), how can a person without artistic talent create something, even if they don't know the techniques? I discovered that what inspired me, and what often inspires me, is LOVE. I drew a character on a 45x60 paper when I returned from my first kiss at 15. I sewed purses and mended clothes to help my mother in her sewing work and to learn from her because I love her. I knitted a blanket for my son before birth because I had never known such great love, even before I met him. I drew pictures of things my father did because I watched him, admired him, and waited for him at the living room window of my house, simply because I loved him and missed him when he went to work.
Love, affection, and company have inspired me, especially love. I also enjoy using my hands and creating something that represents what I carry inside and feel, although it is far from perfect or pretty.
Sometimes, we lose motivation. We find ourselves going around in circles and need to know which path to take or how to feel we can retake it: we lose inspiration. But we must remember what makes us do, say, feel, and live. What common factor throughout our experience has made us create, not only in the artistic field but also in the workplace, at home, or in relationships? Create for ourselves or others. A creation that brings you inspiration, whatever kind it is. And then I ask you:
What inspires you?
Author: Estefanía Cultrera-Elfring
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