“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof”….I’m not really sure what a room without a roof would feel like; better yet I’m not even sure what that statement means. What I am sure of, however, is that this song makes me happy. Fundamentally, being happy is a good thing, but you didn't need me to tell you that! The question is how do we create more opportunities to be happy? Is it really that complex?

I could think of no better narrative to get us started other than talking about myself and sharing my journey. Since this recollection is particularly long I’ve broken it up into two sections.

This is part one of my two part journey. So, here goes!

Creative Homicide-Code Blue

As a publisher, we are generally asked the same questions without fail -every author we’ve ever spoken with, every editor we’ve ever interviewed and every illustrator we’ve ever contacted has asked, “How do you go from science to running a publishing company? What inspired you to make such a leap into the literary world?” Well, the truth is, it wasn’t well planned nor carefully orchestrated in the least. Rather, I was in a desperate creative state, as I clawed to maintain my penchant for autonomy and creativity.

The fundamental underpinnings of my science based graduate program was that there was always more than one way to arrive at any conclusion. These concepts meshed nicely with the free spirited path that had guided me in my life thus far. In that world, independent thought and flexibility were praised- I flourished.

When I actually had to grow up, get a job and become a productive member of society, I saw my creativity and out of the box thinking slowly dwindle. The thoughts that once flowed out of my mind like a wild river came to a halt, and slowed to a drip, like a leaky faucet. The growing responsibilities associated with the demands of adult life and the hustle and bustle of work pinned my creative self against a wall in a death grip. I nearly exhaled my last creative breath.

I was mundane, and no one wants to be mundane, the mundane never see the truth in the world, rather they live in ignorance of the wars raging about them. I needed to do something- anything but be mundane! (the Mortal Instruments fans will get this reference)

Publishing: The Resurgence of the Creative Me

Self-expression, creativity and freedom of the mind used to be my outlet. How did I lose that? How did I allow life to strip me of that? Not only did I notice this demise in myself; I saw it in my friends and my family, it was like someone held a mirror up to me. I have friends that once took pleasure in photography and enjoyed a leisure walk to capture the essence of a spring day, and there were those that would lose themselves in painting. Moreover, I had friends that had a penchant for hair styling and relished with pride in the artistry that it took to get a wash, set and blow just right. Much like I had done, they’d all begun to toss those talents to the side in lieu of a secure and structured corporate career path. All of our creative selves were dying a slow and arduous death in the name of adulthood. It didn’t happen overnight, yet I could see it clear as day. In that moment, I really understood the value that creative freedom brought to my life…. our lives. I understood why my mother so fervently supported creative thought, and she didn’t need a stockpile of degrees to realize it… Simply put, creative expression is good for you!

This post is modified from Blackgirlnerds.com

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