Creativity Isn’t a Luxury: Megan Evans on Making Art Part of Everyday Life
Think back to what brought you joy as a child. Was it dancing? Drawing? Coloring?
Somewhere along the way, most of us stopped doing those things. Maybe someone told us we couldn’t draw. Maybe life got too busy. Whatever it was, we got wrapped up in adulthood and lost our creativity.
Megan Evans wants us to change that story. She is the creativity liberator, art experience guide, and advocate behind Lift Parade Arts. This week, she joined The Chaotic Middle Podcast to explain why creativity supports well-being, and why you don’t need talent to benefit from it.
Creativity as a Personal Trainer Would Teach It
Megan’s work at Lift Parade Arts centers on helping people understand what creativity can do for them. Creativity is innate and easy to access, and it is also linked to better health, improved mental well-being, and fresh ideas for both our professional and personal lives.
When talking about her work, Megan compares her role to that of a personal trainer. A trainer builds a plan and holds you to it. She does the same thing for your creative practice. Doing this gives you something realistic to stick with.
This approach also removes the mystery. Creativity stops feeling like a gift only some people have and starts feeling more like a habit anyone can build.
What a Name Like Lift Parade Can Teach Us
The name Lift Parade Arts is deeply personal to Megan, and it took her a long time to land on it. The word “lift” reflects what the arts do for moods, situations, communities, and the individuals making the art. Some people don’t see the arts that way, and helping them understand this is a big part of why Megan does the work she does.
The word “parade” is just as intentional. Creative practice doesn’t have to feel like a chore or a rigid workout plan. Megan wants it to feel like a heartfelt community where people get involved and stay involved in their own lives.
From Museum Marketing Back to Her Original Self
Megan’s path to Lift Parade Arts wasn’t a straight line. She started in the museum field and has a background in museum education. Over time, she moved into marketing departments at museums, arts organizations, and cultural organizations. That’s where she learned branding on the job.
She is also a painter and creative writer. Starting Lift Parade Arts felt like coming back to herself. It blends her branding experience with her lifelong love of culture and arts experiences.
I love hearing stories like this. Pivots take real strength, especially when you’re returning to what you were always good at.
You Don’t Have to Be Good at It
One of the biggest barriers Megan sees is the belief that creativity belongs only to “creative people.” Many adults have internalized thoughts like “I can’t draw” or “I can’t dance.” Megan says that mindset cuts people off from their creative selves entirely.
As she explains it, creativity is really about the journey of exploration. The benefits don’t depend on skill. You can even set a goal of making the worst thing ever, and the benefits will still show up.
“You don’t have to be good at anything to have the benefits of a creative practice.”
Appreciating other people’s art, music, or performances can offer similar benefits. Creativity also doesn’t have to mean painting. It can be anything, from crafting or gardening to dancing or just working with your hands.
The Arts Array Experience and the Six Cs
Megan’s Arts Array Experience includes six interconnected paths. Each one shows how creativity can touch a different area of life. She uses a set of Cs to organize them:
Consistency: the foundation of any practice
Courage: trying something new, even imperfectly
Comfort: using art as a source of soothing
Community: connecting with others through creating
Creative soul: reconnecting with what brings you joy
Care: caring for yourself and others
Consistency is the one Megan puts first. Just like exercise, a creative practice works best when it happens regularly. She says it takes only 15-20 minutes a day.
"Your new neural pathways in your brain open up. It helps you find new ideas. It gives you an outlet for emotions."
Why Moms Especially Need This
As moms, most of us are generous with everyone but ourselves. We want creativity and play for our children and families, but we rarely make time for ourselves.
This is where a creative practice comes into play. It feels different than traditional self-care. Baths and yoga are wonderful, but creating something gives you a tangible result. You get to see the fruits of your effort, even if the project doesn’t turn out the way you planned.
There’s a bonus here, too. Kids notice what we do. Megan’s daughters often see her painting in her office, working in their kitchen, or gardening in the yard. That modeling teaches them that creative time is worth protecting.
Finding Comfort Inside the Chaos
Megan shares another personal reason behind Life Parade Arts. Her children are adopted, and after the adoption, she experienced what some people call post-adoption depression. It was a difficult season, and even though she sought professional help, she leaned on her consistent art practice.
“Art in general was a very soothing and comforting thing for me in the midst of all that chaos.”
Her experience reminds us that creativity shouldn’t replace professional support. But it should be a steady companion alongside it.
Answering the Chaotic Questions
At the end of every episode, I ask each guest the same three questions. Here’s how Megan answered.
If you could go back in time and talk to your 2005 self, what would you say to her?
“I’d probably say something like it is not necessary to put so much of your time and energy into making things work and happen. Sometimes you have to let go. It's not all your responsibility for how things will happen. You cannot control every single thing. That’s definitely the mindset I had in my 20s and I burned myself out quite a bit when I was younger. Just love yourself and find ways to enjoy life more than just trying to force things to happen.”
A new mom comes to you for advice. What’s the first thing you tell her?
“I think the very first thing I would say would be to take one moment every day to truly look at your child or hold your child and be intentional about it. I think sometimes, you know, we get so wrapped up in the busyness of work, life, family, dinner… Every piece is so necessary, and just making five minutes of time for that intentionality is so important.”
What do you hope your kids remember about you from this time period?
“I just hope that they remember that I was present. Yeah, I think that's what I want them to remember is that we have these conversations every day. I just want them to remember that I'm intentionally with them.”
Where to Find Megan
Her website is the best place to learn more about Megan and her work at Lift Parade Arts. She is most active on LinkedIn, but she keeps other social platforms off her plate for the sake of her mental health.
She also has a newsletter you can join to stay up to date. Most of her coaching and programs are virtual, though she offers some in-person experiences and retreats in Denver, Colorado.
Give Yourself 15 Minutes
Megan's message is simple. Creativity is available to you, no matter how long it has been. Start small, stay consistent, and let it be imperfect. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a creative spark today.
I’ll be back next week with another episode of The Chaotic Middle Podcast. Be sure to like, subscribe, and share so you never miss another conversation with an incredible woman who is living life on her own terms.
