“What are you making?” a Home Depot ad just asked me. It’s ironic because I used to work for the agency that put Home Depot on the map. My art director spearheaded many “doers get more done” projects. 

This commercial was one of six boxes vying for my attention in our living room, thanks to YouTube TV’s quad box and college football Saturdays. That box caught my attention because it asked me the question I’ve been asking myself and my friends lately. 

What are you making?

I hope something. Anything. Tell me all about it, please. What have you been wanting to make? Anything special, anything new? Tell me what’s inspired you, what has your attention, what tickles your soul with excitement and hopeful possibility. 

You can tell me about it—please do. But I’d also urge you to go. Go do the thing. Take one step. Feed your creative soul, your inner artist. This part of you is worth listening to. So what are you waiting for?

The groovy dance choreography. The homemade pastry recipe. The collage, the painting, the poem. 

Cut it. 

Paste it. 

Push it. 

Plan it. 

Strum it. 

Sauté it. 

Jazz-square it. 

Scribble it. 

Record it. 

Flip it. 

Mod Podge it. 

With pastels and guitar picks, charcoals and charbroiled recipes. Scraps of card stock and watercolors and glue. A pencil, some paper, and magazine clippings galore. Scissors, sauces, ceramics, say no more. Pipe cleaners! Sequins! Glitter and beyond! Bring it, make it, and bring it some more. Make what you make and do it with your whole heart, above all. 

Here’s to the makers. The dreamers, the doers. Your makings matter. If not to everyone and their mother, to your inner artist. And that may be the most important of all.