Stop avoiding eye contact with me!
I need to talk to you. Don't walk away, look me in the eyes!
Finally.
Ahem. Thank you.
I need to talk to the creatives in the room.
And that means you. Specifically you.
If you are human, you are creative.
We can’t help ourselves. Freaky, really. That we don’t just lie around scrounging for food until we die. It’s almost as if a Creator made us with an inherent desire— to create something new.
To love each other, to serve one another, by the work of our hands.
People usually think creative people make art. They write, they sing, they perform in a play. They paint the Mona Lisa.
But being a creative simply means we are able to create something out of nothing.
That’s you too, isn’t it?
Those of you who create complex spreadsheets out of Excel are freaky creative. And you have my respect. If someone shows me a complex excel sheet and expects me to add to it or glean something from it, I feel assaulted. So kudos to you, you creative genius.
But here’s the deal.
Creation happens in the liminal space.
We talked about the liminal space a couple weeks ago. That horrible place of waiting and uncertainty. Those long days where we’re anxious to get there, should have been there by now, but we have so much farther to go.
Creation doesn’t happen to me while I’m riding high on the glittery unicorn of inspiration and success (although it can, I suppose).
Most of the time it when my feet are heavy with bad news. Facing a bitter disappointment head on. Fighting with someone I love, or been quietly rejected by a friend who won’t return a text.
It happens when I’m bored, when I’m sick. When the sink is piled high with dishes. When my mind, or the devil, or whoever whispers in my ear “It’s never gonna happen. Despair.”
Creating, and why so many of us often do so little of it in earnest, is hard work.
But is this a surprise? From the beginning of mankind, creating has been rough. Creating and birthing another human is hard, for instance. (To put it mildly.)
Tilling soil, yielding crops. Have you ever gardened? It’s back breaking! It’s this miracle nature provides, while also trying to destroy our will with weeds and bugs and rabbits. I mean, who needs it?
Well, we do, to survive, but whatever.
The liminal space is haaaaaaard. It’s booooooring. It’s painful.
Because when we create something, we long for it to be good. And if we’re gonna put in precious hours, there better be a pay off at the end or else!
We want people to enjoy it. To love it! We want others to be served and benefitted by, the work of our hands.
And if they don’t? It’s devastating. Trust me, I know. Oh Lord, do I know!
So most of us, hide. Run to our comfort zone. And we stay there, comfortable yet miserable. Relaxed but antsy.
Because we know we were created to create.
Because we know, deep down, the pain of creating - that horrible, insecure, terror that we’re avoiding - is also the place where the good stuff happens.
Listen, I hate to admit it, but the liminal space is where I experience life’s greatest adventures.
This is where my best stories are told. If my books were about my life lounging on my couch binging on “My 600 lb. Life,” after a long day of working, but mostly on TikTok, you’d be incredulous.
But also, if they were all about those moments I received rewards, large advances, accolades, or compliments— you’d be disgusted.
Oh, please. You wanna hear about the good stuff. The juicy stuff. The hard stuff. The tears, the fears, the awkward, the major fails.
Because what you really want is to be seen, known. To relate. To know, yeah crap hit the fan but— did she survive?
Because hardship is the human experience and we need stories of resilience, of overcoming, of victory, of grit— to give us hope.
To not just entertain, but to inspire.
Yeah, this is where the good stuff is. This place of waiting and practicing— the long, tedious bouts of unknowing. Best not to avoid it, or there’s no story to tell.
And the best part? This crazy horrible liminal space is also where I experience an incredible amount of happiness.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m miserable in this place. I hate waiting. It’s the worst. But when my mind lets me forget I’m in no man’s land, there’s a crazy amount of happiness to be had everywhere I turn. And I believe it’s because happiness is a natural byproduct of progress (I think Tony Robbins said that, actually). It’s not the end game that’s most memorable— it’s the journey we took to get there. Because progress is a natural byproduct of walking in faith. Serving others with our talent - this is what life is truly about. Not fame. Not fortune. Not recognition. The reward feels good for a moment, but it’s fleeting.
I am my happiest when I write a little something and it makes someone laugh, or think or cry because it’s just what they needed to hear.
It only takes one, and I’m floating on air.
But it’s not like this all the time.
Sometimes things don’t take off like I’d hope. Folks don’t quite appreciate what I’ve created or too busy to notice.
It’s a liminal space landmine, that kick-to-the-crotch rejection. The loneliness when no one … cares.
But we have to do it anyway. We must! It’s the practice, the training ground. It’s where crap gets real and we get better. Ready, for when the moment comes and God says, “It’s time.”
Suddenly, out of no where. Is how it tends to go.
Better be ready.
But in the mean time, I learned ways to keep going that I’ll talk about soon enough.
For now, just know I’m cheering you on. I know creating is hard. Who cares!
Even if it’s tucked in a drawer when you’re done, hidden in the garage or in Excel.
Do it because you were created to do it.
Remember, we’re just doing our best. What else is there left to do?
xx, Anna
And another wonderful way to support the work is to not only buy her books, but to get a copy for your friends and family to help her mission to spread laughter, far and wide. I personally have a limited amount of copies I can sign and ship to you as well! Order here. Thank you <3
Miss anything?
Wanna walk with me? In last Sunday’s Digest, I released the fourth episode of my latest walking playlist. Are we walking together or what? Listen to episode three now.
Don’t forget the Spotify soundtrack I made for us for us while we walk, and I change it up each week. Use it to workout, strength train, or do the dishes. It’s our world, we can do what we want! I like to mix old school with new school. Just roll with it. Listen to our jams here.
I thought I was the best cake decorator to ever exist until everyone in the comments brought me back down to earth. I laughed until I blacked out. Read it here.
Have we met? I’m Anna Lind Thomas, a humor writer out of Omaha, Nebraska. I’m listed as one of USA Today’s top ten funniest women writers, and author of the best selling book We’ll Laugh About This (Someday) and my latest - I’m Not Ready for This. Once you read them, text me (number’s in the back and I respond!). Don’t forget to say hi on Facebook and Instagram.