The creative life is not for the faint-hearted. Anyone trying to make a living as an actor, a musician, a writer, a painter, a singer, or an artist of any kind can relate to that statement. In a society where we are encouraged to follow our dreams or live an authentic life, creatives are caught between a rock and a hard place.

I started writing at a very young age but my creative journey didn’t bloom until I made the decision to pursue an acting career after I graduated high school. I flew under the radar at my high school because I was not one of the exalted actors in the drama club. But to the surprise of many, I was accepted into a prestigious acting program in Toronto. From there, I moved to Los Angeles to follow a dream, and I am glad I did. Was I successful? I had successes, although not as many as I wanted, but decades later I am not haunted by the “I wonder what would have happened if …?” question.

Humans love the arts. It’s a reflection of our race, our societies, our cultures. We love movies and music and television and theatre and dance. Books and paintings. We are moved, uplifted, and inspired by art of all kinds. But the artist is for the most part undervalued. The thought of a child pursuing an art-based life strikes fear into the heart of some parents. The child is encouraged to get a degree or pursue an alternate career to “fall back on”. This is difficult because it means denying a basic part of yourself or at least putting it aside so the bills can get paid and food can be set upon the table. Think of all of the famous artists who died penniless and only became famous after death. At least their art lives on.

It is also true that the arts are not valued in the education system. Anytime budget cuts need to be made, it is the art or music class that gets eliminated. I’m not knocking math or science or, heaven forbid, English! (much needed for the writers in the world.) In fact, art needs math as every musician who reads and plays music can attest. As far as science, music has been proven to have a positive impact on a diseased brain for recovering memories. How can that not be important? How can we have one without the other?

The dream of all creatives (if I can be so bold as to speak for all creatives!) is to make a living with their art. It’s a simple request but an elusive one. Art is subjective so success can depend on factors out of the creative’s control. We can only present the art that is coming through us. It’s the one career path most often associated with the word “starving” — as in “starving artist”. So there is already a negative connotation attached to the journey. And yet the importance of the arts cannot be overstated.

Music has gotten me through good times and bad times and everything in-between. Most celebrations include dancing. We get lost in books and art galleries. Humans need creativity. Yet only a small percentage of artists get their due. We are encouraged to act, play, write for free because it will give us exposure, but not the compensation deserved. It’s hard to know what to do. There’s a point where creatives get worn down. We suppress that piece of us that touches the universe to bring art into the world. We set our art, our talent aside to deal with commitments that demand our attention. To be or not to be creative.

And yet the demand for art in our world is insatiable. It’s that book, that song, that favorite episode that keeps us connected around the proverbial water cooler. How are we supposed to live without all that feeling, that emotion, that life? It’s the soundtrack of our lives. Creatives out there, I see you, I hear you, I read you. Don’t stop creating even when pressing things pull you elsewhere. Keep your spirit open. May we all vow to support not only the arts but the artists who create it. Our world will be better for it.