The Art of Spark

Have you ever had a word that sums up the purpose of life for you? For me it's "spark." Love is a good one too. But it can get messy with all its forms (romantic, platonic, maternal, paternal, sisterly, brotherly, universal, etc.). Spark--as in an ignited or fiery particle--cuts right to the chase. It takes a burst of energy to say and onomatopoeically enlivens us (try it and see). And what could be better than feeling alive, excited, inspired, passionate, driven? Okay, love and peace are pretty great too. But feeling a spark of life is up there in my book.

It first hit me how important this word "spark" is to me when I wrote about it in a poem called "Sparkle" for my mom’s 70th birthday nine years ago (not to date you, mom!). The poem went like this:

Sparkle

The sun above beams

A celestial constellation

On lake ripples.

She can’t help but look,

Drawn in by its beauty.

Though a breeze sends chills through her body

The sparkle

Floods her veins

With warmth,

Eternal comfort of the midnight sky,

Not above but

Right in front of

Next to

And so

Within her,

Expansive

Inviting

And ever present.

Peaceful waters

Of infinite depth

Holding universes

Of wisdom and care

Undulate gently

Beneath the sparkle’s shine,

Flooding her belly

With warmth.

Joy radiates through teeth and eyes

Like sun rays

Beaming through clouds

Sending hope and life

To those lucky enough to catch them.

Contagious as a yawn in a crowded room

The sparkle spreads itself

Filling the fibers of her being

With a constant stream of love

That fueled its growth.

She inhales, exhales

And like dandelion seeds

The sparkle disperses

Through the air

Dancing its way into pulsing hearts

Gleaming eyes

Flashing smiles,

Its 70-year legacy

Honored in perpetuity,

At least she can only hope.

The poem was my way of honoring my mom and one of the greatest gifts she has given me that I hope to pass on to others: the spark of life, a pulsing vitality and creative force that comes from a deep place of love and joy at being alive and connected to the world.

My mother’s name, Zoe, means “life” in Greek and she has truly lived up to this meaning. Not in the way you might expect, climbing high peaks or dancing in the streets (you’d never catch her doing that). But in the way she lights up when she sees her kids, connects with others, is moved by a piece of music or art, or speaks with conviction about injustices in the world. There is a palpable energy and joy in her eyes, voice and face. People feel it when they are around her. And I have had the good fortune to be around it all of my life. It’s what’s allowed me to be passionate about so many things—people, nature, music, art, social justice, learning, possibilities, creativity, etc.—to feel alive, excited and engaged in life.

I hope this blog will help people connect with their own inner spark and creative life force and share it with the world. For me, this spark is most alive when I am creating (art, music, new ventures, client transformations, social change) and connecting, serving and sharing with others. Given my love of creative thinkers and doers, the blog will feature interviews with people who have managed to keep their creative spark alive and kicking in the midst of life’s demands and challenges, including careers that do not necessarily speak to or support their creative, artistic or entrepreneurial expression. It will be a space to get ideas, inspiration, motivation and support for expressing your creativity. A place to continually learn and practice the Art of Spark.

If you’d like to be featured in Art of Spark or know of others whose stories and creative output (particularly while in unrelated careers) would inspire let me know.

And if mastering the Art of Spark resonates with you join my Facebook page or leave a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

What lights you up?

How are you expressing or sharing your creative spark with the world?

What gets in the way of your expressing it?