Journey outside the box. Be a misfit, outlier, dissenter, and even a bit of a deviant. I would never have imagined that I would find myself on the outside. My old beliefs gave me a sense of belonging, and my beliefs were validated by the people around me. That was when I was thinking inside the box. I could have kept the box closed, folded all the simmering thoughts away, and locked the box tight. Instead, I let it open, and I let myself try life outside of it. The journey takes you places you never imagined you would go. I always thought I would be an “insider” mixing with a big, like-minded group of people, and it gave me a sense of belonging. Being on the outside means that you walk the journey alone more often than insiders. Maybe you think that’s sad and lonely, but I am learning to enjoy being on the outside. I notice nature and beauty in the quiet. I create things in a state of calm and peaceful awareness. I own my thoughts and beliefs: they are mine, and I didn’t get to these thoughts because someone else gave them to me. I don’t mean to dissent and deviate. I’m not trying to be difficult. I’m just on a journey to discover who I am and what I truly believe. I opened the box, and I survived. In fact, I am flourishing. What’s coming out of the box in the sculpture below is burgeoning. It’s a visual representation of the place I am at on my journey. What would you make to represent your place on your journey? I encourage you to open your box and consider what you see inside. Consider sharing what you see in some creative way. Give your journey a voice through creative process. Journey outside the box. Click here to read a book about the creative journey. Click here to learn more about the artist’s journey.