Hi Doga, greetings from my vacation land (Thailand)! This newsletter was a delight to read. I'm very glad that you have been inspired to write about your life. And thanks for introducing this book by Rubin. I have not heard of him, but now I have, thanks to you! Reading your review of the book, I sense that my viwe of creativity is similar to Rubin's. In fact, I believe that we can live as an artist in whatever we choose to do and in how we show up in the world/relate with others. Perhaps because my father was a fine artist, I grwe up developing an intuitive sense of what being an artist felt like. One of the most prominant characteristics is to see the world with awe and wonder even if it's mundane things. I find that doing that helps me feel less bogged down by life's drudgeries. My best friend, who is Turkish living in New York City, exhibits that kind of artistry in life. She was trained in art school, but I see her everyday life filled with an artist's sensitivity, especially in the way she prepares food. It is such an experience eating her beautifully crafted dishes. Above all, I think an artist instills love to whatever they touch and see, and allows us to see the connection of all beings.
I definitely agree with you and Rubin in that art is a way for us to express our individual selves. Since every person is unique and has a different perspective, there are never two expressions that are completely identical.
Lastly, I would like to share with you an essay I wrote earlier, that talks about a concept that is coincidentally similar to the "prism" idea of Rubin (perhaps because of Buddhist perspectives).
Thank you very much for your comment. Yes, I think developing "an artists's sensitivity" as you put it is very important, whatever we are doing in life. As I said in the piece, I never thought of myself as a "creative" person perse but Rubin's book thought me to take a broader perspective on the concept.
Definitely check the book out, if you have a chance. It is an easy read and you can go back to it whenever you feel like it, which is what I am trying to do.
I'll read your article as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing it with me.
Have a good vacation and looking forward to what you will write next,
Hi Doga, I'm circling back to let you know that I got a copy of Rick Rubin's book that you recommended. It's a fantastic book and I really like the way Rubin writes. His language is so simple yet the message is infinitely profound. Thanks for your recommendation!
Hello Louisa! No problem, I am glad you liked the book! Yes, his writing is very simple yet it communicates his message so perfectly. I don't know if you ever heard him speak but he has a very calm demeanor as well, which I find to be soothing haha. Check out a podcast with him and you'll know what I mean!
Hi Doga, I discovered your Substack via Louisa's writing at Lily Pond, and really enjoyed this piece! I actually just bought The Creative Act this past weekend after having it on my to-read list since last year (perhaps this is the time when I'm really ready to receive the message!), and your post has made me look forward to reading it even more. The message that creativity is everyone's birthright and that we are all born with an artist already within us is so important, yet we live in a world where that's such a radical idea. My creative process of writing is what has taught me about the art of living.
I really loved reading about you being a historian, as it reminded me that the historian's role in sifting through and unearthing primary sources to piece together and tell the story of what has been, is such a vital and dynamic creative act! I majored in history at university in the US, and focused on studying primary sources of intellectual history in the form of literature to provide a perspective on the political and social history of the time - I found that so fulfilling for my love of stories and storytelling.
Really happy to have discovered your writing and looking forward to reading more!
Hello Suyin, thank you very much for your comment and your kind words, I appreciate it!
Yes, I really enjoyed Rubin's book. As I said in the article, I've never thought of myself as a "creative person" or thought that I was doing something "creative" but once I looked at it through Rubin's perspective, things started to shift. I still sometimes go back and read random parts of the book when I need some inspiration or motivation. Please let me know what you think of it once you read it!
"sifting through and unearthing primary sources to piece together and tell the story of what has been" --> I think this was the primary reason why I became a historian. I have always been interested in history since I was a kid (I know it sounds cliche) and finally ended up doing a Phd on it. I believe that a good historian should be able to tell a good story, which makes the craft itself a creative one. And this ties in with what you said about how it can fulfill your love of stories and storytelling.
Thanks again for your kind words! I'll follow your writing, too!
Thank you Doga! I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the book with you. I also just started The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, which is also about the creative process and how innate creativity is to everyone.
I’m so glad to hear you’re doing what you love with stories and storytelling as a historian and also as a writer! I’ve been exploring your stories here and would love to share more thoughts on them soon too :)
Hi Doga. I also read this book at the beginning of this year and it has helped me in a lot of what I do. You’re a brilliant and clear communicator. Your writing has a lightness to it which makes it easy to read. Also heard Rik Rubin in the Andrew huberman podcast which was such a great interview. I can identify with all the self doubt stuff as I’m sure most people can. Keep up the good work 👍👍
Thank you very much for the kind words, Richard, I appreciate it.
Yes, I really enjoyed his podcast with Huberman, too! He seems to have reflected a lot upon his craft and how he does things. Not only that, he can also communicate these ideas in a very simple but effective language. I really enjoyed the book and it will definitely be a source of reference for me, to which I will go back again and again!
