Be Creative

      In a world riddled with rules and limits all around, it can be difficult to take a step back and allow yourselves to create. Being creative is something that is so beautiful and so pure. Think about it, if you are in a room full of kindergarteners and ask them to draw for an hour, what do you think you would see? You might see a stick figure family. You might see a dog, cat, or other animal. When I was that age all I could draw was a terrible beach with outlandish waves. Oh, and seagulls, lots and lots of seagulls! Now, if you were to ask each kid to explain what they drew, I bet you would be really surprised with what some of the kids come up with. On paper it may just be a stick family and a car with 1 and a half wheels. But, when they explain it, it may be a family that is going on a camping trip. There is only 1 and a half wheels because dad simply forgot to put the others on before they left. They just got done swimming at the lake and are getting ready to start a fire and cook smores. That is what is so neat about creativity. If you can dream it, you can make it possible in a picture.

                                                                                            

            Kids are such a good example of what it means to be creative. At their age, they haven’t learned all the different life “rules” and they don’t know what certain limits are. That is POWERFUL. To be able to think and imagine something with absolutely no boundaries is something that I wish all people could do. Creativity is something that keeps the mind fresh and sharp. It allows you to think of solutions to problems in a way that others can’t due to their own “limits”. Creativity can be way more than just a drawing or solution. Open creativity can allow you to come up with a room design that stands out. It can allow you to come up with a game that could be so simple but allow you to have countless hours of joy at the same time. For real, my dad had my brother, my friends and I throwing a tennis ball at the curb all afternoon for days. You can think of something, and then if you are mechanically inclined, build something that no one else has.

            I’ve been trying to build more things from scrap wood that I find. Pallets have been an excellent source of wood for many projects lately. I have built many different things for my wedding in September already. Taking the time to think creatively has been a huge part of that. Woodworking is something that can be so neat to do and be creative with. There are many tools that I could acquire that would allow me to step up my creativity also. We currently have some 2x6 lumber that is from a warehouse rack that we are trying to figure out what to make. We have considered an outdoor farmhouse patio table. Maybe it will be a bench. We could make some sort of shelving or chair out of the wood as well. The beauty is that if we allow ourselves to truly get creative, the possibilities are endless.

            If you need help to improve your creativity, I would recommend picking up a coloring book. I know, you’re probably thinking, “why would I want a coloring book?”. Let me tell you why, you can have a starting point and then be as creative as you want with colors to make the picture come to life. Do this for a while and maybe you will start freehand drawing. If you like music, put music on and just let yourself free. Pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano and just let the instruments start almost playing themselves. Explore different notes and see what sounds good together. You might end up writing a song or more. The point is, you have to let yourself tear down your own limits and boundaries from time to time to really embrace your creative side.

            This blog is what my go to is currently for trying to be creative and think outside of my own box.  If you would have asked me 2 weeks ago if I would create a blog, I would have said you were crazy. I’m ripping down my own limits and barriers however to let the creativity flow. Take some time in the next few days and get comfy. Throw on your favorite sweatpants and hoodie and relax. Sit down with some music of your choice and try something creative. Draw a picture. Write a story. Get really crazy and take a bunch of cans out of the cupboards and build a fort. Figure out the different ways you can make a castle out of spaghettio’s. I would love to see what you come up with. Leave a comment or picture below of something that you created or came up with.

            Much Love and God Bless