"CREATIVITY IS AN UNKNOWN LANGUAGE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS".
I came across that message printed in a B&B Italia ad in the Elle Decor magazine I was reading while on the treadmill last week (did you follow all that?). Anyway--something about that statement hit me so hard that I actually stepped off the machine for a few minutes to read it again and again, and ponder exactly what it meant to me.
I think it made such an impresson on me because that was a week I had been FORCED to "be creative". My BookArts assignment was to make a pop-up book, except that there were so many stipulations put upon what it could and could not be that it felt like very stifled creativity I had to muster up to produce it. Needless to say--I didn't like it much. It just felt all wrong.
I have always been a creator. A free thinker. I like to look at things differently and figure out how to re-interpret them. It's why I was drawn to music as a child and fashion design as a youth. Why I chose interior design as my career. Why I have taught myself how to watercolor paint. Why I chose to educate my children differently...and maybe why I "created" bodies for 4 children to begin with :) . And, of course, the need to create and express myself is the driving force behind why I write.
***I love making something out of nothing.*** I love seeing the beauty in the everyday. I love leaving my mark on a project. I even love the idea that, perhaps, something I create will outlive me one day. In reality, I'm just a "jack (or jill!) of all trades, master of none", and yet that never deters me from the constant desire to learn and try something new anyway!
Do you feel this way? Is it inherent in all women? Are we creators by nature?
If you want to hear someone say the same thing as me, but in a much more powerful way (...and set to a music video....and in less than 2 minutes!)--watch this.....after you read this.....
(as a forewarning: though I always try to remain 'religiously neutral' on my blog, this is a message from a leader in my church. There is nothing about it specific to my religion--just good, old-fashioned universal truth about women and creativity-- but I don't want anyone to be offended.).
~Thanks for the link and the idea Trish!
****and whether you watched the video or not----I'd love to know what and why you feel drawn to create.
the boy squad
this is me
- Jennifer P.
- I am happiest when I can make someone laugh or cry...or laugh till they cry. I am mother to my amazing blended family of six, recently transplanted to a California surfer city. I am a fashionista. I am an interior designer. A poet. A pirate. A homeschooler. A writer. I'm a lover, not a fighter (though don't pick a fight with me because I'll kick your trash.) I live in a crazy house with my Emmy-nominated husband, a ukulele, and a seven foot tall bigfoot. I never go a day without acknowledging God. And I make the best chocolate frosting in the world.
everybody play nice now
The Peterson's Go Public! by Jennifer P. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.theboysquad.blogspot.com.
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28 comments:
I love this post. This is why I sew, why I bake, why I try new things. I like to create. I like to take something simple, put it together and end up with something fun and sometimes amazing.
I create (sew, blog, poetry, photography) because I need more evidence than shining toilets and folded laundry to prove that I am alive.
There ain't a creative bone in my body...so I am amazed at folks like you. Truly...
I always compare myself to you in the creativity department and I feel like I have none. However, after watching the video, I must have it somewhere! :) Thanks.
First, I just got caught up on you're life and admire your for braving the friendly skies with 4 in tow all by yourself! Secondly, I watched the video, and he was spot on. Thirdly, I TOTALLY GET YOU ON THIS CREATING THING! For the last month, I have been clearing out my house, reorganizing, and planning for all my new house projects. I am repainting the canvas as it were, because I have a physiological need to create. It's the only thing that has ever given me the adrenaline rush that athletes say they get when they compete. When I walk into a fabric store or the paint store or browse magazines, I soak in all the colors and textures and patterns and my mind starts thinking about what I can do with them. For me creativity is about that. Taking the paint, the fabrics, the stuff and putting it together to make it look fantastic. But creativity manifests itself in other ways for other people.Whether you are the engineer developing the latest bit of technology or the teacher figuring how to teach kids how to apply geometry and algebra to everyday life, creativity has many layers. But for me, it is the physiological rush and feeling of satisfaction I get when I see something I have put together for myself or for someone else that drives me to create.
Glad to see you are doing well and look radiantly happy! Yahoo for HCMM ;)
i LOVE this message! just what i needed to hear...again.
I sing - I compose music - I write children's books for fun (on computer paper!) - I write poetry - take pictures of everyone and everything - I love to rhyme - I love home decor - I love to handcraft greeting cards and scrapbook pages - I love to style hair - I love to bake - I love to write our Primary programs and plays for our ward Christmas party... OH I've written a few plays for out stake too and my Children's Chorus.... but my favorite creativity project is creating a home for my family that they love to come home to at the end of they day... Why I love to create??? It simply makes me tick. :) p.s. I also love designing my blog.
Fabulous reminder! I take pictures. I do a lot of other things, too, but photography is my creative outlet, and it has given me so much strength in a very difficult time.