Hi Doga, greetings from my vacation land (Thailand)! This newsletter was a delight to read. I'm very glad that you have been inspired to write about your life. And thanks for introducing this book by Rubin. I have not heard of him, but now I have, thanks to you! Reading your review of the book, I sense that my viwe of creativity is similar to Rubin's. In fact, I believe that we can live as an artist in whatever we choose to do and in how we show up in the world/relate with others. Perhaps because my father was a fine artist, I grwe up developing an intuitive sense of what being an artist felt like. One of the most prominant characteristics is to see the world with awe and wonder even if it's mundane things. I find that doing that helps me feel less bogged down by life's drudgeries. My best friend, who is Turkish living in New York City, exhibits that kind of artistry in life. She was trained in art school, but I see her everyday life filled with an artist's sensitivity, especially in the way she prepares food. It is such an experience eating her beautifully crafted dishes. Above all, I think an artist instills love to whatever they touch and see, and allows us to see the connection of all beings.
I definitely agree with you and Rubin in that art is a way for us to express our individual selves. Since every person is unique and has a different perspective, there are never two expressions that are completely identical.
Lastly, I would like to share with you an essay I wrote earlier, that talks about a concept that is coincidentally similar to the "prism" idea of Rubin (perhaps because of Buddhist perspectives).
https://open.substack.com/pub/lilypond/p/how-does-your-rainbow-look-like
Keep creating and expressing yourself!
Hello Louisa,
Thank you very much for your comment. Yes, I think developing "an artists's sensitivity" as you put it is very important, whatever we are doing in life. As I said in the piece, I never thought of myself as a "creative" person perse but Rubin's book thought me to take a broader perspective on the concept.
Definitely check the book out, if you have a chance. It is an easy read and you can go back to it whenever you feel like it, which is what I am trying to do.
I'll read your article as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing it with me.
Have a good vacation and looking forward to what you will write next,
Sure, I'll definitely check out this book. Thanks for your recommendation.
Hi Doga, I'm circling back to let you know that I got a copy of Rick Rubin's book that you recommended. It's a fantastic book and I really like the way Rubin writes. His language is so simple yet the message is infinitely profound. Thanks for your recommendation!
Hello Louisa! No problem, I am glad you liked the book! Yes, his writing is very simple yet it communicates his message so perfectly. I don't know if you ever heard him speak but he has a very calm demeanor as well, which I find to be soothing haha. Check out a podcast with him and you'll know what I mean!
Oh how interesting! Thanks for letting me know about his calm voice. I'll check out podcasts with him.
Hi Doga, I discovered your Substack via Louisa's writing at Lily Pond, and really enjoyed this piece! I actually just bought The Creative Act this past weekend after having it on my to-read list since last year (perhaps this is the time when I'm really ready to receive the message!), and your post has made me look forward to reading it even more. The message that creativity is everyone's birthright and that we are all born with an artist already within us is so important, yet we live in a world where that's such a radical idea. My creative process of writing is what has taught me about the art of living.
I really loved reading about you being a historian, as it reminded me that the historian's role in sifting through and unearthing primary sources to piece together and tell the story of what has been, is such a vital and dynamic creative act! I majored in history at university in the US, and focused on studying primary sources of intellectual history in the form of literature to provide a perspective on the political and social history of the time - I found that so fulfilling for my love of stories and storytelling.
Really happy to have discovered your writing and looking forward to reading more!
Hello Suyin, thank you very much for your comment and your kind words, I appreciate it!
Yes, I really enjoyed Rubin's book. As I said in the article, I've never thought of myself as a "creative person" or thought that I was doing something "creative" but once I looked at it through Rubin's perspective, things started to shift. I still sometimes go back and read random parts of the book when I need some inspiration or motivation. Please let me know what you think of it once you read it!
"sifting through and unearthing primary sources to piece together and tell the story of what has been" --> I think this was the primary reason why I became a historian. I have always been interested in history since I was a kid (I know it sounds cliche) and finally ended up doing a Phd on it. I believe that a good historian should be able to tell a good story, which makes the craft itself a creative one. And this ties in with what you said about how it can fulfill your love of stories and storytelling.
Thanks again for your kind words! I'll follow your writing, too!
Thank you Doga! I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts on the book with you. I also just started The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, which is also about the creative process and how innate creativity is to everyone.
I’m so glad to hear you’re doing what you love with stories and storytelling as a historian and also as a writer! I’ve been exploring your stories here and would love to share more thoughts on them soon too :)
Hello Suyin! I don't think I heard about Julia Cameron before but the title looks interesting so I will check it out. Thanks for the recommendation!
I hope you like my stories and looking forward to hearing about what you think of them!
Hi Doga. I also read this book at the beginning of this year and it has helped me in a lot of what I do. You’re a brilliant and clear communicator. Your writing has a lightness to it which makes it easy to read. Also heard Rik Rubin in the Andrew huberman podcast which was such a great interview. I can identify with all the self doubt stuff as I’m sure most people can. Keep up the good work 👍👍
Thank you very much for the kind words, Richard, I appreciate it.
Yes, I really enjoyed his podcast with Huberman, too! He seems to have reflected a lot upon his craft and how he does things. Not only that, he can also communicate these ideas in a very simple but effective language. I really enjoyed the book and it will definitely be a source of reference for me, to which I will go back again and again!