Being Busily Creative When You’re Not Creatively Busy
We all know what it’s like to be between projects and feeling…less than fulfilled, creatively speaking. For us actors, this kind of thing is just a way of life. But with the economy the way it is, more and more people have been out of work for extended periods of time and feeling pretty blue about it. I’ve certainly experienced a hefty dose of the “I can’t wait to get back in another show” blues myself on occasion. But what it, instead of moping and whining about our lack of work, we instead put our energy into creating something fulfilling for ourselves?
One woman, Alexandra Meyn, found a particularly creative way to keep busy while she struggled to find a job or internship after graduating with a degree in interior design: she built a fabulous, whimsical tree house right in her own backyard.
Photo credit: Trevor Tondro for the NYT
Go ahead and click over to the New York Times article to read all about this awesome and inspiring lady. Go on, I’ll be right here waiting.
Pretty beautiful story, huh? Instead of moping around waiting for a job, she went out and created her own work that she was passionate about.
I think one of the reasons that this story resonated so strongly with me (besides the obvious reason that she’s totally amazing) is that The Green Room Blog is kind of like my tree house. Writing about my triumphs and setbacks and aspirations and learning experiences, and reading about the other bloggers’ as well, helps to keep me stimulated creatively. Although I will admit to continually seeking other ways to challenge myself, too!
So what do you do to stay inspired and creative in the lean times — what’s your “tree house,” so to speak? 🙂
P.S. Alexandra: I want to be your friend and hang out in your tree house!
The Green Room 
Brilliant post and very inspirational article and life story! I use blogging, helping others and volunteering as my way to keep myself upbeat. Check out this article on A Younger Theatre http://www.ayoungertheatre.com/presenting-the-ordinary-as-extraordinary-starting-from-scratch/ very inspirational too.
Great post! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Great post about something that is so real for so many (read: ALL) of us. This is exactly why I spent a week writing a song–something I had never done before. It was so wonderful to be engaged in creating something, to be working at something, to take the time to care for it and make it something I was proud of. I printed out the sheet music for it yesterday, and periodically throughout the day I would look at it, touch it, hug it and smile: “I did this.” It felt so good. I am really quite chuffed.
I think another thing great about your feeling of ownership/tree-house-ship of this blog is that it extends who you are as a person and creative entity. So many of us get stuck in the mindset of living within the label of our profession: “I’m an actor, so when I’m not acting I must not be anything, right?” Wrong. You’re still a whole person, and it’s important to recognize all the little parts of who you are as contributing to what you do and what you enjoy doing–they should not be viewed as separate. You are an actor and a singer and a wife and a dog owner and a blogger and many other things besides. You are not AN ACTOR (who is also married, sings, blogs and owns dogs).
When one area of our life is going slowly, there are two lessons we can take away. Firstly, we realize the value that thing holds for us. Secondly, we are being given the opportunity to really see how much largess we have as a human individual aside from that one aspect of who we are.
I’m so proud of you and your song! I can’t wait to hear it!
You’re so right about being a whole person and not relying on our actor-ness to create our whole identities. It’s definitely something I’ve struggled with a bit, but I value well-roundedness in myself and others, so it’s a valuable lesson to learn. Also: you used the word “largess,” making this immediately my favorite blog comment ever, haha.
It’s so important to do your own things to stay creative. If you’re an artist, you always carry it with you. You’re still an artist even if you’re not necessarily in a theatre that day, rehearsing. It’s in your soul and that’s that.
Love the post, Redhead. Reflector – I gotta hear this song! I’ve written one before and I’ve since tried again, but I’m telling you – writing songs has got to be one of the most difficult things.
Writing anything is hard–and that is definitely true of songs! Hopefully my song will be heard soon!