to thine own self: part III create

Let me make one thing clear.

Creativity is not defined as the ability to design.  This is a fallacy that our society has imposed.

Creativity is defined as the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.

Every human is creative. Alas, it is part of what makes us human.  It is why we have the Golden Gate Bridge and the internet and Godiva cheesecake. Oh God bless the soul who created Godiva cheesecake!

You, sitting here, reading this! You are creative. And guess what. You should be using that creativity and I'll tell you why.

The creative energy that resides in each of us is not benign. It is energy and is has to go somewhere. Somebody figured that out a long time ago using their creativity. I think it was Newton maybe.

E_potential -> action

So you have this energy inside of you. And if it isn't being used it gets stored, like fat, in our cells. Often it will metastasize. Which isn't good. This means it mutates into something else. Something ugly. 

Just what it becomes is varied. Everyone is different. But the feeling that we all get from this mutant energy is the same. It feels like anxiety. Like listlessness. Like agitation.

Remember when you were a kid and you were stuck in the back seat on a long road trip and you were unable to get out and play? Remember how you would have an overwhelming urge to tease your sibling or annoy your parents? That's the feeling I'm talking about. 

People are happier when they are exercising their creativity. They are more content. Their self-esteem is higher. They are better people. Period.

Now, here is the last part of my personal happiness plan. Ready?

Be creative.

That's it. Create something. Anything. Today and tomorrow and every other day after that. 

And don't worry- I've heard all the excuses about no time, no money, no ideas. 

To hell with circumstances. Create opportunity.  Bruce Lee said that.

It's not easy. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. Usually when I am working on a project I have to stop a billion times to change a diaper, get a snack, break up a fight, answer the phone or make a meal.  I can't afford to buy the top of the line supplies all the time. Sometimes I try and try and try to get something right until I am so frustrated I can hardly stand myself. It's not easy.


Sometimes you have to push boundaries. Think outside the box to make things work.

I recently saw a film that perfectly illustrates what it means to create opportunity. Here's a clip:

You were born to create. Fulfilling this potential will bring you joy. This I know for sure.

Start today. 

a little art will do ya good

I've been thinking a little lately about art. I wanted to find out exactly how, in general, art effects us as humans. I googled "how art effects society". I got this answer from WikiAnswers:

Art is a reflection of the society. Art is influenced by society, not the other way. Societies record their achievements in art forms, as did the Romans, pre-Islamic Arabs, Chinese, etc; and their advancements are judged by the grandeur of their art.

Totally lame. And Wrong. Society is influenced by art. Case in point- billions of Spiderman and Cinderella costumes will be sold this Halloween.

So I had to dig deeper. I have spent a little time reading here and there on various academic sites. I am yet to find an answer that totally satisfies me. What I do know is this: humans have a fundamental and God given desire to create. Some of us more than others, but still, it is there.

We can also be deeply touched and moved by other people's creations. I know that every time I walk past certain pictures in my house, or listen to a really good song, I feel a little happier.

Here's a chance to enrich your life with a little art. And I mean "little" literally.

Ching is a full time artist living in Malaysia. She has been commissioned to paint for hotels and interior designers. She loves where she lives and fully embraces the many cultures that make up her world. These influence can be found in her work. I'd love to met Ching someday, she laughs a lot in her emails. My guess is she is a very happy person. You can see more of her work here and here.

She has donated this beautiful little mandala for the give away. Most of Ching's pieces are rather large, but for this little art post, she has sent me a smaller piece. It is only 3"X 3". The winner will also receive 10% off anything in her shop.

Lauren Simone is a map artist who lives in Portland, Maine. She had this to say about her "Farmscape" series:

Aerial Farmscape utopias are something I've been playing
with lately, dreaming of the future. My boyfriend and I want to
start a cob-house community with a farm with our friends -- I'd
help build and run educational programs and cook. Perhaps a far off dream, but we'll see.

Lauren's other maps are remarkable in that she uses the shapes of various human organs and transforms them into countries and land masses. You can see more of Lauren's work here and read her blog here.

She has donated this little farm landscape to be given away. It is only 3 1/2 " X 2 1/2". I think it would look darling float mounted on linen and hung in the perfect little spot.

If you would like to be in the drawing for one of these little pieces, please leave a comment. The drawings will be done separately with my random number picker so you will need to leave a comment for each piece you are interested in winning.

Here's to a more artful life!