Creativity…
I never thought of myself as a particularly creative person. I couldn’t draw, play a musical instrument, or do anything I considered creative. I was very, very tunnel-visioned in my thinking. It wasn’t until after I retired that I realized I’d been funneling all my creativity into my teaching. I had to create bulletin boards. Granted they weren’t the best, but I almost always created them from scratch. My lesson plans as well as the classroom environment were also areas where I used my creativity. Now, I need you to know…many of my “creative” ideas just plain flopped! One year, I was going to have my kids build a fort in the classroom. One of my co-teachers just laughed when I told him. Instead of telling me he’d already tried it and couldn’t, he let me try which was really the right thing to do!
Writer’s block…
I know you probably don’t believe it, but I often suffer from writer’s block. What works for me is to just start…except when it comes to my mini-retreat. We are now less than a month away. I’m confident I’ll have it done, but I need to get busy. When I was in school, I had to write all the time. I knew I was fairly good at it, but I really didn’t enjoy it. Now, on the blog, I’m betting many of you are thinking, “Would you please just get to the point, or to the clothes, or whatever?” Here on the blog, I feel like I can release my creativity even though it’s difficult to begin at times.
Just try to catch it…
Creativity is often a fickle thing. Even the most accomplished writers in the world can feel writer’s block from time to time, where nothing they put to paper is satisfactory or particularly inspired. Moreover, just like sleep, the more you try to force being creative the more it can allude you. It can feel like chasing a butterfly around a field, as perhaps you’ll catch it, but it’s much better to just sit down and wait for the thing to gently land on your shoulder. I do my best writing just before I fall asleep! I have finally figured out the answer to that, though. I just tell Siri to take a note. I have to admit some of those notes make no sense at all! Imagine that!
My mini-retreat
Yet sometimes, waiting like that isn’t as possible as you’d like it to be. Perhaps you’re studying art at university and need to have a painting ready by a strict deadline. Or maybe you work as part of a marketing team, want to go for a promotion, but need a good idea that will sell the higher-ups on your vision. In my case, I’m trying to write this mini retreat for my women’s group. I have half of it done, but I’m struggling to finish it. I think part of it is I’m being pulled in lots of ways.
Clicking your fingers doesn’t work, so what? Well, you might find some value in the following advice:
Take a Break to be inspired by great art…
Maybe you just need to be inspired. Even the earliest cave paintings were inspired by what those ancient individuals saw in their world on a daily basis. The intent isn’t to copy what others have done but to let their creative energy spark something in you. Sometimes it’s more than just an inspiration, but first you have to notice what moves you about their work. Creativity will flow better when you step outside your own head for a while and see the world through someone else’s eyes. It’s good to keep a small notebook with you during these experiences to jot down any thoughts that come to mind, without pressure to develop them right away into a big idea. When I was teaching, we actually made little notebooks for the kids to keep with them. They could jot down little phrases, words, anything that might be the beginning of something they would write.
Simplify & streamline your lifestyle…
Creativity needs mental space for the most part, which modern living rarely gives us. If your life feels cluttered with tasks, obligations and distractions, your mind probably does too. You could start with your physical space by tidying your workspace or putting a dedicated area in place that feels good to be in, like a cozy writing desk you love to sit in with a gentle light and position yourself so you overlook the street. You might also have periods of quiet time such as going for a walk in the park without headphones, this is how writers like Charles Dickens thought through the many considerations of their novels as they came across problems. Our attic is really large, and I would absolutely love to build a room up there just for me. It could be a place where I sewed, blogged, just whiled away the time. Our house isn’t particularly small (but it’s about less than half the size of our last two homes). There just isn’t any place I can escape to and call my own.
Find when you feel most creative & go from there…
Everyone has different natural momentum and rhythms. You might feel your mind click into gear early in the morning, while some might prefer a coffee or THCA vape pen to get started (though I don’t really like this one…some people find it helps). Pay attention to when ideas tend to flow for you, and try to protect those golden hours for creative work if that’s at all possible. If you notice patterns about where you feel inspired too, that’s worth noting. For instance, maybe you just need the coffee shop ambience to write at your best.
With this advice, you’re sure to spurn and feed your creativity with care.
The outfit…
I decided it was time for you to see me in what is pretty much a regular look for me! I don’t wear the pretty dresses every day. My life is quiet, and we stay home quite a bit since Nigel has so much difficulty walking. I’m hoping against hope this changes, and we can pick up where we left off more than a year ago. In the meantime, I wear jeans a lot. Then I wear a sweater or sweatshirt. This sweater is from Talbots a few years ago. It’s a very pretty color…not quite pink, not quite lavender. I did tuck the sweater up under my bra (in the front) to give it a better proportion (for photos only). Is it bad to say I don’t mind the bad proportions when I’m just tootling around in my house?
