Stolen Creativity

In a world where thoughts take flight

A woman dwells, her mind so bright

Her ideas, like stars, gleam and grow

Yet other’s claim them, a thieving show

Uncredited, her brilliance shines

Forgotten in the passing times

Her voice, a whisper in the breeze

But her ideas shape destinies

Unheard, her words fall to the ground

Yet when echoed, they astound

Others claim her thoughts as their own

Leaving her feeling all alone

Sick and tired of this thieving game

She’s kindling her own frightful flame

Boundaries drawn, no more to yield

Her dreams and vision she’ll now wield

The world will see her light anew

As her own dreams she’ll pursue

Those who took will rue the day

For she’s reclaiming her rightful sway

I can't even recall every idea my mother stole from me and used as my own, because there are too many. I can recall the following with other people:

My ex-fiance: For months, I was telling him we need to buy a house. As a single mother with full custody of her son, I qualified for a single parent down payment from the government. We were engaged, had a wedding date set and paid for, and I told him that once we were married, I wouldn't qualify for that down payment. He told me my ideas are stupid, and that it's the "Dumbest" thing I've ever said. He'd tell me things like, "You think you're so smart, you're just a fucking idiot." I stopped trying after a while. One day he comes home from work and says, "My coworker is a realtor. She says that it would be a good idea for us to buy a house. Especially since you're considered a single mother. She told me you qualify for several different types of down payment assistant programs because of that, and that we should do it before we get married. What do you think?" Not once acknowledging the months of beratement and abuse for me mentioning it to him. I knew better than to say anything, and just responded with, "That's a great idea."

This girl that I thought was my friend and lived in the same building as me, she completely stole my idea at this council we both volunteered at. I had already been discussing how to get out of this friendship for a month or two with my therapist, with minimal damage. I was telling her about a program I think would be good for our council. I had brought it up several times to her. One lovely day at the council, she brought it up to our supervisor. I said to her, "I've been talking to you about that for weeks." She replied, "You did? Huh. I don't remember that."

Another "friend" I had, and shortly after the one above this, did something similar. She started a nonprofit and I was on the board. Every idea I gave her, she would give me a reason why it wouldn't work. Yet, while speaking with a donor, she brought up every single idea. She got so much praise for her ideas, and she never said a word to me. That relationship however, only lasted 3 months, because I'm learning quicker.

There are many similar instances over my life like this, and people know I wouldn't say anything, because I was so desperate for connection and friendship, that I let everyone have the credit. So, no one really ever realized how smart and creative I am, because I never come up with anything. When all it ever was, was that I was afraid to speak up out of fear of my ideas being, "Stupid," simply because everyone was either telling me I was stupid or crazy for thinking of them, but then using them, themselves. This is not me anymore, and I don't share my ideas. Nor do I currently share this website with anyone, other than 5 people at the moment. That's 5 people I know personally, but it's advertised elsewhere. :)

#Creativity

#Ideas