PHOTO CREDIT: Steven Lamar

We may be apart. But, we’re still together.

The picture above makes us very happy and a little sad, too. It was taken by photographer Steven Lamar at the most recent meeting of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. It was an incredible morning where Charlotteans from across the city gathered to celebrate our collective creativity and to listen to Winston Robinson share his experiences as Queen City native. It was a great day. We were together.

The last week feels like a year. No lie, there’s a lot weighing us down. There’s a great deal of uncertainty ahead. And, unlike 9/11 or a natural disaster, we can’t huddle together, hug one another, dry tears, high five or even share a meal in silence. We have to manage it by being physically apart from each other.

But, we’re not alone.

As we move through this “Now Normal” (this is not the “new normal” … we refuse to say that), we can’t lose sight of the fact that we are bound together. We’re creatives. We’re Charlotteans. We’re human beings. And, if our species didn’t have the stuff it takes to survive the difficulties life throws at us, we’d have never made it this far.  We can do this if we remember that “we” extends far beyond 6 feet and 10 people. We have to move past “me” and embrace “we.” We can. We will. The alternative is not an option.

You don’t have to look far to find bad news today. But, you won’t find it here. Charlotte Is Creative and The Biscuit are devoted to giving you information that reminds you that you can still laugh, there is a lot of good at work in our city and that indulging your #CreativityInCaptivity is just what the doctor ordered right now. Tell us what you’re doing. We’ll share it. Your story might be JUST the thing someone else needs to see to remember they’re part of an incredible family of Charlotteans and they have something to give, too.

We’re in this with you. You’re not alone. And, someday soon, we’re going to give you a big ol’, bone-rattling bear hug. (What can we say, we’re huggers … and we’re just holding yours in the bank right now for safekeeping.)

All good things,

Tim Miner and Matt Olin
Charlotte Is Creative