The Lewk!
This is the second pair of Cariuma sneakers I’ve bought. If I buy another pair, I think I’m going to size down. I find they’re kinda wide in the heel which is never a problem for me. I decided to go with all blue topaz accessories. Some are from Lagos as is the ring. The bangle is from David Yurman. I completely forgot earrings. I’ve been battling the bottom hole on one ear. I tried to wear a less than good earring, and it didn’t infect it. But, the hole was quite sore. It’s on the mend now, but I tend to leave earrings out for a bit when this happens. The weird thing is those holes have been there for more than five decades!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Guys!! I made this scarf! Well, I didn’t weave it, but I did paint it! I took a class with my good friend and travel buddy. We used her daughter’s art for this SIA challenge. This is called wax resist silk painting. I started by painting the entire scarf and letting it dry. Then, you add wax and more ink (paint) and let that dry. You keep going until you reach what you think is the end. I love it, but I discovered it’s very slippery! So, can we talk? Do you think you’re a creative person? What creative pursuits do you have? Have you ever tried wax resist silk painting? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
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I think that you are very creative Marsha, sometimes it takes others to point these things out as we become so used to our own habits that we no longer see them.
Thank you so much, Rosie! You make a very good point. I am slowly realizing creativity is many different things.
You keep going, Marsha, because I really enjoy reading your posts and I often find experiences or thoughts in there that I had or have myself. You also inspired me to get back into blogging and be more relaxed about it. I don’t share many private thoughts there because it had always been a blog about my creative outlets, but since there isn’t that much of that at the moment, I thought I’d just let loose and see where my mind takes me – still not really private, but I think I peek through, so-to-speak. Thank you for that.
Suffering from creative block at the moment – the actual creating, not the designing in my mind – because I get so easily distracted by the world, I liked your ideas and suggestions about how to fight that.
Creativity can be so many different things. Putting an outfit together is creative, blogging is creative, thinking is creative, so yes, I think you are a creative person.
Good luck with the mini retreat!
Cat, you have no idea how much I needed to read that second sentence. I have been thinking maybe blogging just isn’t for me because my subscribers keep leaving and am I running out of things to say and does anyone even care. Now, I know you do! I’m so glad to read that I inspired you to get back to blogging because I love your blog. Your writing is just so good…droll, funny, sarcastic…I love it. Do you write it in German and then have to translate it to English? Because if you do that, I am even more impressed! It has taken me until just recently to recognize how many ways there are to be creative. I always thought it was visual arts and dance and things like that. Now, I know better! Thanks so much, Cat! You have made my day!
Then I’m even more glad I told you!
I also completely forgot to say how much I love your scarf. I did silk painting ages ago with a friend, but it got difficult to do at home with the cats, they were too interested.
Actually, I write the posts in English and then translate them for the German blog. That’s why long German posts usually have more typos because I get impatient about having them done already
When I started out, I just had the English blog for a while and only started the German one half a year later.
Thanks, Cat! Oh, I can see cats being very interested in any kind of painting. OK, now I’m confused. Is English your first language, or were you thinking most of the people who would read it would read English? Either way, I still am impressed you do it twice!
I always seem to end up in English speaking circles, that applied to my jewelry forum, my cat forum, my seller forum. So it just made sense to do the blog in English, but then I thought I should at least try to reach some Germans as well and then I just got used to doing them both.
Creativity comes in many forms!
Have you read Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic”? Excellent read on creativity.
Thanks, Anne! I just borrowed it! Now, I have to get through a 872 book first. I always thought of creativity as the visual arts and just innately (to use Jodie’s word) knowing how to do something. For example, I could never draw or even sketch like you do, but I can knit or crochet a pretty gorgeous scarf when I pick out the colors even though I’m using someone else’s pattern. It just took me a long time (actually a lifetime) to recognize that as creativity. I can’t wait to read this book! Thanks for the recommendation.
That is so neat you made your scarf! I think the colors are beautiful! It looks amazing with your outfit! Hope you are having a good weekend!
Thanks, Laura! It was so much fun after I got over my initial fright! I really want to try it again! I hope your week is really wonderful!
I think wax resist is something like batik. Somewhere along the lines. I’ve done boutique once. Not sure I had much success. Your scarf is beautiful and the colors of this outfit should be your signature colors. I think they pretty much are. I know your lesson plans were very creative and there was a lot of good learning in your classroom. That was a creative outlet for me too. Hope you can soon wind up your mini retreat lesson and set that aside from it before the event.
Thanks, Leslie! I think you may be right. My travel friend has also done batik so I’ll have to ask her. I would agree these probably are my signature colors, but, then again, I love almost all colors! I really do need to get that thing written…I have all these notes that occur to me in the middle of the night so I have Siri take a note! I just need to get it done and stop procrastinating!
