Why Community is Important for Creative Families

Today I welcome G.B. Sholander of The Markey Escape Rooms to the blog. I met her many years ago in the writing world and creative families like hers are worth celebrating! After all, it’s through creativity that we achieve innovation. Thus, I encouraged her to tell me more about her loved ones. The result is the wonderful guest post below, which includes focuses on why community is important to creativity. 

In our family, we value creativity. Perhaps that’s why we have writers, artists, and computer programmers in our immediate family. To keep moving forward and keep growing in these pursuits, we’ve found that community is vital. Let me explain.

We “Get” Each Other

In our family of four, we’re extremely lucky that we all get along. What’s more, we share common interests that bridge any age, gender, or personality differences. Theme parks, great fiction, fun art, good movies, board games, tasty tea blends, whimsical costumes – these are just some of the things we all enjoy. We find it easy to hang out together, whether traveling, working on a project, or just sitting around talking.

We Offer Much Needed Moral Support

And because we understand each other so well, and we share many common interests and pursuits, we’re good at giving each other moral support. Each of us understands that it can take a great deal of time to create a digital illustration, a book, a program, or a website. We never berate each other for how long it takes to make something. On the contrary, we’re highly supportive.

We’re There for Each Other Financially

Yes, we’re one of those creative families; two of us are in our fifties, and two of us are in our twenties. As freelancers, sometimes we make decent money, other times not so much. For us, living in community means watching out for each other. We don’t hesitate to help each other in tangible ways, including offering financial help. We also take on temporary jobs in different fields when we need to do so.

Here are examples:

• When my kids worked at Disney World and I had a brief stint as a marketer, my husband had the luxury of taking some time off to develop apps.
• One year when taxes were due and my husband and I found ourselves in a tight spot financially, our daughter helped out.
• My husband, typically the highest earner in our family, frequently helps the rest of us financially.
• When my son wasn’t earning enough writing, he took a job in food service for half a year.

Thankfully, the four of us are big believers in sharing. If we weren’t, it would be much harder for us to pursue our creative interests.

A Bit More about Why Community is Important

While we have wonderful friends and extended family in many different professions and vocations, we feel a special kinship for the people in our lives who also follow their passion in creative endeavors.

We’re close with individuals who sculpt displays in theme parks and shopping malls, who work in escape rooms, who write fiction, and who work in various entertainment and hospitality industries. Together we swap stories and commiserate.

We also talk about the challenges in finding work as well as that something inside that keeps propelling us forward. Sometimes we cook for each other, and we offer supportive “you can do it” words.

Final Words on Creative Families and Community

Sure, we’d be making more money had we pursued other occupations. But the joy we find from our unconventional paths, and the wonderful people we meet along the way, are priceless.

Does creativity seem to run in your family too? If you could pursue a creative passion full-time, what would it be?