A Lesson from John Steinbeck
You know how sometimes you’re so scared you won’t succeed that you procrastinate trying to make something new?
John Steinbeck just gave me the antidote for the fear of creation. Oddly enough, I stumbled upon it as a result of failure.
One of my 2020 resolutions was to read more. I blitzed happily through Carol Burnett’s In Good Company and Patti Lupone’s memoir (see Lessons from Patti Lupone). I felt on fire, like I could devour every book in sight. I decided to read Thoreau’s Walden and couldn’t make heads or tails out of the first page! I was honestly less confused trying to read Faulkner! I gave up on that book and decided on Steinbeck’s East of Eden. And I found this pearl of wisdom on the dedication page… before the book even started. It wasn’t even a full sentence, but it stood out in golden light:
“…the indescribable joy of creation.”
I was shocked something so simple could strike me to the core and erase my fear. The indescribable joy of creation… it’s very real. What did we do the first time we drew a picture at school? Or the first time we wrote a story? Or a song? We happily ran home to share it with a loved one. At least, I did. Happily. I couldn’t WAIT to put my squiggly lines that somewhat resembled an elephant sailing a houseboat on the fridge, or my 1st grade illustrated copy of “Fanny Brice Falls in Love” in my mother’s hands. As a child, I didn’t put any stock into worrying about the reaction of others as I created my art; I just happily did it. Happily - without fear of failure, without worry or regret.
YouTube is the biggest fridge in the world right now. And there’s plenty of space and magnets to post your creations on it. Why hesitate? Why even worry about whether or not somebody will like it - especially to the point of not even wanting to start!
Whatever your fridge may be, whatever your goal may be, don’t hesitate to create. And then don’t hesitate to share it. There will be LOADS of people who may use your work as a platform for criticism and opportunities to bicker with each other. However… there will also be LOADS of people who like what you make. There will be LOADS of people who love what you make. There will also be people who are inspired by what you make, and then turn around and decide to make something of their own because of the bravery of your creation.
I’ve come to find the indescribable joy of creation lies in its power to grow: Creation fosters creation. Creation uplifts and inspires. This message is for myself as much as anybody else - don’t be afraid to start. Don’t be afraid to try. If you are, replace your fear with the indescribable joy of creation. And when you do, slap it on that fridge and proudly say, “Look what I did! You may not like it, it may be total crap. But I was brave enough to put my squiggly lines on this fridge. And I’ll keep trying and keep creating until those squiggles DO resemble an elephant sailing a houseboat.”