It's hard to keep creative in times like these. I know many creatives who have taken this time to work on their craft create music, movement, theatre and write. However, this has not come with ease. Its tricky to stay focused with a pandemic happening and as creatives we are constantly keeping engaged with the world around us and it's pretty tricky to write anything that isnt just sad when that's your source material.
Indeed, in many ways creativity has already considered what might happen during a pandemic. You only need to look at the plethora of books, films and documentaires (which yes I include on this list), to know that weve already considered and acted out ways in which the world may respond to something like this. I wouldn't be surprised if next year many theatre students portray a version of events and art students make installations of this. They will, through research, look way back before Covid 19 in order to understand it. But what about now? If like myself you've been struggling to be creative it's time to feed your creative mind. There is this strange panic amongst creative people to make something, we never get time like this and we feel the urge to do something with it. These thoughts need to ge acknowledged but we shouldn't beat ourselves up over all of this. I dont know about you but i've experienced those moments where things seem normal amongst all this chaos. After all, we have been in lockdown for over 3 weeks by now so you've started to create some kind of a routine. When I get this 'normal' feeling I urge myself to pick up a pen and think away. When I just dont want to acknowledge what's happening around me I pick up a book and I discover someone else's creative thinking, which in turn feeds mine. We all get told that reading is a great form of escapism but I'm starting to believe theres more in it. That statement simply suggests it only helps you escape from reality. When I've come to the conclusion that whilst that's true it helps me to understand my reality more. Particularly books around issues that effect us deeply, you start to gain more perspectives and voices to help you gain a better understanding. I picked up Matt Haig's book Reasons to Stay Alive and he outlines the power of reading so effectively, acknowledging that it's an amazing form of escapism whilst also outlining it can do so much more. I'm only about 5 weeks in of my diet of consistant reading and it's by far one of the healthiest things I've ever done. In those moments when I'm reading I see more and I can see beyond this. I know reading isnt for everyone but I'm urging you to indulge in something you like but wouldn't normally have time for. I rarely finish a book and I'm happy to say I've finished 4 and half way through five. It's hard to create something new, so try, and if you dont make anything, forgive yourself. Try when you get the energy to. I didnt know if I would and beat myself up over it and then let go of the fear of not making something but then I suppose I've just written this. Written by Eibhlis O'Malley
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