I was recently flipping through one of my old, unfinished sketchbooks when I came across the following piece — something I now realize could be called free-verse poetry. If you know me, you probably wouldn’t list “poet” among my many creative hobbies, so sharing this feels like a bit of a risk. Still, the message behind it feels just as relevant today as when I first wrote it.
I hope it resonates with you.
Chris Martin – 2009
I’m sitting here, wondering —
what’s next?
what’s my purpose?
why do I, don’t I?
so much I could do, so much I should do.
I was nobody then.
I’m nobody now.
But I could be
so much more.
Not words, not art,
Yes, art.
It’s music.
It’s movement.
It’s expression—
feel it.
It grabs.
It moves.
I have the gift—
to move,
to inspire.
There is a purpose,
a vision,
a reason.
But what is it?
When?
How?
Who?
Inspiration—
that’s the key.
I need it.
It drives.
It pulls.
It’s passion.
Where is my passion?
I need a challenge,
a reason.
Something to push me.
To spark me.
I had it.
I lost it.
I want it back.
Where’s the spark?
The jolt?
I need a jolt.
Look inward—
what makes me
happy?
proud?
energized?
What lights the fire?
This—
this is my fuel.
I wrote this 16 years ago, right in the middle of my 30+ year journey in IT. Reading it now, I realize it captures something many creatives experience — that search for purpose, direction, and inspiration.
It’s easy to enjoy creating and improving, but to make truly meaningful art — or meaningful anything — there’s often a deeper need: a sense of purpose, a spark, a reason. When that’s missing, it’s easy to feel stuck, adrift… like a dabbler with potential but no clear path. You know you could inspire others — maybe even change someone’s perspective — but you’re not sure where to focus your energy.
What I’m pointing to in this “poem” is that while inspiration is always in demand, the real magic is in the journey — in learning to notice the small sparks along the way. The crack in the sidewalk. The color shift in a stormy sky. A moment in an animated series that hits you just right.
These little things? They’re not distractions. They’re fuel.
They’re the stepping stones toward your true north.
Inspiration will come. And even if it doesn’t show up in the way you expect, be open to those small moments. Let them guide you. Let them fill your creative tank.
Because that — that quiet, persistent noticing — can lead to the most fulfilling life of all.
Would love to get your thoughts and reflections on this and if this was a risk worth taking. As always, let me know in the comments or email me ([email protected]).
P.S. I debated calling this episode 2 in my series Chasing Creativity, but felt it deserved a dedicated post. I’ll be back with episode 2 shortly.
