Creativity
101: I got nothing.
I do have some
ideas of what ‘creativity’ is and how we use it.
My hypothesis
is that we all are born to be creative. Like breathing, the moment we are born
we start feeling for our surroundings in search of food and shelter. We just
came out of a very warm and soft environment to this shocking world of noise
and light.
Once our
survival skills are rewarded by medical professionals and hopefully parents, we
can start exploring this new world we’ve been dropped into. We are naturally
curious so we listen and look and touch and taste and try to make some meaning
for this thing called “Life”.
Without asking
for classes, we start to communicate what we are learning. We begin to make
sounds that some day may become beautiful arias or thoughtful oracles. With
minimal motor skills we scratch in the sand or mark on walls with simple
patterns relating what we have seen and experienced so far.
We are being
creative.
As we grow
older a stick may become a saber or spear or a tool for scratching in the dirt.
A cardboard box may become a fort or a dollhouse or a space ship. Whatever our
imagination tells us we can be creative with it.
We are using
creativity to expand our consciousness.
We are taught
letters and numbers and words bringing us new horizons of wonders. We are shown
science and history and math which all can be used in a new creative
exploration.
Somewhere
along the way we are told we must be responsible for this entire creativeness
is too much fun and “Life” isn’t about having fun.
Some will
retire to a dull world of accounting or sales but even then there are the choir
singers and the square dancers and quilters and knitters who are being creative
without thinking about it.
Some will
continue to follow the fun and become artist, painters, dancers, musicians,
authors, playwrights, actors, singers all trying to express their experience of
“Life” to others.
Social media
has allowed every individual to become a moviemaker and critic. Everyone has a
camera now to record a sunset or beach vacation or a family member to present
to the entire world. Keyboards click away our ideas, thoughts, fantasies, fears
and dreams.
We are being
creative.
Even though we
might think we are not creative because we cannot play the piano, we can plug
into a song that might make us dance or sing along. We might not believe we can
draw a straight line but find skill in woodworking or pottery or fiber design.
We are being
creative without even thinking about it.
Enjoy.
