Think about these two concepts: The Art of Creation, and The Creation of Art. While I feel that my life embodies both, given a choice I would first embrace The Art of Creation. What do I mean?

The Art of Creation involves a habitual mindset, a constant awareness of creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, communication, and the satisfaction of contribution, firing on all cylinders. Cooking is a creative act. Writing is a creative act. Collecting is a creative act. Problem-solving is a creative act. 

The Creation of Art, by contrast, is often seen as a more exclusive field, perhaps limited to those with natural talent in an expressive art, such as painting, dance, photography or music. 

I remember a fourth-grade art activity. We covered our entire paper with pencil shading and had to erase to reveal our chosen image. I could not come up with an idea to reveal. My eventual effort was met with a single word from my teacher: trite. I had to look it up, but the word had staying power. I internalized this unfortunate comment, and spent years trying to overcome it. 

I don't tell this story to invite indignation. I loved that teacher, and she had every reason to expect more from me. My mother was an exceptionally creative and artistic person, and my teacher knew it. I was privileged to have my mother’s example every day. She did calligraphy, printing, woodworking, quilting, and writing. She created as an elemental aspect of living. She had mastered The Art of Creation.  

For many people, The Creation of Art causes hesitation and even paralysis, a general feeling of inadequacy. They feel creating art requires presenting lofty scenes, messages, and emotions. Fear of failure is pretty common. 

But people do meet a problem and find a solution every day. People can see a need and fill it. Cooking, scheduling, coding, editing - these tasks are all creative solutions. And creating something where there once was nothing - a book, a festival, a contest - these are all the Art of Creation. 

A boss once told me that managing a restaurant was a creative job, and being a recent college graduate with a degree in theater, I frankly couldn't see it. I see it now, though. Incentives, promotions, new dishes, even the message on a marquee above the door- all involve creativity. 

So yes, I create art. But I only learned to call myself an artist after I embraced The Art of Creation.

I'd like to know how you find satisfaction in The Art of Creation - please feel free to share your perspective.