It’s that time of year. Beautiful, flame-orange pumpkins are everywhere—on lawns, on porch steps, in windows and even serving as heads for ghosts. While some are pristine in their pumpkin-ness, others have been carved with ghoulish glee to delight or frighten. They are a sign of the season, representing harvest and celebration and good eats.
Unfortunately, they also continue to be an irresistible invitation to destruction, and the more imaginatively carved they are, the more likely they are to be smashed. While most of the destruction occurs Halloween night, I’ve already seen a few smashed pumpkins.
I understand that for kids, the smashing is part of that mischievous aspect of Halloween. But it also often feels that for older teens and those who can’t seem to outgrow childhood impulses, the smashing happens as the desire to prevent others from enjoying something or having something special, or worse, out of jealousy or resentment.
Our creativity is like a beautiful pumpkin, full of that bright orange promise and possibility. But too often, it gets smashed to pieces. Sometimes unintentionally by someone intending play or mischief, but often by someone who is jealous or resentful or just wants to take the edge of what makes you happy.
And the smashing can happen at any age. Many of the smashing stories I’ve heard from clients and friends occurred in childhood, from that period of self-awareness around the age of four right up through those painful teen years when you are apt to feel the most vulnerable about identity and your place in the world. Something that looked so inviting and gave such pleasure is smashed to smithereens.
I’ve heard about people who were told they couldn’t write or carry a tune or were clumsy (so forget dancing). I’ve also heard stories about parents who discouraged their children from following creative interests because of the certainty their child would never be good enough to make a living from his or her particular form of expression.
Sometimes the smashing occurs when someone, like a teacher, accuses you of plagiarism or having someone else do the work for you because “you couldn’t possibly write/draw/paint/ etc. that well.” They call us fakes and frauds…
And we are shamed into believing them. Are greatest joy now becomes a source of greatest shame. A pumpkin smashed…and then stomped on.
If we are lucky, somewhere along the way, we recapture the joy and magic of writing or singing or dancing or painting. But sometimes we don’t.
The smashed pumpkins of the season, especially the ones that have been so carefully and exquisitely designed and carved, are sad sights.
But even sadder, heart-breaking really, is smashed creativity waiting to be swept up and reclaimed.
If someone smashed your creative pumpkin, then maybe it is time to reclaim it.
You might not be able to have an impressively scary jack-o-lantern, but you could still gather the pieces, add some other ingredients, and come up with a wonderful pie…or mousse… or ice cream…or….
It’s never too late to reclaim your creative dreams. And if you need help with that, let me know. I’m a great creativity cook.
What is your smashed creativity pumpkin story?