I heard somewhere in the past few months (and I really wish I had written down who said it) that most people don’t develop their artistry past the level they were at age 10.

The conversation went that age 10 is where creativity is “beaten out of us” (that phrase has stuck with me). We are encouraged to do more “practical” and “realistic” things with our time and no longer nurture that childlike love of artistic expression that so many of us share.

Now, in terms of theatre and writing, I’ve been lucky to where that isn’t true.

Visual art, however, is a totally different matter.

I totally draw like a ten year old.

Since then, I’ve been wanting to do something about it. But, you know, time is precious. To do lists are long. And sitting down and drawing hasn’t been a priority.

Until today. At the end of a long day, I decided to make it a priority. So I sat down with Mo Willems Lunchtime Doodles that he did at the beginning of the pandemic with the Kennedy Center. And I doodled.

And it was amazing.

My 10 year old self was delighted. I am now pro-doodle. And who knows, maybe I’ll increase my skill to age 11.