Community Spotlight - Leslie Battle
Welcome to Community Spotlight, featuring members of our Creative Mornings Community! We are so grateful to our community, and love learning more about our members’ creative life and what makes them tick.
This month’s Spotlight Feature is Leslie Battle (she/her)...
Q. Where are you from? If not Columbus, how did you land here?
I grew up in East Texas (Tyler) joined the Army, met a dude from Ohio, ended up in Columbus.
Q. Growing up, what was your family like? Any siblings?
I have an older brother I was raised with but I have 3 younger siblings who I recently connected with.
Q. Where do you live now?
Columbus, near Ohio Dominican University.
Q. Who do you consider your family today?
My adult children, my husband Mike and my step puppy Rocky.
Q. How do you spend your days? What’s your area of expertise?
I'm semi-retired so my days are typically spent working on personal projects or walking out in nature.
Q. What’s the first creative thing you remember making?
Mud pies in my mom's living room. Seemed like a good idea.
Q. What’s a tool—creative or otherwise—you can’t live without?
My imagination. All the physical stuff can be replaced.
Q. What's a creative pursuit you'd love to try but haven't yet?
I want to learn to work with sound therapy. I really enjoy sound baths.
Q. What's your favorite way to spend a Saturday morning?
Hanging out with hubby.
Q. What's one thing you're secretly good at?
Making lasagna (it's on a short list of dishes I cook well).
Q. What's your favorite life lesson or piece of advice?
Always eat your dessert first cause you never know when the world will end.
Q. Where do you go when you need inspiration?
I check my emails for one of the billion newsletters about creativity I subscribe to.
Q. Why do you choose to be part of the Creative Mornings Columbus community?
I really enjoy seeing people that I don't often see otherwise. I always feel safe and welcome here.
Q. What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned at a Creative Mornings event?
I am, in fact, creative. I fought with this idea for decades in spite of all the performing and writing I have done. It took being in community to give myself permission to accept it.
Q. Tell us about a meaningful connection you’ve made through Creative Mornings?
I have to say meeting the wonderful and one and only La Baker has really helped me to be my own cheerleader and embrace my energetic self.
Q. How has Creative Mornings inspired you to think differently about something?
Each speaker has given me something specific to ponder. I think the most important take away for me is that our differences make us work as community. We can't all do the same thing. Bringing varied talents and experiences together makes for a stronger collective.
Q. How has being part of the community shaped you and your creativity?
I am empowered to embrace my creativity and I feel more comfortable sharing my work with others.
