ANDRE BEGIN

In looking back over my younger years, I realize that when it came to my upbringing, I really hit the jackpot.

On the one hand, my parents and relatives were serious about their careers and their commitment to earning a living to ensure that they and their families had a roof over their heads, food on the table and clothes on their backs. On the other hand, in their spare time, the fearlessness with which they expressed their creativity was a constant source of inspiration to me. In doing so, they set an excellent example for me to do the same and to remain mindful of that important balance.

Throughout our extended family, we have incredibly creative people. We have musicians. We have artists. We also have crafters, gardeners and builders. Plus, the magic that several of them can also produce in the kitchen is spectacular.

And then you have me, someone with a love of the written word, who spent a lifetime learning to write, and for whom now, a perfect day in retirement is spent at the computer working on his next story. To me, writing for the fun of it is like paradise on earth. Was it nature or was it nurture? Maybe it was a bit of both.

For my relatives, as dedicated as they were to their careers, art was important in their down time. Their creative hobbies brought precious moments of levity where they could shift their focus to let their brains run free. It was an opportunity to share their talents with others, bringing with it a contagious ripple effect of positive energy.

For as long as I can remember, our family functions were a showcase for our talents, whether through music, food or storytelling, generating genuine support, respect and encouragement for each other’s talents.

What has been interesting to me has been meeting individuals for whom art and creativity were discouraged in their household, considered time wasters. Similarly, when it comes to school funding, it is regrettable that arts programming is often on the chopping block when it comes to trimming program costs. Fortunately, I learned and appreciated the value of creative hobbies through my own family.

For example, during some of my work assignments where opportunities to be creative were limited, enjoying creative hobbies in my spare time offered the balance I needed to feel complete and fulfilled. Frankly, it was more efficient than looking for another work assignment.

Similarly, I remember one particularly stressful time in my career where my hobbies were my refuge to get time and distance away from work, to concentrate on something that was entirely within my control. This allowed me to recharge and to return to work refreshed and better able to put my best foot forward.

Also, I have yet to meet a creative who wasn’t curious by nature. Curious in finding ways of perfecting their art. Curious at trying new tools. Curious at branching out into related art forms, or even trying new art forms altogether. That curiosity can translate well to the workplace when it comes to learning new tasks or new processes.

Creativity is a transportable skill. Not only can it be used in the arts, but it is also helpful in solving problems of the modern world. Stretching our minds in the same way as we would for our creative work can be an asset in the resolution of practical problems.

It was understood that securing a solid career to make a good living was an important priority, but my family’s demonstration of the importance of creative outlets in their spare time was a gift and a great life skill as well.

Whether they knew it or not at the time, my relatives were instrumental in helping me understand the importance of art for living a balanced life. For those reasons, I feel heartfelt gratitude to my family for not hiding their creative talents under a rock.

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André