Creativity

I don’t just write.

I have a number of other outlets for my creative spirit. I like to crochet. I just finished making a new leash for Maddie. My sister doesn’t know it yet, but I am making an afghan for her. Well, I suppose she knows it now. She likes greens and browns together. Hopefully, she will like these particular greens and browns.

I also like to make jewelry. My husband does too. We are fortunate to have a walk-out basement and we have tricked it out as a jewelry making shop. There is also a ping pong table down there that we need to use more often.

We are both silversmiths and lapidaries (cutters and polishers of stone); although we don’t do faceting. Mostly we make cabochons. When my husband wants a faceted stone for something he is making, he buys it. But just about every cabochon in anything we make, we have cut and polished laboriously by hand.

I also do stringing, pearl knotting, and wire wrapping. I make a lot of my own findings (jump rings, clasps and the like) and I’ve made of lot of chain. Chain making can be a pain, but it’s worth it. Especially when you can’t find the perfect chain ready-made for a necklace or bracelet.

My husband also does watercolors. I’ve written a bit about that in the past.

I’ve heard some people say that they are not creative at all. I think those people are judging themselves harshly and ignoring the areas in which they do actually display creativity. The act of creating something doesn’t have to produce a painting to hang on the wall or a sculpture to set in a garden. You don’t have to have a novel written and complete to hold in your hand to be considered creative.

Creativity can be on a grand scale sometimes. But it’s also in the small things that a person does on a daily basis. Simply putting a meal together is an act of creation. If it is pleasing to look at as well as tasty, well there you go.

Arranging the furniture in your living room well doesn’t rely only on functionality; it also requires an artistic sense. It doesn’t matter if it works well if the arrangement doesn’t also please the senses. Aesthetics are involved in how you place the chairs, sofas and tables. This requires creativity.

Sewing a garment. Knitting a sock. Building a birdhouse. These are all acts of creation. And not just because you have made something. You had to envision the item. You had to conceive its execution. You had to bring it into existence. You had to dream it up and then make it real.

Beyond that, there is creating and enriching environment. Or making a peaceful spot to spend a few rejuvenating minutes.

I think we are all, each and every one of us, creative. I think it is as essential to living as is breathing. I believe we are at our best when we are thinking creatively; challenging our minds to come up with something new or something beautiful or something useful. Creating a better way to do a task also qualifies.

What have you created today? I bet you can think of at least half a dozen things if you give it a try.