DHH recently wrote about the curing value of creation – I know exactly what he means:
"It's hard not to see your spirits lifted when you're part of bringing something to life."
Making stuff cheers you up!
Conversely, not making stuff gets you down, especially when you're used to the act of creation. It then becomes harder and harder to get going again the longer you go on not making stuff.
I've written in the past that not doing things can become just as much of a habit as doing them.
He goes on to say "like exercise, the hard part is getting started when you need it the most!" And it's not just exercise. Any act of self care is harder to begin the more we need it. It sounds weird but it's true; waking yourself from a stupor can be so damn difficult.
The act of creation is addictive. I've quoted Bill Murray's character in Scrooged before:
"It can happen every day. You've just got to want that feeling. And if you like it and you want it, you'll get greedy for it. you'll want it everyday of your life, and it can happen to you. I believe in it now."
He was talking about being nice to other people but it can apply to so many things.
Even if I don't actually create something every day, now, I at least try. I'll muck about with a bit of code, or write a blog post, or make a beat – even if it doesn't bear fruit. It is the act as much as the end product. Not doing so, and not doing so for an extended period, are things I don't want to contemplate right now.
