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Is Creativity Always Fun? 

Sometimes creating goes deeper, and that’s where connection begins.

Dear ,

Happy New Year!

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the connection between creativity and connection.

I recently had a conversation with my fiancé while we were headed out to dinner. He asked about my day, and I told him that I had written a song, something I hadn’t done in almost a year. His immediate response was, “That must have been fun!”

I paused before answering. I said, “I guess so?” But I wouldn’t have labeled it as fun. Writing that song required me to dig deep. It pulled from a place inside of me that felt vulnerable and honest. It was meaningful, but not light or easy.

I could tell he was sitting with that for a moment, and then he said something that really stuck with me. He suggested that this might be the difference between creating for yourself versus creating for other people.

When I asked him to explain, he shared that he’s always created for others, according to their needs, their expectations, and their timelines. For him, creativity has often been a heady pursuit, rooted in problem-solving and delivery, rather than something driven from the heart.

It was an interesting realization for two very different types of artists to share.

This photo was taken during a splatter paint session we did together, a completely different way of making art side by side. No expectations, no outcome, just showing up and creating together in the moment.

I told him that when I’m writing music, I often feel like a conduit for something greater than myself. That’s the best way I know how to describe it. It doesn’t always feel controlled or intentional. Sometimes it feels like listening, receiving, and letting something move through me.

That conversation reminded me of a book our Metro Music Makers book club read together last year, Big Magic , by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s a thoughtful exploration of creativity, not as something we force or perfect, but as something we allow, protect, and nurture. I recommend it to anyone who’s interested in creativity in any form, whether you consider yourself an artist or not.

If this idea of creating from the heart resonates with you, you can find the book here:
👉 https://amzn.to/4qnfzSg

At Metro Music Makers, we see this play out every day. Music becomes a bridge between teacher and student, between expression and understanding, between who someone is and who they’re becoming. Creativity invites connection, and connection gives creativity a place to land.

As we move through this year, we’ll continue creating space for meaningful expression and honoring the role music plays in helping us connect more deeply—to ourselves and to one another.

Keep learning, keep growing, and let the music lead the way.

Allison Jarrell 🎵

Founder & CEO