Containing Multitudes: An Uncompromised Approach to Creativity

I’ve been holding on to these words for seven years.

Ever since I first read Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass at 16 years old. Something about the lines “I am not contained between my hat and my boots…I contain multitudes” stuck out to me. I jotted it down in the notes app of my phone, and I’ve been holding on to those words ever since.

At that age, I was just starting to think about what I wanted to pursue in college, what I envisioned my career to be, and I was terrified to give up one ounce of my creativity. I was terrified that if I committed to a career in public policy, I would have to give up my passion as a dancer. I was worried about what it would mean to walk through life entirely as an artist, afraid that someday I would run out of words to write and feeling like I should to heed the advice of the adults around me to “find a more stable career.” Little did I know, I could have everything I wanted.

I let purpose and creativity lead the way, and I found a life where all the pieces fit. Where I’m able to create and advocate, as a writer and a policymaker, as a dancer and an organizer, as a freelancer and a 9-to-5-er.

I’ve been able to build the life of my dreams because of my uncompromised approach to creativity, driven, though not encompassed by, these key principles:

Make creation an integral part of your life and routine: My creativity is a part of myself, and so it only makes sense that it’s a part of my day-to-day. Everyday, I prioritize writing and reflection first thing in the morning. Whether it be through a local dance company, a workshop, or a Zoom accountability group, I seek out spaces and communities that support my creativity, and I make sure I build time into my schedule to actively engage in them.

Stay curious and never stop exploring: One of the most pivotal shifts in my creative journey was the moment I stopped trying to define myself by one medium. When I learned to see all the parts of my life as interconnected, I gave myself more breadth to create. I’ve also constantly pushed myself to explore new mediums, whether it be trying a new software, or taking on short-form video, I revel in the exploration and learning of creating something new. This has allowed me to become a nimble and multi-faceted professional, but beyond that it’s solidified my purpose. When creating is no longer about the end result, but the exploration and the process itself, it defies definition.

Make it yours: So many of my creative practices are thing no one else usually sees. My quiet morning spent writing, or the snippet of choreography I dreamed up my kitchen, all nuggets of creation that are aimed at sustaining me. That means sustaining the joy and the spark that brought me to this practice in the first place, but also the sustaining consistency that it takes to improve in a creative endeavor. If I’m lucky, that paragraph may turn into something I publish online, the phrase of movement may turn into a dance I perform or teach. But usually, it stays quietly and blissfully mine. When I stopped trying to create for the expectations of others, or stopped waiting to be seen, I found more consistent fulfillment.

Now, when people ask me what I am or what I do, I think back to the words of Walt Whitman. “I am not contained between my hat an my boots… I contain multitudes.” I’ve stopped defining myself by a job title, or a field and started defining creativity on my own terms. I’m able to be a multitude of things, because I refuse to compromise on the principles and on my creativity.