A creative mind’s eye

3/24/2024

11:27 am

It has always been there and the first recollection of when I used it was in the 2nd grade.

It was a homecoming week in the small school I attended and there were competitions the school district was sponsoring. In the second grade it was a writing and drawing contest. The subject was horses.

I was living with my grandparents and we did not have a lot monetarily but at that age, I did not know this. I was happy, safe, and felt loved that was all that mattered.

My grandparents were always encouraging creativity within all their grandchildren as well as their own children. They themselves were very creative with sewing, bead working, and drawing. My grandpa was really good at telling stories.

It was not until that contest when my mind’s eye was opened.

I drew this horse, in a field of flowers, sun shining, and blue skies with puffy clouds. I thought it was a pretty picture and so did my school. I won a blue ribbon and a cash prize. I remember how I excited I was.

My grandmother, a few cousins, and a couple of aunts came to the school’s open house and program to showcase the students activities from that week.

I remember standing there proudly as they and others told me congratulations. It was one of those rare moments when I was not shy and actually talked to people.

It was many years later, I was a young mom in my mid twenties. My grandmother was in her late 80’s by then and was in a nursing home to convalesce after hip and pelvis surgery. We had gone to her house to prepare it for a birthday celebration and they were bringing her home.

As we were putting her clothes away, I opened a dresser drawer and found all these pictures and documents. That’s when I saw it.

It was my horse drawing and ribbon from the second grade. She had kept it all those years. There were also copies of my report cards and other school items.

The paper had yellowed and the colors were no longer that vibrant but in that few minutes it was a happy little moment. I showed it to my own mother and her sister.

My Aunty Mary made a remark that she remembered that drawing, she smiled at me and patted me on the shoulder. My own mother just looked at it and walked away, not saying anything.

I keep fond memories of that moment because a few years later, my grandparents house had electrical fire and unfortunately all her mementos and the house were lost.

That brief moment of recognition actually propelled me to do more drawing, painting, and think creatively. I would later on throughout my life draw what I saw around me, take further art classes, and learn new art forms.

In those difficult moments, creativity has been my saving grace and what I turn to the most.

My creative mind’s eye had been opened and saw the beauty in every day life.

It is all around us, we just have to take the time to see it.

Thank you for stopping by.

Have a wonderful week!

Peace, love, happiness, and creative vibes, always!

Suzanne