I find that I need creativity in my life every day because of the joy it brings. Whether that is coming up with a fun dinner solution, sewing, painting, making jewelry, working with flowers, or trying a new craft, I feel energized by the process. Great post!
I like to create because it makes me feel like I have something to offer. If I can sew something someone else would want, or write something worth reading, I feel productive. It's kind of empowering. I have talents, and I enjoy using them.
Thank you for the message this morning, exactly something that I needed to hear.
Creativity is so personal. There's a piece of us there, a tangible reminder of ourselves.
I, too, have always loved to create. I have always prided myself on making "something out of nothing". I love to search for beauty in everyday places. I think everybody has creativity, though we all choose different forms in which we express it.
Oh and as a side note...I love this song. Tyler and I put it together with a video slide show after Quincy was born for a Christmas present for our families. Tyler hates Celine Dion, but I don't care. Her music, especially that CD was always relazing for me.
Happy Monday!
I feel like I'm creative just not brave enough to do anything about it.
I LOVE this video! It gives me goosebumps. I love that creating isn't always crafting. It is so much more than what you can do with your hands. I think we all create everyday even if we don't realize it. Creating a home, a family, traditions, a learning environment, a positive attitude, a sense of humor. It's all creating.
I love President Uchtdorf. Maybe it's his accent. ;)
I have tried it all! :) Painting, ceramics, jewelery, photography, poetry, drama, voice, piano, guitar, scrapbooking, stamping, cooking, sewing, blogging....you name it, I've tried creating it! I just can't help myself....i always thought it was unreleased mental energy as well as physical energy....
I loved this post too...before I say one more thing I have to tell you that I am sad we didn't get together during your last visit to CA! I LOVED HYPED-UP BOYS ON SUGAR HIGHS!!!! Next time there is no excuse!! How was the trip though? It looks like fun from the snaps below!!
I create because it is empowering. I feel so accomplished when I have finished something that I worked so hard to do. I feel proud of myself; and that is a good feeling. ;)
This is a great post. I'd like to think I'm a creator as I am always having to come up with creative ways to feed my kids, decorate my house and my favorite, trying to recycle something old into something useful. I feel like I actually did something worth looking at or as kam said, "empowered and accomplished" --great words. Thanks.
I saw this video a few weeks back and loved it! Thanks for letting me see it again! =)
Hi Jennifer! What a great video and message. I think as women maybe we have more of a desire to create something beautiful. I love to get crafty, decorate and make things pretty. I have always been that way. It just makes me happy!
XOOX
Jen
I feel creative all the time and I do think most women are. It takes creativity to nuture and that's what we are socialized to do.
which talk are you referencing? I can't see a video on my server for some reason (darn internet block). I have always had a strong desire to be creative, continually trying something new and often failing but forever trying again.
that was so wonderful! i used a lot of those parts of his talk during my VT-ing message in January. It was just so moving. For me, i related it to even possibly just creating happiness in someone else by being their frinds, saying hello and taking an interest when you are harried and rushed (when is THAT not ever happening)
i actually forgot to go to that meeting and missed out--big time!
i think that as women (and this is so universal) we try to be so many things so much of the time. I know that sometimes i do. If we just take a little breath...smile and create a little bit of peace for ourselves we will be able to take care (and create) everything else that needs to happen.
that was simply inspirational jennifer...love you!
Lately I haven't felt too creative and this time I have a good, valid excuse, but I do like copying other people's creative ideas--especially the ones nice enough to show us how to do them. I like thinking things up, but then have a hard time figuring out how to make it work.
Um, I gave you an honest scrap thing. It's one of those list thingies. I put you on there because I think you're oh-so interesting, but then I guess you've done a few already, so maybe we need to hear more details about HCMM. ;)
I'm SO not creative :( I wish I was, but I am not. I think that is one reason why I love this blogworld so much...it helps me to get ideas and then go with it. It's sad to think how bored my kids would be without me getting ideas from all my bloggy friends out there :) (Did you get that? That was one excuse why I allow myself to blog...it's helping my kids!!! It is! It really is!!!) My hubby on the other hand is Mr. Creator!!! We make a good team :)
oh I loved that little video! It was so good and made me want to be more crative. plus I loved the pictures of your boys! they are so cute! Your such a good mom! love ya
I love that message. And I get the jack of all trades bit. I have my rotating obsessions: photography, sewing, gardening, cooking, interior design, graphic design, writing. . .I sometimes wish I had a great desire for ONE thing. I bet then I would be REALLY good at it. But which do you give up--it is rather like picking which child you like best, no?
I wish I had just an ounce of creativity in my body.
I love to create beauty. Any and all kinds: Beautiful foods, gardens, words, children. Why? Because when I'm not creating, I'm only existing; failing to fulfill my purpose and divine roll of womanhood.
I don't know how I missed this post before, and there I am in my linky green!. I feel honored.
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