Being an active change-maker
Lauren Halberstadt 
How my creativity helped me to be an active change-maker in Apartheid South Africa, and how you too can use your creative voice for good.
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I remember it well.
It was 1992.
Around the fall of Apartheid.
We were just a group of final year Wits uni students out on camp.
Standing at the flagpole at sunrise, having been instructed to sing the national anthem and raise the flag of the old regime, or else!
Steadfast, we refused.
And instead we created a new song to sing.
A song of hope. Justice. Kindness.
That defiant moment.
𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥.
2 years later Nelson Mandela was freed.
The new South Africa born.
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Many a time we feel misunderstood.
Frustrated.
Perhaps even scared of our passionate drive to create.
At odds with a world that doesn't 'get' our fascination.
🤓 How we photograph a textured trunk of a tree up close when out on a morning walk.
🤓 Or spend hours trying to find that illusive shade of blue.
🤓 Or stay up 'til the wee hours with a song, a poem, or a chapter that has to be written.
We think ourselves as day-dreamers. Different.
Having been put in the 'weird box' by others.
But…
🐦🔥this living against the grain,
🐦🔥indulging in our self-expression,
🐦🔥constantly questioning what we see going on around us.
We're making our thoughts heard.
And our feelings felt.
By thousands of people around the world.
𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞? 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝!
𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.
So, I call on you dear fellow creative,
It's time to loosen the shackles that are holding you back.
Do what's needed to understand your gift.
And harness its energy with open arms.
Turn the passive into active.
Help make that difference.
And become the change-maker you were always destined to be.
Happy creating!
💚 L
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Own the power of your creative voice in my Greenhouse:
Making my mushroom doodle. Then add your message and post to your social media. (How-to instructions on my Youtube Channel - HERE)
AND/OR
Join one of my classes, either online or in person on the Gold Coast, Australia, where you will take your art creation to a whole new level. More info on my classes here:
Or message me here