The move to my new place had been a long and difficult one. Late that night, my shoulders and back ached so much I longed for a hot bath. As I turned on the tap, I spied the chain dragging in the drain – the stopper was missing. I could have cried!
I wandered into the kitchen, pining for my soak with Epsom salts and lots of bubbles. A hot shower just wouldn’t do! As my mind sifted through possible solutions, I noticed the lid from my travel mug on the counter. Hmm – would it work? That lid tucked down over the outer drain ring perfectly, but I was sure it would float away from the force of the water. So I added some decorative rocks to the rim and voila! The tub started to fill. Sure, there was still some water leaking through, but enough stayed in the tub so I could have my soak. When I relayed the story to a friend the next day, she said, “That was so creative.”
My dictionary defines creativity as using your imagination to produce new ideas or things. In the case of my coffee lid, it’s also about being willing to explore the ‘what if’ around something that’s in front of you. There are endless ways to transform or re-engineer existing ideas or things. When we’re open to doing that, creativity abounds.
Still, it’s easy to get caught up in the notion that creativity is reserved for people who paint, compose, or write. I’ve lost count of the number of times that others have said to me, “Oh, I’m not very creative.” My maternal grandmother was one of those people. Contrary to her belief, she was often scribbling down poems or cutting lovely shapes into the tops of her pie crusts.
PAY ATTENTION
Because each of us has our own unique imagination, our ability to create what no one else can is invaluable to our world. Sadly, too many of us overlook or discount that ability. Don’t cheat yourself out of creating. Pay attention to what you create in a day: maybe it’s a new computer form that makes a process at work easier; perhaps a new way of expressing an old idea opens up adventurous thought paths, or maybe you found a way to make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe more healthy and nutritious. Regardless, growth cannot occur without that creative spark. So where is your spark?
Thomas Alva Edison once said: “Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” I’ve found this to be true when it comes to creativity, especially for writers. Many writers I know were inspired by an idea for a story, but they had to sweat pretty hard to get those words on paper. Of course, sometimes you have to exert the 90% effort before the inspiration decides to appear!
My challenge to you now is to work to raise your creativity quotient. Start by honoring the ways you already express yourself creatively. Then seek new ways to apply your imagination to more and more ideas and things. Be prepared to be delighted at what happens next!
Sue Paulson is an Account Manager for Edmonton Sign-a-rama. When not selling signs, she loves to write, paint and get creative in the kitchen. You can reach Sue at suetalk@telus.net.