How do you cultivate creativity in your life? Have you found the things that make you come alive? Are you doing them? Shouldn’t you be?
Many a times we just get on with our lives seeing a lot of things but not observing. We go on doing the routine stuff unmindful of the beauty surrounding us. What is creativity? I think it is looking at life differently from what is the norm. Discerning it in our own ways. A person can do the most mundane of things and still be creative about it. How do I perceive it, is what matters. I think of myself as a poet. And I try to get about that in a different way. For me, every day experiences help me. Cultivating it comes in from the simplest of things. I might hold a cup of tea and see much beyond the tea or the cup or the handle. That is true creativity for me. I do occasionally end up with temporary writer's block, which is more to do with emotions than words drying up. Somehow, when I do come back out of it, I get more creative.
We only need open our ears and eyes to feel the world come alive for us. Or it might make us come alive. Watching children playing is one good example. Or just watching people is another one. I like to sit on the sidewalks and observe the world pass by me. I conjure up stories about those who interest me. Many a times, I write those down in my mind. I am yet to take to write those down in reality. I have considered that. But my mind is faster than my fingers. So I drift from one thought to other while fingers still discern what is going on!
Yes, my outpourings are in the form of poetry. That is the best way I can deal with my creative thoughts, as of now. It is better for me if personal feelings are omitted out of it. So I keep it that way. One of these days, I might gamble it all for writing a novel, or maybe short stories, for a beginning. I am seriously considering it.
What is your take on it? How do you see it?
18 comments:
An excellent analysis. As for me, I see creativity as the ability to look at ordinary life and place imagination, mixed with a touch of humour, upon it.
I agree with the tea cup note entirely, and it reminded me of one of Shel Silverstein's poems, "Picture Puzzle Piece." It's about how one tiny, normal, nondescript thing can be a part of any bigger thing at all if you just use imagination. That's how I like to look at life.
There is real satisfaction in carving a poetry out of words related to observations and feelings. It is much more difficult to do that well, I think. I go through terrible depressions about my own writing and it is usually work pressure that dries up all creativity in me. And yes, it has to do with the ability to observe the world around and interpret it through words,whatever form they take...
Ugh.
You did a good job on this, even if I'm now left reminded that I need to be more creative.
Observing people is a great source of inspiration and also fuels my creativity. I so understand what you mean when you talk about writing in your head as your thoughts are faster than your fingers! I wish someone would invent a machine you could plug into your head and have it record everything down!
Nice response to the Three Word Wednesday prompt; I'm glad you choose to be creative. :)
Seeing normal, everyday things in a new way is the mark of a creative soul. And your poetry is certainly proof of the creative spirit in you!
I can't wait to see what happens when you try your hand at some fictional pieces :)
oh g, i wrote abt this very topic on my post as well... dreaming or waking eyes blinking it's all a whirl of words waiting...
Colors inspire my creativity and a new word adds a bit of zest to my life. Enjoyed reading this - lots to savor.
i used to walk on very crowded streets. listen to partial conversations and imagine the rest
I would force myself to describe objects in a room until i had every detail down
I think you did an excellent job in describing analysis and should write a book
My take?
I'll take whatever i can get!
I see it?
Through my eyes...........!
there are no such things as problems, only opportunities.....
We all wallow in the now and forget to dream about the future. Where do you want to go?
where do you want to be?
whom do you want to be by your side.
Too easily one gives up .... Not me i never give up..... and I never will....
This is so true for me too, at age 58, I closed my brick and mortar store(antiques), now selling out of another shop, I am free to stay home and work, but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be writing down my thoughts and putting them to post AND have people notice and help cultivate my hidden passion for the simple, yet complex written word. To see much beauty in one word or one photo is a gift I will explore forever.
I am now at peace with my era. Thanks for saying how it is.
sharon
I wish I think like you, seeing something ordinary and coming out with a great poem, and it is true, we do get ideas from ordinary, everyday things
First, thank you for visiting my blog. I, too, can connect with your response to "Creativity" and look forward to reading more of your work.
Great thoughts, Gautami. For me, when you touch the spiritual, it touches you back with creativity. So I write poetry and take pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/don-iannone/
well said! almost all of my work is written outside - nature is the way for me. :)
great writing again.
nature is the best place for me, although i sometimes find inspiration in the urban environment, but almost always outdoors...
my creativity is at a standstill at the moment, merely due to lack of time, i know if i let it flow i would be sucked in with no returns and I cant afford to do so.. and so i have suppressed it, i know it is a very sad state of affairs but hope to give it wings one of these days.. until then I intend to enjoy and savor the creativity in others..thanks for bringing me here, it is good to read you again.
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