creativity

Creativity is YOUR middle name, really!

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“Everyone can draw – if you draw you look and if you look, you see.” Steve Eddy, a zoo keeper at the Exmoor Zoo.This is what inspired today’s topic, what does that mean?

I believe it means,

everyone is an artist because everyone “sees”.

I have always loved to create. My mother claims to have caught me coloring on the wall by age 2 or 3. However, I don’t think my perspective is skewed when I say, I honestly believe everyone is creative. What I think is usually the road block is the definition of creative. Creative doesn’t mean art… creative means thinking beyond the obvious, even for a moment. Creative means creating something.
Webster’s Dictionary says creative is “marked by the ability or power to create”. So really, if you can create, regardless of what it is, you are creative. Don’t argue, it’s true!

Image by Maven

Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.
~ Arthur Koestler

To take this one step further,

I believe that everyone is artistic in their own realm of the world.

Art doesn’t have to be a photo or a painting or even music. Art doesn’t have to be something that is pretty to look at. Art is an expression, a representation of an emotion or message that others can experience.

Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.
~ Erich Fromm

In my mind, a skilled professional or a skilled trademan is more than likely artistic and creative in their skill. Artistic writing, thinking, building, helping, calculating, managing… each skill, each talent is a facet of what makes the world such a wonderful place to be; those creations of others make the whole that we each are a part of.

Image by Jef Safi

So the next time you think “gosh I wish I would draw” or “wow I wish I were creative” or “I can’t draw a straight line to save my life”,

stop and think about what you CAN do.

You have talents and skills, do them to best of your ability and do them with the ability that is uniquely you. This is your beautiful contribution to the rest of the world. Share it!

Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Image by Kazze

Start seeing, and watch what comes of it.

More thoughts on creativity:

You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.
~ Nietzsche

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
~ Scott Adams

Another word for creativity is courage.
~ George Prince


Gerber Daisy in Green by JGoode

I’d love to hear about it.

What is your perspective on creativity and art. Do you believe there is an artist in us all? Do you have a favorite creative quote?

Rest, renewal and possibly rediscovery

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I’ve now missed two weeks worth of my regular Tuesday blogging, yet I’ve actually had more than enough to talk about. Each week I’ve sat here trying to decide exactly which topic would be best, what most applies and where to start. Now, this week, after an extra day of weekending, I thought “perfect! I definitely can talk about weekends and relaxing and all that fun that is sunhiney”. Here I am, a day later and no sunshiney babble to attempt to entertain you.

This is exactly how and why I am where I am right now. Muddled chaos of brainstorming bliss…

A fairy in my second life

There are so many new ideas, good ideas, exciting ideas and vivid ideas for fabulousness running around in my head… so many angles to choose from, I just can’t decide. So instead, I’ve been rediscovering my alter ego through my Second Life me. It’s not helping me accomplish anything in the here and now – or is it?

Sometimes I think this does help. I wander around my virtual world. Talking with real friends, building virtual places, exploring virtual wonderlands. It’s inspiring. Like walking into a dream, while you’re awake and actively playing a role. I’m building a virtual shop to really sell my JGoode doodles — to whomever happens by.

To add to my dreamy state of unproductivity, I am listening to The Time Traveler’s Wife on audiobook. I listen while I walk… training for my upcoming breast cancer walk. Today I’ve been listening while I’m attempting to work. My brain doesn’t function at that level very well. I can’t think my colorful thoughts and listen to someone else’s stories and grasp both at once. I tried none the less.

So what does all this have to do with anything? Well, not much, and everything all at once. This disarray of half thoughts is where my mind keeps going. I start a new idea, get side tracked and move on to another idea… only to find myself at the end of the day with a tornado zone mess around the house and nothing else to show for my creativity. This is where creativity starts isn’t it? Or maybe where it gets lost. For me, this is where creativity ages, grows bold and bright; and maybe… after a little molding or fermenting or whatever it is that it does… it will blossom and flourish.The creativity that is. It goes into the chaos to come out magnificent and delightful.

Until that happens, I’ll keep doodling in my virtual playland – I’m building a garden there so I have a quiet place to sit and ponder with the fairies and the roses and the willows…

Oh sure, some will giggle or even hardily laugh, long and loud at my current past time. It’s keeping me away from the mundane and helping inspire ideas I forgot I had… I’m not in a place in my life that I can travel and explore and venture off on a whim. So virtual reality fits perfectly.

Soon, hopefully, I’ll find myself surrounded by a garden of brilliant blooms – ideas of sparkling greatness.

That’s the plan today.