I can't begin to remember how many times I've heard someone say this to me. It's usually a follow-up to "You're so talented!" and then they put themselves down for lacking something they believe I have, and they don't.

And then I feel compelled to tell them that of course they can.

I would hope that my words are an inspiration, and that at least they try to do something creative. I often wish I knew whether or not they did.

It must feel very sad, or disappointing, to believe there's nothing you can create yourself. It's alien to me. Before I was born, my mother worked as a display artist for a New York City company that supplied decorations for the windows of stores in Manhattan. She told me tales of six-foot paper maché rabbits for Easter, giant Christmas baubles... they don't do things like this anymore in store displays. It fed my fantasies.

So too did the trinkets she had, leftover from some of those jobs: Rhinestones, beads.... "jewels" and glitter. Lots of glitter. These were presented to me in test tubes, mine to do with whatever I liked, along with the tempera paints, watercolors and crayons in what seemed endless supply.

So there's never a time when I can remember not creating.

I tried to make sure my children had all the supplies they wanted, to make art, do crafts, and enjoy the act of creativity. I tried to teach my younger daughter to crochet: she's good at it, but prefers knitting. Our lessons weren't successful, although I think she grasped the concept. I'm left-handed and she is not. I tried teaching her mirror-image, but it wasn't a great success. But She knew she had the ability. There's never been a time when I discouraged my kids from trying something new. That's where the creative spark lives.

I believe we're all born with this creative spark. Why it disappears in some of us is probably as individual as we all are. But it was there when you first began.

The artist/activist Ai Weiwei said, "Creativity is part of human nature. It can only be untaught." I agree.

When my kids were little, I didn't have much time for personal creativity. Of course, there will be times when we're too busy with other things to get creative. But without that spark, still burning in the background, life can seem pretty dull at times. Making things with my kids definitely helped me fuel that spark in both of us. and there were the clothes I sewed for them, the sweaters crocheted, songs sung. Creativity takes many forms.

One of my favorite authors is Kurt Vonnegut. He has the ability to make us laugh and cry at the same time. He understood the human condition. He said, "Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something." Creativity comes in many forms.

So of course you can. I don't think that I can stop: I can't imagine what my life would be without the thing I make, The songs I sing, the food I cook.

I hope something inspires you.

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