Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you're supposed to be?

'Can you remember who you were before the world told you who you're supposed to be?' is often credited to Charles Bukowski, though it’s not certain he actually said it. Let’s assume he did, or someone like him did.

These days, a big part of my creative life involves shedding layers of cultural conditioning to rediscover the joyous creator I was at ten years old, who made things just for the sake of making them.

Before money entered the picture. Before I started comparing myself to others on Facebook. 

Before I subjected myself to such harsh self-judgment for simply being human.

I realize it might sound a bit cliché, but there's a reason why it resonates.

Because the person I was at ten years old was a kid who used her Lincoln Logs as a baton to conduct a make-believe orchestra. Pretty specific, right? This memory stands out for me because it's one of the clearest moments I recall of not caring at all what anyone thought of me.

And every day, I strive to return to that state of fearless creativity.

I believe that's truly what our creative lives demand of us.