Creativity is finding a way to make things happen to empower us to leave our fears behind so we can be the person our hearts tell us we want to be. Sherry

Welcome back!

A few years back I was introduced to a meditative drawing technique called Zentangle. A Zentangle can be completed in as little as thirty minutes if one so chooses. A big part of Zentangle’s appeal for me is that you do not need to know how to draw to do a Zentangle. Fear of drawing ranks close to my fear of unemployment—both are at the top of my list.

When I am doing Zentangle I feel at peace. I am completely relaxed. I can spend hours doing a Zentangle without noticing the time go by. Which brings me to a quote by Annie Dillard that I came across last year: “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives”. This is good news for someone who, like myself, spends many happy hours doing Zentangle. If we spend our days feeling at peace because we are doing something that makes us happy it follows that our lives, for the most part, will also be happy and peaceful. Which brings us back to the question “What makes us happy?”

It is true that working in a library makes me happy. Learning new things also makes me happy. But, I am happiest when I am doing something creative. In most cases that means doing a Zentangle or a mosaic. On second thought though I cannot help but question the accuracy of that statement. Being creative encompasses so much more than Zentangle or stained glass mosaic. To limit my creative ability and experience to Zentangle and mosaic is superficial. It does not even scratch the surface of what creativity means to me.

What does creativity mean to me?

I do not have a complete picture of what creativity means to me. I am still exploring the concept of creativity and how it is entwined in my life. I do know I look for creativity and, when possible, I keep it close to me throughout my day. Creativity, for me, is a feeling of well-being and I do all that I can to nurture it. Creativity is as essential to my life as shelter, food, and water.  

What does creativity mean to you? I sent out this question in an email to family, friends, co-workers, past co-workers, and basically anyone else I could think of who might respond to me with a reply. For the last week or so I have been receiving wonderful emails with answers to this question.

Not surprising many of the definitions I received had a common theme. However, what was surprising was how few of them mentioned the arts, visual or otherwise. The replies are thoughtful, eloquent, hopeful, inspiring, and honest. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I did.

What does creativity mean to you?

March 23, 2020

Creativity is tapping into one’s own voice and imagination, seeing the world in new and fresh ways. Creativity is freedom with no rules or limitations. Everyone can be creative in some way–making a pot of soup, teaching a dog a new trick, dancing wildly by oneself, writing a beautiful letter to a loved one, stopping to admire the swirl and design of a flower garden in full bloom. Anonymous

March 24, 2020

Creativity to me means looking at the paintings my great-grandmother painted back in the early 1900’s. Creativity to me means looking at an amazing hairstyle I just created. Or, looking at my granddaughter’s new shrug I just crocheted. And, then deciding to do one to match her doll. That is what creativity means to me. Ellen

Creativity is where I can lose myself in things that I love. It doesn’t have to be something other people love, they don’t have to even like it. It’s where I can just let go and make something that is beautiful to me. Chrissy

March 25, 2020

Creativity means doing something that makes my heart soar.  It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, only something that makes time stop and me happy. Vicki

So often people think that to be creative they must be able to produce a work of art, write a poem or a musical score.  But each and every one of us is creative in many ways.  Using our thought processes we work out solutions to Sudoku, KenKen, jigsaw or crosswords puzzles; we dream up ideas to amuse our kids; we question our belief systems with an aim to learn more.  The extent of our creativity is measured by the amount of curiosity we possess. We challenge ourselves. We believe in daydreaming. We question everything. Diane

Creativity is freedom and exploration. It’s about dropping boundaries and inhibitions. It’s about practice more than a finished piece or product. Lizabeth

I think creativity means being able to express yourself artistically, whether it is at work or in our personal lives. Megan

What is creativity for me?  I would say that those are the four corners of creativity for me.  When I have to “create” a new painting, choose the colours, then when I begin to paint and form emerge, I imagine where it could all go and what it could become, and then proceed intuitively.  How to define intuitive?  For me it is an inner conversation I have between the part of me that wonders how to proceed with the part of me that is confident about that direction. Tina

Creativity:

The ability to envision, plan and execute an idea from the heart and mind which from inception to completion imparts an array of emotions: happiness, excitement, accomplishment, satisfaction,

Confidence, self-gratification, hopefulness,

Anticipation, frustration.

