The Smallest Step you Want to See Yourself Take

Fifteen years ago, I started my career as a speech therapist in a special education preschool. One of my first client was a child who seemed to make little to no progress. It was incredibly frustrating, and I often wondered if I was failing as a therapist. I brought it up in my weekly supervision meeting. My supervisor listened patiently and then asked "What is the smallest step you want to see him take?"

In the past month since we returned from a year in Madrid, adjusting back to our life in California, required a series of small steps. One of these steps has been focusing on my mental health. I know that working with my hands, touching materials, and engaging in art and craft is essential for my well-being, just like moving my body and eating (mostly) healthy. So, I started simple.

small Step #1

The tree in the picture lives in Croatia. I wanted to draw it, which is a way to say I wanted to touch it again. The shades of gray on the trunk, the moss at its base, and the mushrooms growing on it. Magical. I enjoyed painting the trunk and was tempted to shape the treetop that Ziv is staring at in this picture. Without success. So I cut out the trunk and glued it to the large board in the kitchen. The next day, I painted one treetop. I wanted to experiment with different treetops and minimum consequences.

small Step #2

I’ve committed to creating one treetop a day and post it on my instagram

small Step #3

Often, one small step will lead to another small engagement in creative activity. Sometimes an unexpected one. Like this one, on day 3 of the "treetop project". That day, the kids came into the kitchen as I was working on my treetop, asking what was going on with the tree. Soon enough, they had their hands deep in paint, making cards for the Jewish New Year that’s coming soon.

* The incredible drawing on this post cover is by Maud Madsen

Creativity isn’t a special ingredient reserved for a select few; it’s a way of thinking and navigating the world, and I believe it’s available to everyone. However, like building physical strength, creativity requires maintenance. My minimum maintenance is:

1. Engaging in a small, daily creative activity.

2. Seeking inspiration. The funny thing is that it gets easier to find inspirational sources the more you engage in #1. Here are some of my recent inspirations:

• The incredible painter Maud Madsen

• The mega-creative writer and illustrator Austin Kleon whose books I stumbled upon in the teen section of the public library. I’m enjoying them so much, and they’re doing the work for me—totally inspiring me to create art and tune out the noise. Highly recommended for those who need a little kick in the butt: Show your work and steal like an artist

• The Spanish singer Rosalía, whom my teenage kids introduced me to. She’s not a typical pop artist, she’s full of surprises. Check out her live performance of Malamente.

Stay creative!