Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Linda Fitzgerald. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Linda , so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?
How I overcome Creativity Blocks is by ‘letting go’ and waiting for inspiration to come naturally, not forced. About a year ago I experienced what I’d call ‘Painters Block’ . I was ‘making’ myself paint. I’d been creating visual art for many years. Oils & Acrylic paintings. Eclectic in subject matter as well as genre. Slowly, what seems now looking back, over a six month or so period, I became less inspired, less interested in the paintings I was creating and found myself starting a painting and then abandoning it midway through the process OR forcing myself to finish a piece. It was a difficult and ungratifying experience. At some point, I questioned… WHY am I forcing myself to paint? The thought that came to me was that I wasn’t allowing myself to express my creative energy with other mediums…in other arenas… At that point I packed up all my painting supplies and put them in storage….out of sight….out of mind. I just ‘let go’… I wasn’t making any declarations that I would never paint again. Only that for the time it wasn’t happening and I was OK with that. I found some peace of mind by letting go of the idea that I had to paint something. That painting was my only creative expression. What happened is that sometime later, maybe six months or so in I was inspired to create a Podcast! WHAT!!?? My friends thought this was ridiculous because I was really ‘techi-ignorant’. Getting email or sending photos was the extent to which I used computers or apps… But, the idea of a Podcast, audio only, I couldn’t possibly put together video, was so energizing & immediately ideas for the Show started exploding in my head ! Currently, I have 10 Episodes on Spotify and have interviews lined up for more. It’s been really exciting & gratifying. So, the idea of ‘letting go’ really proved itself out for me and oh, yeah… I’ve recently painted & sold three paintings 😉 Should you care to listen my Podcast Show on Spotify is CONVERSATIONS WITH CULINARY ADVENTURES.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
For the most part, I’ve been in the Culinary Industry. I’ve owned restaurants, catering services, manufactured pasta sauces & salsa and although ‘retired’ from this industry I still do a little Private Chef work. Food has always played a big part in my career. As a Chef, I’ve worked at remote wilderness camps in Katmai Nat’l Wilderness, as well as the Chef on Sea Wolf Adventures, a ‘small ship’ offering cruising adventures, in Glacier Bay, AK. Although, I have experience in the Accounting Industry, for the most part the Culinary Industry has been primary in my career. In the mid sixties I moved from my hometown in the Hudson Valley in NY to the San Francisco Bay Area. It was there my interest in food was ignited. I read many cookbooks and faithfully watched Julia Child on TV. In 1979, I moved to a small town on the Western Slope in Colorado and it was there I opened my first restaurant. It was, as restaurants are, a lot of long hours & hard work, but I loved it! And fortunately for me, people that ate there loved it too ! In the mid 80’s I sold it and moved to Fort Collins, CO. It was there I started making & selling Pasta Sauces & Salsas, Dips & Spreads & Soups. I sold at Farmers Mkts and in ‘Mom & Pop’ grocery stores in the area. My most recent ‘creative expression’ is a Podcast Show I created. It’s been very challenging technology wise, as tech is not my forte. But, with a little help from a friend & Google, I’ve been able to develop & publish my show CONVERSATIONS WITH CULINARY ADVENTURES on Spotify.com The show is about People & Food, not recipes, although I’m sure some might show up at some point. I’ve interviewed Professionals in the Culinary Industry, as well as, everyday Jills & Joes who have or had a “special experience” with food. Currently, I have 10 Episodes released and more to come. I’ve learned something from every person I’ve interviewed and am excited to keep the adding episodes to the show. I’m giving some thought & research to adding video to the Show but for now Audio is it.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being willing to take a risk. Being willing to put yourself ‘out there’. Vulnerability and understanding that not everyone is going to agree with you or like what you’re doing and that’s OK ! Your the one that has to like…love…what you’re doing, which is not to say, you shouldn’t consider the opinion of others.
Listening is important…
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I very much would like to collaborate with other ‘food related’ Podcasters and/or Videographers to explore possible YouTube productions. If someone wanted to reach me they can email me at [email protected]
