Creativity — daily care and feeding
I’ve decided to take on a new challenge in 2010. I am challenging myself to be creative in some way, each and every day.
I’m doing this in a way that is slightly formalized. Recently, I found the blog of Leah Piken Kolidas – Create Every Day. I found her through http://www.sankofasong.com/blog/ which is also cool.
For the past few years Leah has presented this challenge. It’s a very informal thing, if you want to participate, you sign-up on the Creative Every Day Challenge page on her blog, or not. She provides suggested monthly themes on which you can create, or not. She provides a variety of ways to participate with other folks who are taking the challenge, or not. I think the best thing is, that she makes it very clear that it’s up to each person to decide how they want to participate, to what extent, and how publicly.
Some people may choose to blog every day about their creativity, I am choosing not to. I will post about it from time to time, but certainly not everyday. I actually think that unless writing a blog is a primary creative outlet for you, that posting every day about this challenge doesn’t make a lot of sense. The idea of the challenge, the way Leah describes it, is to do something creative. That may be working on a painting, or piece of music, but it’s just as legitimately cooking dinner, finding a cool way to play with your cat, or anything else that involves creativity. As I think about it, I think I probably am creative every day in one way or another. I do lots of creative stuff.
My goal in participating in this challenge, is to notice my creativity more, to be more mindful, and grateful of what I create. See, I think for many of us, we’re already creative every day in many ways. One of the best ways I know to amplify creative output is to notice the creativity that I’m already engaged in. Once I’m in that headspace of creating, often ideas just flow about lots of things, some related to what I’m doing, others not. So I am choosing in 2010 to honor my creativity by paying more attention to it.
Andy,
Another great blog post! The ones that I have read so far indicate that you are a very creative person. You think “out of the box”. I have the feeling that you are inspired to be even more creative!.
Elaine
*looks around*
box? what box? I don’t see a box nearby…..
Thanks for your kind words!!
Andy
Thanks for this post…it has me thinking. Out of creative thought comes creative action. We don’t acknowledge the creative journey enough.
I believe it’s important to also notice creativity that comes from other folks… especially children. Acknowledge their creative thought as well as what they do. “That is a great idea… how did you come up with that?”
Kathy – Insightful Nana´s last blog ..Waste Not Want Not – Cooking Tip For Cookies
Kathy – right on – I totally agree!
Thanks for your comment!
This is a great idea! I am in.
Sheila
Sheila Atwood´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Workshops and Seminars 2010
Congratulations Sheila!
woohoo! I love the way you’re approaching the challenge. And yes, the main goal is to develop a mindfulness about the many ways we are creative in our every day lives. I believe that what we focus on expands and grows and in the last few years of doing the challenge that’s really held true for me. So glad you’re joining in!
Leah´s last blog ..Creative Every Day Check-In: January 4 – 10
Leah, thanks for commenting and for hosting the challenge!
Very nice blog and post.
I just signed up last night to CED.
Meinhild Selbach´s last blog ..Creative every day in 2010 and accountability
Meinhild,
Thanks for your compliment and congratulations on joining CED!
Andy
I will have to check out Leah’s blog. Darn, another one! Pretty soon, there’ll be no time left after reading all the blogs!
I was going to comment that I already am creative most every day, then you said it for me. I like that you then added, “I will be more mindful” of what you create. I can absolutely take that one on.
Geoff´s last blog ..Post 29 – The Muddle in the Middle
Geoff – boy to I understand the problem of reading all the blogs ….. there’s so many people writing GREAT stuff.
Andy
this is a great idea! Have your read a book called ‘The art of looking sideways’? It is written by a graphic designer called Alan Fletcher and is all about seeing the world in new, more creative ways. I have found that books like this help you to ‘think outside of the box’ which is helpful when trying to be more creative and spontaneous.
Thomas´s last blog ..Nike Launches Interactive City Guide App
I’ll have to check out that book – sounds awesome!
Thanks for your recomendation!
Andy