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? (Write on Wednesday)
I started blogging for the public world in May — a book blog, this writing blog, a photography blog. All the sudden, there is a new creativity in my life, and it feels good.
Sometimes I get an idea for a writing sketch. Writing that makes me come alive. Â I am not very good at fiction, but when I had time, I sat down and responded to some Fiction Friday prompts. I really felt alive as I created those characters. I’ve tried my hand at a novel that I have in mind. But time seems to stifle my creativity; I don’t have nearly enough time to spend nurturing those little children into being.
Every few weeks, I take some pictures, or I work with old photographs I’ve taken. I tweak them and upload them to my photography blog. I like working with my photographs, and I feel creative. But again, time stops me, and I get busy and forget.
Most often, I’ve been reading. When I finish reading something and stop to write a few passages about it, I feel I come alive. Analyzing what I read was what I did in college as an English major. I loved it then. I love it even more so now because I’m not spending days on each book: I’m finding the inspiring themes in less than 1,000 words and then I’m moving on to another inspiring book. Good literature is helping me cultivate my creativity.
Am I doing all I can to cultivate creativity? No; if so, I’d spend all day nurturing my fictional characters and the words and photographs that feel so good. Instead, I nurture my little boy, who is going to be walking soon and seems to eat constantly these days. Should I be doing more? No, my priorities are where they should be right now.
Sometimes, I wish I could spend eight hours a day writing and reading. Then my boy laughs as he stands up: he’s so proud of himself. I realize I don’t want to change anything.
So for now, I’ll focus on being a mom 24 hours a day. That keeps me alive. I’ll also keep reading inspiring literature: it adds an aspect of creativity that makes me feel alive, even when I’m too busy to sit and give life to the fictional characters and writing sketches residing in my mind.
What could be more inspiring than nurturing another life? Having done that myself, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. And believe me, it takes all kinds of creativity to keep those little minds and bodies growing in the right direction- it’s exhausting!
It’s good that you still find some time for your own creative pursuits – there will be more of it in years to come 🙂
Nurturing a child. It can’t get more reative than that.
Creativity
They can learn a lot from us, but mostly we can learn a lot from children.
A Promise Is A Promise
Life Is Short
Well, I am not a parent, I completely “get” what you mean by blogging adds new creativity. It’s like a breath of fresh air isn’t it?
You know, I don’t think it really matters how much time you put into pursuing your creative writing or photography, etc. The point is: That you enjoy it. No matter how often or how long or short the pieces it’s that you do something. I’ve just discovered painting with acrylics and I can’t draw worth a darn, but I took this workshop for painting to do something fun before I had neck surgery and it was such a relief to turn off the left side of my brain for a while. So when I can drive again, I’m going to pick up some paints and brushes. Mind you, I still love books and reading and writing although writing fiction pieces is rusty area for me.
While I’m not a parent, I have friends who are and watching them in action with their kids is really wonderful. For me, it’s great just to be the “aunt.” And there’s nothing sweeter than when a little one tells you “I love you.” Even when you’re just the “aunt.” It can turn a horrible day into the best day ever.
Blacklin, thanks for your comment! I really appreciate your encouragement. I do love the writing and photography, and I’m struggling now to find time, but yes, it’s the fact that I have something that I love that makes the difference. Thanks for weighing in!