We all have labels. Some of them we are born into, some of them others give us, and some of them we give ourselves.
There are the ones that we are born into. For me, those include human, female, Italian American, New Yorker, and native English speaker.
There are the personal labels that define our relationships to others. Wife, daughter, sister, savvy auntie, friend, furry baby mama. These are the labels that I wear in my personal life and that define the day-to-day experience I get to share with my loved ones.
And then there are the labels that define our careers. I’ve worn many! Lawyer, mediator, teacher, sign language instructor, career counselor, success coach, productivity consultant, business strategist, speaker, professional organizer, entrepreneur. These are the labels that I’ve had the privilege of wearing, some for short periods of time, some for much longer, throughout my working life and career.
But we also all have a creative side. And that’s with this website is all about. Welcome to my creative side! This is where the labels that I wear are very different from the other ones that define me. Writer. Reader. Performer. Creativity Lover.
I can also add eternal optimist, nature lover, hiker, vegetarian, dog rescuer, language lover, world traveler, fashionista, tea drinker, chocoholic, wine enthusiast, beer snob, singer, dancer, thespian, baton twirler, runner, cyclist, swimmer, horseback rider and former nail biter!
What are your creative labels? Do you wear them proudly, or sometimes bury them too far beneath the surface? Do your other (responsible, required) labels almost always win out? I get that. Hopefully, this blog and website will be a reminder to tap into your creative side and let the labels out that often play second fiddle to all of the others. Or even come up with clever and creative ways to combine labels.
I love this, Lisa. I have recently been wearing my creative label – Competitive Ballroom Dancer – more proudly. I truly love the time I spend on the dance floor. I invest time and energy preparing for dance competitions and then enjoy every moment competing with other beautiful dancers. I’ve found that the time I spend doing this pays me back by freeing my mind to think more creatively about the writing I engage in and the challenges some of my clients face . An added benefit is that it keeps me in shape!
Diane – I love that you have been wearing your creative label of Ballroom Dancer loud and proud! And you raise such a great point that doing a creative activity like dancing helps you clear your mind, as well as gets the creative juices flowing in other areas of your life, including business. So so true!! Keep on dancing. 🙂
It’s refreshing to hear someone with a background in Professional Organizing talking about labels–that don’t come out of a machine! Good luck with your new blog.
If interested, please consider joining NAPO’s Authorship & Publishing SIG–we’d love to have you! (I’m the Co-Leader).
-Stacey
Stacey – Ha ha!! That was a cute pun about labels! Very creative.
I will take a look at the Authorship and Publishing SIG, but I think I am better served by the writers and publishers groups that I am very active in right now because they are focused on fiction and memoir, as opposed to business-related non-fiction writing. When I was writing my organizing and productivity book several years ago, the SIG was a better match. Plus, I love the groups I am in now and am getting a lot out of them. And there is only so much time to stay active in them, as you know. But I may make my way back to the SIG at some point so thank you for extending the invitation.
Happy writing!
Lisa, I’m very excited about your new blog! As you know, I too created a personal blog to share those parts of my life that don’t fit in my business blog. Some people don’t understand why I would want to do what I do during my workday even in my leisure time, but I know you get it. <3
Janet – I so get it! And I love your personal blog, as well as your business one. Thanks for the positive feedback on my new adventure. 🙂
Yesterday, we were at a family bbq and my cousin was listening to all of us talking about being creative in different areas like art and writing. She said I am not creative at all. I insisted that she is and gave her examples of how creative she was. But she wasn’t convinced. I believe we all are creative in different ways and it’s ok if it not the traditional way. My mother called her bookkeeping service “Creative finances”. =)
Sabrina – I love this and wholeheartedly agree!! Creativity comes in all different forms. And your mother’s example of creative finances is perfect. We can be creative in the way we do everyday activities, business activities, love each other, or just show up in life. Let’s hear it for being creative about what it means to be creative! 🙂