Marsha you hit it right on the head, often the working years TAKE all the creativity that we have, leaving us thinking we are not, creative. It’s always fun to read how you explore a feeling, and I have to say I love your “Wrap it up Marsha” ending!
Thanks so much, Melynda! I honestly never ever thought of myself as creative because I was just thinking of the visual or musical arts. But, creativity is so much more than that. I just never really knew how to end a post so I thought back on my teaching days. One lesson we used was to use the ending as a bow on a present so you could “wrap it up!” I’m glad you like that!
That’s how cool you painted the scarf. When you said you made it, I was looking at it, thinking it didn’t look knitted., LOL
And it’s interesting, because I truly think creativity can be learned. So many times people chalk it up to being innately creative, and yet I think we can all grow and think in different ways.
Love the look
Xoxo
Jodie
Hahaha!!! Knitting a scarf takes more time, but I think it’s much easier. This was so much fun because I just couldn’t wrap my head around what I was doing. I really want to make another one now that I understand the process a little better. Hmmm…I’m going to have to think about that. I agree we all grow and think and learn in different ways, but creativity…I have to cogitate on that. Maybe, a better way to put it would be that everyone has creativity, yet it’s not necessarily in the way we think of. Now, you’ve got me really thinking! And, I love to think on puzzles like this!
Thanks, Jodie!
I love the scarf you painted and I love your style! You are inspiring in that you found new passions in retirement and that you took a chance to give them a try! Yay for you!
Thank you so much, Laura! I must admit I was really intimidated at first. Now, I want to make another one because I understand the process better. I really appreciate those words because it’s good to know someone has found inspiration in something I’ve done. Oh, geez…does that make me sound like a total narcissist? I had to find something to do because my creativity had been used up by chalk painting and wreath making! I’m loving all the different things I’m trying!
I always thought of you as being very creative Marsha . Your blog is always so varied with its topics that is proof of that . I will take on board some of your tips on writers block as that is very me at present . I have always thought of teachers as very creative .
Creativity comes in so many forms don’t you think, I can not knit or sew but enjoy being creative in my kitchen and garden. I also think of expressing myself through my outfits as another form of self expression .
I am sure you will be well received at the retreat.
Thank you, Jill! I will repay the compliment because your outfits are true works of art. It’s amazing to see what you do with a black skirt…make it edgy, quirky, fancy…a master with clothing! I do love gardening and wish we still lived up north where I had lots of places to plant and could change things around so many different ways. But, I am learning to do more with less…lots of container gardens and such.
Of course this is 100% an outfit that I would wear: the casual sweater + jeans zhuzhed up with fun accessories. I love the combination of the dark, moody blues and purples with the light pink-purples – it’s like seeing winter moving into spring!
Thanks, Sally! I really had no idea what the scarf was going to look like as I was painting it. My friend said it’s really hard to know until it’s been steamed. She has some absolutely gorgeous scarves. I can’t wait to take another class with her. Don’t you just love the word, zhuzh?
Marsha, I didn’t think I was creative either, but I did like to write. So when I started my medical practice in the early 1980’s I wrote medical handouts for my patients. (Of course, years later they became obsolete when patients could look everything up on the internet.) But I later realized that medical care was itself creative. Even though I wasn’t making up treatments, I used medical knowledge to create a specific plan for a specific person. Then when I found out about blogging, I went back to writing medical articles.
Thanks, Aletha! It’s amazing, isn’t it, to think about all the different ways we can be creative. I think it’s a shame we don’t believe in our own creativity earlier in life. I, at least, didn’t think it for years. It wasn’t until after I retired I realized I needed a new way to release my creativity.
Your scarf is beautiful and it’s so cool that you made it! Love this entire outfit!
Jill – Doused in Pink
Thanks, Jill. I really had a lot of fun doing it…once I got over being scared to make a mistake or mess.
Hi, Marsha – What a good exploration of creativity! I come from an artistic family, so I always considered myself creative. I used to be a performing poet, but lost interest in that and found that I love creating fashion styles. Although my husband, Russ, is very left-brained, he considers his fix-it ideas to be his creativity. He’s good at that, too. We all need “a room of our own.” Russ finished the attic and built a walk-in closet there. Now I have the entire upstairs to myself and enjoy all kinds of creative pursuits there. It’s perfect and I hope you get the same for yourself. Thanks for sharing your ideas on how to inspire creativity – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Oh, please send Russ down south for a bit! I know our attic is just wasted space that I could use so well! One of our neighbors built a staircase that uses hydraulics because it runs the entire width of his garage. It’s more of a ramp than a ladder like we have. I do think creativity comes in all kinds of forms.
Thanks, Angie!