I have come to believe that more than anything else, creativity is a habit. Whether it’s Beethoven, Emily Dickinson, or Lin-Manuel Miranda, we hear stories of them prioritizing their daily creative time above all else. They knew that doing the act, day after day, is the best way to get to something that feels miraculous. It’s not a moment of genius – it’s the daily habit.
I am taking a few days away from my studio for the Thanksgiving break, and I feel the loss of being far away from a loved one. I love the daily act of practicing my art, and even for as good a reason as being with family and making delicious food, I still miss being inside my music, practicing daily.
It’s okay – I’ll be back in no time, and I’ve gotten used to the start-stop nature of working at home while raising three kids who don’t schedule sick days around my schedule…I have learned to be flexible with my creative time.
Nonetheless, I find the yearning reassuring. It’s one of the things that tells me I’m doing work that’s meaningful and important to me.