Barbara Beyer Albright

Who’s to say what inspires us? 

I’d been stuck with my writing for a couple weeks and then stumbled onto 3 back to back sugary decadent episodes of “Cake Boss” on TLC last week.  I couldn’t turn it off.  I couldn’t look away. 

And then, from who knows where in the universe, inspiration flowed and my muse was back!  It wasn’t so much the buttercream frosting or fondant or sprinkles, really.  It was the creative energy that Buddy, the sweet Italian cake shop owner, and his team of talented sculptors and bakers extroardinaire and funny, funky family members exuded.  They get requests from clients for cakes for any number of special events and then set about creating masterpieces, but like kids. They had heart.  They loved what they were doing!  They had fun. They worked hard. Buddy said he was in the business of making people happy.  How great!

I couldn’t stop writing.  Ideas kept coming in the middle of the night! I was writing and scribbling in the dark. Plugs kept dissolving.

I was on a roll (or a cake)!  It was as easy as a piece of cake.  It was as delicious!

Be open to any source of inspiration that may be floating around you.  I’m convinced they surround us and lie graciously at our feet.  I have experience enough to be patient with the creative process.  I know, I expect, that the ideas and inspiration will come.  Look around.  Be aware.

Be open to the universe.  Who knew?  I watched a baker, then had my cake and ate it too!