The Witch Who Builds Her Own Ladder

A Lesson from Whip It

Hey witches,

I was having a conversation with someone very important to me last weekend about my writing. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I will admit this blog is my first time doing something:
1. entirely for myself
2. creating continuously with specific goal

I’m not used to creating under these circumstances. While I have been feeling free because I’ve removed my mental restraints, I’m still having a bit of a time with it due to those two things. What if no one reads gains anything from what I have to say? What if I waste my time doing it?

The conversation led me to receive the wisdom that you should create to just create. Then I went home and watched Whip It. If you haven’t seen Whip It, Elliot Page’s character, Bliss, is someone who lives life by other’s rules, but eventually finds a pocket of happiness that changes their life: roller derby.

What the fuck does roller derby have to do with creating, you may ask? Creativity can take many forms, it’s not one set of activities over another.

Personally, I come from a culture that believes creation only takes certain forms. Then if you’re meeting that criteria, the question turns into what’s the point of making something if you’re not going to make money from it? While the movie might not feel like it’s making a profound philosophical point, when viewed through the lens of my conversation, it perfectly illustrated what my friend said.

Roller derby works for it because it ultimately is for Bliss’s enjoyment. They’re creating for themselves and that energy leaves a large wake behind them. It has a domino effect that changes their family for the better, along with their community.

Whether you decide to share it or not, it’s a reminder that creating for yourself allows you to contribute towards something bigger than yourself. Both through doing an act that brings you joy but also making art. In a sense, creation and art at a fundamental level, taps into our sense of humanity. There are a lot of things in life that want to take your joy, and part of the daily resistance is savoring those moments of happiness when you can.