All the Colors Are Needed

A cornucopia of beads — from Beanwad at the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago today

Such an inspiring weekend: Awesome Soul Collage playshop (more on that tomorrow!). Connecting meal with friends. Dining room dancing and yoga with my daughter. Family sushi dinner on Saturday, and during the car ride to and fro, family clap-and-sing--a-long to some new music. (Thanks, Patty & Julie.) And a fun roadtrip today with my fun, creative and stylish friend Nancy  for the Chicago edition of the Renegade Craft Fair.

Even though it was raining nearly the whole time, it was so worth it to see the handmade goodness from nearly 300 cool-a-riffic crafters and artists. 

After surveying all the yummy eye candy, I decided on a beautiful pendant necklace from Erin Costello of Beanwad, some lovely letterpress cookbook marks from Tartella, and two recycled and very reasonably priced pendants (both naturally with flower prints) from Mitzi Weiland of Pretty Theory.

As much as I love finding some new trinket, my favorite part of such fairs is seeing what others have created and marveling at their unique vision and talent.

I love that there are infinite ways of expressing ourselves and our creativity — and that our way is uniquely our own and one-of-a-kind.

A few years ago, a writer friend of mine was considering writing a book on depression, a topic widely written about. She was sharing how she felt like giving up after walking into the Barnes & Noble and seeing a whole self of books on the topic. I reminded her that her book… her unique story… her way of seeing depression had not yet been told — and that her story was needed on that bookshelf, too. (She's since written another book, but I hope that someday she writes her book on depression.)

I often say in my writing classes that the writing table has an infinite number of spaces for everyone to pull up their chair and sit. There is always space for one more. And you are just as deserving as the next person to take your seat. 

Just like there's always room in the world for one more star, one more smile, or one more blooming flower. (Who would ever think of saying, "You know, I really think we've had enough with you roses. Stop blooming! Enough with the beauty! No more, our vase is full!"?)

I hold that there is always room in the world for one more voice and one more person's unique expression. And more importantly, your unique voice and expression is vitally needed. 

And for me, it is this diversity of voices, gifts and talents that makes the world so beautiful. 

It's like the photo of the beads above. To me, the beauty and possibility for the jewelry that Erin creates comes from having such an amazing collection of choices. 

All the colors and shapes of the beads are needed to create her art. 

And so it is with the world of creativity — and all of life —, all of our colors are needed and necessary.