Kiara Shanay Lee
There are two types of people in this world: the bold and the super bold.
The bold acknowledge their audacious dreams and lofty aspirations, and may act on them within the confines of a busy, complicated world.
The super bold, you ask? They make this busy, complicated world work for their dreams and aspirations, all while honoring their creativity and purpose.
The difference between the two is both powerful and palpable.
Let’s meet Richard Spence, a veteran, educator, administrator and author of the super bold variety.
Spence, who has served as an educator and administrator in Dinwiddie, Virginia for the last 20 years, has figuratively transformed the classroom into the writing room, applying his experiences supporting students to writing children’s books that make kids fall in love with reading – and with themselves. He is the author of two vivid children’s books, Empty, Patchy Beard and YCDI: You Can Do It –12 Little Rules for Confidence, Kindness, and Growth.
Creating as a Busy Professional
“Even with a busy professional life, creating is one way we stay connected to who we truly are,” Spence says. Not only does creativity help us get in touch with ourselves, but compared to work, it helps us to feel better about ourselves; science also shows that creating actually lowers cortisol or stress hormone levels (Creativity Has Greater Influence on Well-Being and Happiness Than Work, Study Says). Spence advises that in order to stay true to ourselves as creatives, we must hold onto our childhood curiosity. “Growing up as the younger brother to two older siblings, I was always the curious one—the person asking ‘Why not?’ or ‘How come?’ Whether that curiosity helped or hindered me at times in my career, I never let it go. Throughout my life, I have been a veteran, a teacher, an administrator, and a leader, but at my core, I have always been a tinkerer and a creative thinker.”
Although at times, it may feel unconventional to go back to that child-like wonder of years past amidst a busy life and professional career, Spence sees it as a lifeline for the creative mind.
Letting Work Experiences Do the Talking
Along the way, Spence lets the skills he’s acquired in his professional life guide the way. He explains, “I often mirror my life experiences when I speak with students. I want them to understand that life is a journey filled with ups and downs, dead ends, and temporary victories. Much of my own success has come from resilience.” These life lessons can also be found in the pages of Empty, Patchy Beard and YCDI: You Can Do It! in the form of colorful storytelling and light-hearted affirming language. “Because I’ve been in education for almost 20 years, I have stories for almost every situation my students may face—stories of hard work, difficult lessons, happy endings, and sometimes painful ones. I want students to know that no matter their circumstances, things can get better. When I write my stories, I carry that same message.”
Spence describes his book Empty, Patchy Beard as light-hearted and humorous. “Empty Patchy Beard is a playful, imaginative story about a child determined to help his dad grow a beard. It’s full of silly ideas, family inspiration, and humor. The story was also inspired by a beloved family member who passed away. I wanted to honor him by capturing his spirit and personality in the story.”
An online review sums up the book as “a fun read for children and parents from 5-95!”
YCDI: You Can Do It– 12 Little Rules for Confidence, Kindness, and Growth is like a simplified personal-development book made just for kids. “That book is more motivational. It’s my way of remixing the positive-thinking lessons from speakers like Les Brown, Wayne Dyer, and Tony Robbins, but presenting them in a way that children can understand. The book is also intentionally shorter, because I remember being a student who sometimes felt overwhelmed by longer books. I wanted to create something accessible for young readers who may struggle with attention or confidence when it comes to reading,” asserts Spence.
“Wonderful book for the classroom! Love that each lesson has prompts for the teacher/parent to ask the reader!” reads an online review for YCDI.
We need more educators like Spence writing children’s books; they’re the creative experts we need to address the current early childhood literacy crisis, as every 2 out of 10 US kindergarteners are starting school 2-3 years behind in reading skills (Child Illiteracy in America: Statistics, Facts and Resources).
Purpose and Creating — On a Soul Level
For Spence, creating is much deeper than the books themselves; to him, writing stories is also about honoring his ancestors and transcending time. He shares, “Creating connects me deeply to the people who came before me—my grandparents, my family, and my ancestors. It makes me emotional at times because I think about how they may have dreamed of opportunities like the ones I have today. When I create, it feels like I’m honoring their hopes and their sacrifices. It’s a way of connecting the past with the present.” He views writing and creating as “giving something positive back to the world.”
Creating is also about legacy for Spence. “More than anything, I hope that my children see that spirit of creativity and feel encouraged to identify their own gifts and use them to make a positive difference.
As creatives, fine-tuning our craft, revisiting our purpose and reflecting on our creative voice keeps us grounded and helps us to continue to honor our work and our soul. After all, the work (and the soul work) of the creative doesn’t stop as we traverse the professional world. In fact, if we do it right, our professional world can serve our creative world, if we are bold enough –super bold like educator and author Richard Spence – to let it.
Richard A. Spence is a dedicated author, veteran, educator, and school leader from Dinwiddie, Virginia. A proud veteran of the Virginia Army National Guard and the son and grandson of educators, Richard carries a lifelong commitment to service, learning, and uplifting others. With over two decades in education, he works daily to mentor students, build confidence, and create opportunities for young people to thrive.
Richard is the author of the children’s books Empty Patchy Beard and YCDI – You Can Do It, an encouraging and heartwarming story that teaches kids simple, practical rules for confidence, kindness, perseverance, and personal growth. His books blend humor, heart, and life lessons that families and classrooms can enjoy together.
When he’s not writing or working with students, Richard is an avid long-distance runner, a lover of books and lifelong learning, and most happy spending time with his wife, Crystal, and their daughters, Olivia and Reagan. Through storytelling, education, and community service, he strives to inspire others to believe in themselves and live with purpose.
Whether you’re a writer, a painter, an actress, or if you don’t consider any fancy titles for yourself – you are a creative. No matter who you are, to some degree, we all create and we all need space to take care of every part of ourselves. I hope The House of Psalm Magazine inspires you to take good care.
Dr. Kiara Shanay Lee | Editor in Chief, The House of Psalm Magazine
IG: @thehouseofpsalm @kiaraleewrites | kiara@thehouseofpsalm.com
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