Why Creativity Matters: Lessons From Tap Dancing

At the beginning of this year, I joined a local adult tap class. I had trained in tap dancing while growing up but had not stepped into a studio for nearly 18 years. Walking into that class again felt both familiar and brand new. The rhythm, the movement, and the community brought something back I had not realized I was missing, a spark of joy.

Why Creativity Matters
Creative outlets give us room to play, move, and express ourselves in ways words often cannot. Whether it is dance, music, painting, writing, gardening, or cooking, creativity offers us a pathway back to presence. From a mental health perspective, these outlets help regulate our nervous system, build resilience, and remind us that life is more than just problem solving and responsibilities.

Creativity also opens up space to notice joy. As a Christian, I believe joy is ultimately a gift from God, and creativity can help us experience that gift more fully. Sometimes joy finds us in the quiet. Other times it shows up when we try something new or return to something we once loved.

Different Seasons, Different Expressions
Our creative outlets often shift with the seasons of life. In one season, you may find joy in trying something brand new. In another, you may rediscover something familiar and long set aside, like I did with tap. These shifts do not mean we have lost our creativity. They show us that growth and change are part of our story.

A Brave Beginning
For me, this season of life brought me back to tap. Joining that class was a brave beginning. It reminded me that we can reconnect with joy in surprising ways, even after long seasons when it feels distant. Creativity may look different for everyone, but it always offers an invitation to step in, explore, and receive the joy that is already there.

What might your brave beginning look like in this season?

To your brave beginnings,

Alexis