We were lucky to catch up with Gable recently and have shared our conversation below.
Gable, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
I have learned that creativity is not something I can control or force. However, I have also learned that creativity pulses through my being and has been one of the only consistencies in my life. Creativity is so beautiful because it is not contained to one medium. For example, one day I might feel like singing and playing guitar. The next day I might be all about watercolors and drawing. The next day I might try to crochet. The next day I will write a short story. The next day I really focus on expressing myself through my clothes. Creativity is everywhere and sometimes I forget its versatility. I can help foster my creativity by pushing myself to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. From these experiences I can draw from a deep well of inspiration. It comes naturally. It is important that I see the world with childlike eyes. To find novelty in the mundane and see the beauty of life that is so readily available to us. Creativity is one of my favorite parts of life. Being able to express and share and witness others’ creativity is such a beautiful gift. Most importantly, I need to get off my dang phone!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In San Diego my music career was thriving. I had gigs every week, either solo or with full band. It was all flourishing, so of course I decided I needed to move (haha). Having lived in San Diego my entire life I knew I was ready for a change, even though things were so good! I learned that things don’t have to be terrible for me to know I want a change. I currently attend school at UC Santa Cruz where I am studying Literature and Creative Writing. I am so excited to be pursuing a creative degree. I love reading and I love writing. I hope to use what I learn in school to strengthen my voice whether that be on stage or on paper. One of my dreams is to be a touring musician, I also dream of writing a book. These are large dreams that can seem unattainable at times, but everyday I intentionally take action to bring myself one step closer to fulfilling these dreams. I am not set in stone on my career for the future, but I know I want to keep fostering my creativity and do something that contributes to the world at large.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Sobriety, acceptance, and empowerment. The foundation of my creative success has been my sobriety. I am an addict and I have been fully sober for about 4 years now. What a journey that on its own has been. In short, my quality of life, my relationships, and my ability to show up in my life for myself and others has improved tremendously since getting sober. Being sober forces me to face life head on which can feel like a blessing and curse. I must earnestly show up for myself every single day and make the decision to be sober. I simply cannot succeed in any area of my life if I am not sober. Acceptance is one of those cliche words that gets thrown around all the time, maybe losing some of its value along the way, but I believe in cliches and I think most cliches are cliche for a reason! Acceptance to me is a letting go of control, letting go of resistance, relaxing into myself and into the moment, embracing the thoughts and feelings that arise, and approaching life with an open mind and open heart. Empowerment is also quite broad, but I am directly referring to believing in myself. Believing that what I have to share has worth. When I truly believe in myself I don’t need to seek validation from anyone else that I or my creative expressions are worthwhile.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was catch me when I was falling. In the depths of my addictions, arrests, rehab, and hospitalizations my parents were there every step of the way. They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. I do not think I would be alive today if I didn’t have them. More times than I can count, I was ready to give up, ready to die. They have and continue to pour so much love into me and while I had to ultimately be the one who made the decision to get better, I could not have done it without them. They show up to every performance I have, along with my sweet grandma and my lovely friends as well. I say thank you everyday for the ones I love as my life would be cold and dim without them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gablemusic/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gablejuliette/featured
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/gablemusic
Image Credits
The main photo and first 6 of 8 were taken by Smiles Meyer (they/them). Their instagram is @strangeexposures