Creativity also represents an innate need to bring pleasure to others and also to be acknowledged for the process and the final performance or product.

Creativity is stronger in some but not others, and is precipitated by outside influences as well as the internal make up of an individual. Anonymous

Creativity to me means thinking outside the box and finding a way to accomplish it. Judy

Creativity is any action that expresses one’s unique perspective on an activity. An outlet of one’s imagination. SA

Creativity is……doing whatever makes you happy.  And if your creativity makes you smile and happy, then you have been successful.

Creativity is…..an inner force that makes you giddy with joy.  Joy in what you have created and a bigger joy if you share it. Laura

I think being creative can mean either solving a solution, or being creative in artwork- using your imagination. Lynda

Creativity means to me the freedom to express myself as is. Jami

March 26, 2020

Creativity to me is having a very close loving family who is always there for each other when they need to be. Dan

My definition of creativity is “delving into the depths of your soul, extracting  your ideas and releasing them in the best way you can communicate may it be in writing, or in an artistic form. Monica

Creativity to me is doing something outside of my comfort zone that brings me joy. I’m a very science-oriented person, so any time I can incorporate music or art into my life and work, it helps me feel creative and fun! Steph

I would say that creativity means allowing my inner self to come out and present itself in whatever it is I am doing, be it thinking up a solution to a problem, writing a story or creating a dinner masterpiece. Creativity is a thought or a dream that becomes a reality when one’s confidence shines through and allows those thoughts to come to light. Anna

Creativity is the uniqueness within ourselves. Maria

Creativity for me is the most artistic form of self-expression, a unique and personal way of interpreting and exploring a concept/idea/thought. It is also somehow a way to remain true to ourselves. Chiara

March 27, 2020

Free license to be yourself. 😊 Sharon

Creativity implies some ingenuity and generally people who are creative are seen as talented… Or having great vision. It can mental, physical, or artistic. Creativity can come from anywhere. Anonymous

Creativity is the spark that fires me up to think about “possibilities” beyond what I normally think, to take the time to research and test and validate my “possibility” and then to express it through action or toss it aside.

 In my art, I have developed a creative process that works for me and gives me immense personal satisfaction. I use journal writing, working to the same pieces of really well composed music repeatedly played so the rhythms become part of my expressive movements and limiting my studio sessions to no more than 2 hours. These 3 guidelines help me keep that spark, my creativity, fired up.  

In everything else, I only hang out with creative people because we feed each other. Nancy

Creativity is the art of seeing something through a special lens the rest of us mere mortals simply cannot see. SS.

Creativity is intuitive. Creativity is born from feeling. If you’re thinking about it too much, then you’re doing it wrong. Elizabeth

Creativity is colouring outside of the lines! While this may seem like a very simplistic statement, it is all encompassing – meaning that it can apply to everything. Jan

The creative mind has deep insight, and is original, free from imitation, capable of bringing in revolution in all forms of arts and education. Ravi

March 29, 2020

To me creativity is coming up with an idea to keep busy or to entertain.  Think of the time of no technology.  Is that when those beloved board games were invented?  Whether it is music, literature or art, I think creativity is expressing our unique ideas for ourselves or others. Jane

I think creativity is personal expression through which a person’s inner self is made manifest. A way for people’s thoughts and feelings to shape reality. Brad

March 30, 2020

Creativity is a sudden idea or thought process that brings joy and satisfaction to oneself when implemented from beginning to end.  It can be something as small as changing up a recipe or building a new website.  Sharing ideas inspires more creativity. Shelley

March 31, 2020

To me, creativity means you’re opening your heart and mind and sharing through a medium, which could be anything that resonates with you where others may discover it. Jenny R.

Thank you to each and every one of you who shared what creativity means to you!

Sincerely,

Sherry

Our next step…What is Zentangle?