Creativity

Have you been marveling at creativity lately? There are amazing new uses for old things as people cut back for financial reasons and to help the planet. I saw a recumbent bike towing a homemade trailer the other day. Its owner/creator possesses skills in welding and structural design that go way past basic creative skills. I have seen purses, book bags, and back packs made from re-used denim jeans. Real Simple magazine has a regular feature "New Uses for Old Things" which is one of my favorites! Everyday folks share a new use for a common item, helping reduce things heading to the landfill and saving some pennies along the way. In this current economic climate "reduce, reuse, recycle" takes on additional motivation and stimulates creativity.

How are we creative? What stimulates our creative juices? Why are some minds more prone to coming up with new ideas than others? I suspect there are doctoral students in behavioral psychology who are doing longevity studies on these questions, but ever drawn to simplifying things, I have a guess. We all possess the ability to be creative from the get go. Thinking creatively is how we first learn as infants. Trial and error; discovery and reinforcement. Inadvertently some families encourage creativity while others squelch their creative progeny. The parents of Nate Saint allowed he and his brothers to build a roller coaster in the backyard. The fast flying feeling motivated Nate to want to be a pilot when he was older. My own dear husband was given an old telephone as a gift so that he could take it apart to see how it worked. He is a design engineer today.

How can you tap in to your creative side? Take some time to think about what draws you to say, "what a great idea!" or "I can do that." Make some time everyday to actually do that creative thing, don't just think about it. Whether you are re-using something around the house in a new way or making a new recipe from the ingredients you have on hand, give yourself creative credit.

Being creative doesn't come out of nowhere. I believe we are all made in the image of God, who is both the source and originator of creativity. Living creatively both fulfills who we are intended to be and shows off God as the giver of good gifts.
So do something creative today! Let me know what new things you have done!