Tis the Season

This is the time that people around the globe find a reason to do something nice for friends, family, neighbors, business associates, and strangers all in the name of holiday celebrations. The question that comes to mind is, what happens to us the other 50+ weeks of the year?
For those of us who are creative, we rightfully want to earn a living wage from our work, but these gifts also should not be hidden from those who do not have the means to pay us directly. Here are a few nice things you can do to share your art with strangers who cannot afford to pay for original pieces, but may be delighted by your skills nevertheless.

1. Create a blog, website or online video (such as a YouTube film) that showcases your work.
2. Take an image of your work and send it to people via e-mail along with a friendly note.
3. Find a piece that is just collecting dust and gift it to someone.
4. Print pictures of your work and use them as greeting cards throughout the year for any occasion you might want to send a hand-written greeting.

I've decided to begin gifting my silly, but fun, poems that have no real marketing value to literary magazines or journals as material for hand-written cards this year. It doesn't cost anything extra to share a part of my creativity and may just make the day of someone who thinks they "hate" traditional poetry.

Happy, safe and joyous holidays to everyone. Be kind to strangers, but also generous with your own soul and spirit. Through our truth we can make the world a brighter place.

Until next time,
keep creating.

-Mel.