156. Simple Ain’t Easy - Martine Severin

Hey friend, for today's mini episode, I'm sharing a poem I wrote in June called "Simple ain't easy." You know how it is when you're explaining your creative dreams to someone and they give you that look? That "well, why don't you just do it then?" look. As if picking up a brush or opening a laptop was the hard part.

I've been thinking a lot lately about this gap between what looks simple from the outside and what actually unfolds when you're living the creative life. Because yes, the act itself (of putting paint to canvas, fingers to keys, voice to microphone) that part really is simple. But everything that happens around that moment? The voices, the bills, the doubt, the way the world tries to convince you that your art doesn't matter? That's where it gets complicated.

This poem came to me after a particularly frustrating week where I kept catching myself making excuses for not creating. And I realized I was treating "simple" and "easy" like they were the same thing. They're not.

So here's "Simple ain't easy," a reminder for all of us who know exactly what we want to create but somehow keep finding ourselves standing still.

Take a breath. Do the simple things. Even if Simple Ain’t Easy.

 

Chapters

00:00 - A Vulnerable Share From My Journal

01:36 - The Simple Dream and The World's Noise

02:28 - Remembering Your Destination 

03:10 - A Call to Tell Your Story

 

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This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Daniel Espinosa.

 

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to This Is How We Create, a show that digs deeper into the creative life ofcontemporary artists of color.
Discover what feeds their creativity and how they found or are finding their artisticvoice.
Through these intimate and candid conversations, you'll gain insights into the lives ofcreative professionals of color that are hard to find anywhere else.

(00:23):
Well, today's mini episode is just a little bit different for you, my friend.
Welcome back to This is How We Create.
My name is Martine Severn, your host.
Today, what you will be listening to is a little bit of something that's vulnerable, Ihave to be honest.
Something that I'm sharing that came directly from my journal.

(00:44):
It's a little poem that I made or that I wrote for myself.
And I hope that this little poem is going to resonate with you no matter where you are inyour journey.
This could also be a poem that you share with your friend.
uh Sometimes I find that what I write to myself in my journal or things that I'm dwellingwith and things that I'm searching for are potentially things that other people are

(01:14):
searching for, peace and the permission and the drive to keep.
creating and the drive to keep on our journey as an artist no matter how hard the roadgets to travel.
That's all I have for you today.
Please enjoy this mini episode.

(01:36):
Listen artists, life's got a way of making simple things look like mountains when they'rejust small hills with shadows.
You say you want to paint, to write, to sing, to make pictures, to make movies.
Well, you want to even sing your song.

(01:56):
That's simple.
Pick up the brush, pick up the word, pick up your camera, open your mouth and let it out.
But then, the world comes knocking.
Where's the rent money?
Who do you think you are?
That is not how we do things here.

(02:18):
And suddenly, Simple gets all tangled up, like headphone wires in your pocket.
But you know, here's what I know.
When traffic's backed up and you can't see past that big truck in front of you, sometimesyou gotta pull over.

(02:39):
Take a breath and remember where you're going.
The road's still there, your destination.
It hasn't gone anywhere.
Maybe you take the side street.
Maybe you wait for a rush hour to pass.
Maybe you just have to get out and

(03:00):
Regardless, keep moving because simple does not mean easy.
And easy, nope, it don't mean simple.
But you know, both of them, they beat standing still.
So pick up that brush, pick up that canvas, it's waiting for you.

(03:21):
Pick up that camera, warm up your voice and your story, your simple.
complicated and beautiful story.
It needs telling.
Hi there!
I have a quick favor to ask you before you go.

(03:44):
If you're loving this show, would you mind taking a quick second to leave us a 5-starreview on your favorite go-to podcast app?
Here's the thing.
Those reviews are like magic fairy dust.
They help other creators of color discover our show and tap into their own artisticsuperpowers.

(04:04):
While you're at it, why not subscribe to our sub stack?
newsletter Creative Matters.
Creative Matters is like a weekly dose of inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
You can find the link to subscribe in the show notes.
Alright, that's all that I have for you today.

(04:25):
I can't wait to see you on the next episode.
Bye!