
Writer
Teresa R. Funke is the author of Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life. She has also written seven award-winning novels set in World War II, a popular blog, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. She is an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, and community catalyst.
OtHA’s Alcove Podcast
Listen to the full episode above, or check out all our Arts’ Alcove Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Pandemic Writings from Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life
Teresa Funke’s popular blog and book, Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life, celebrate those special moments when we’re gifted with inspiration before our inner and outer critics get into our heads. Those moments when we just know our ideas are brilliant! During the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest of 2020, many artists and creatives watched as their revenue streams dried up overnight, and many felt their energies wane as fear, anger, and uncertainty set in. But for thousands of years, artists have found ways to navigate unwanted change, and in so doing, inspire the inner artist in all of us.
“For me, it’s not just about seeing people or being part of a crowd or trying to achieve a new introduction that will advance my career. It’s about those intimate moments that happen even within a large gathering. It’s about noticing that one person who seems distracted or hurt and asking if she’s okay. It’s about meeting a stranger and discovering a shared passion. It’s about running into someone you haven’t seen in months and giving them a hug. It’s about helping someone pick up their dropped plate of nachos and reassuring them it happens to everyone. It’s about pulling someone aside to whisper a secret. It’s about smiling at the baby in their arms or complimenting the shoes they’re wearing. It’s about feeling the whole room rock with laughter.”