The world has stopped for almost two weeks or more in different parts of the planet due to a virus. The last thing we thought could stop us has done it. However, somehow this amazing humanity finds its way to stay together more than ever, and in the most creative ways.
My community, the cake artists, cake designers, gelatin artists, bakers and more, has really stood up for the task, and from my point of view, has really understood the importance of being supportive, of caring for each other and of truly share and make our community strong.
I never thought, me, sitting on my couch, writing from my home office, will be part of this movement. I actually never thought I could call ourselves a “community” but it happened and I can proudly say that I make something happened.
A little background…
A friend, a fellow artist had to endure this quarantine alone at home, no husband, no family and the thought of that made me create a group on social media to keep her company and to keep us sane in the middle of this madness.
This tiny idea, this Facebook group has grown to more than 100 members in less than a week and has become a source of entertainment, creativity, company, fellowship, friendship and for me even more, the proof we are really not alone in this and that there are amazing human beings capable of truly being there for each other.
I made new friends, have met people from all over the world, have shared more work; mine and from other artists, this week than in the last month altogether. My heart has been filled with love and support and I only want to keep the chain going strong.
But, my dear friends, be careful, social media is full of everything, the good and the bad, the positive and the negative. My advice is this choose your battles on social media, decide what do you want to see, when and how. Don+t go for everything or you´ll go nuts!
Most of the social media platforms work like this; the more you share the more you are seen and if you like, share and comment on positive and creative posts, that is what is going to show up on your feed, so do the math is very simple.
More shares ( yours or others) = more views
The more positive and creative post you share or react to = more positive and creative posts on your feed
That being said, the best way to stay away from negativity is to help others and to be positive, simple!
My cake design community has taken a lot of lost in this period, bakers live from what they make every week and have bills to pay and cancelation after cancelation has brought them down. My work now is to fight this by staying creative and positive for as long as we have to stay home and safe. Our life´s work depends on creativity and if we stop, going down with the negativity, our work will not only be affected now but in the future as well.
My dear friends, life is giving us the amazing opportunity of truly help each other by the simple act of staying home, has given us the time to be with our family and be with ourselves and has done it in the era of the Internet, where we can use our good human skills for a good purpose.
As always,
Stay home
Stay safe
Stay Creative!
Love,
Cristina
Cristina Arévalo- The Art Cake Experience 