Jan. 17, 2002
My birthday is exactly one month away and this has prompted friends to ask what they could get me as a gift.
“Would you like some books on writing?” “Perhaps I could get you an art book.” “Do you need any art supplies?” “What kind of writer gear do you need?” “Tell me which pens and what paper you’d like.”
Their intentions are good, and it’s sweet of them to think of me, but I think one of the worst gifts you could give a creative person is a creative gift.
That’s sounds worse than I mean it, especially since there are far too many books on writing that I’d like and paint supplies that I long for. But it would be like if I still worked in Corporate America and someone gave me a photocopier.
For Christmas the gifts I treated myself to had to do with writing, the gifts I got from friends all had to do with writing. Any free money that I come across goes to writing. All I do lately is live and breathe writing. I’ve become too focused on it that the moments I am not doing it, I feel like I’m being lazy.
Oh, I need to feel guiltlessly lazy.
I’ve let the housework slide because I haven’t had time to clean. Baths are a once a month indulgence that last for ten minutes. Time spent just sitting at the beach or walking have taken a back seat. I don’t take time out for café trips and those lattes that seemed like a deserved indulgence now feel more like a wasted expense. Reading for pleasure seems unproductive and dressing up seems a waste of time. If it hasn’t had to do with writing, I’ve slowly and sometimes unconsciously let it slide out of my life.
For creative people, sometimes the best gifts are those that don’t have anything to do with Creativity. Things like a housecleaner to make their place presentable again. Or someone to do their dishes so it doesn’t irritate the bejesus out of them as they type. Giving them gift certificate for a massage at a local spa helps get rid of all the kinks and stress they accumulate during all those late night hours of endless typing. Taking the creative person out for an adventure walk to the ocean gives them the gift of your time and nature. You could give them a coupon book for Starbucks Coffee and some trashy novels to go with it. Bubble bath, lotions and potions or gift certificates to their favourite stores work well too. Something to help the creative person relax and be OK with it is a great gift.
Just don’t give them sharpened pencils. Trust me on that one.