Creativity. A gift given to a select few. Except it’s not. It’s an acquired skill. I know this for a fact. I have seen it.
In working with kids in Albania, I taught classes at the youth center to teach them how to think creatively. In school for art, they are graded on how well they copy images – color – style – etc. (Part of this extends from their communist background and flows over into stores selling the same things at the same prices in the same way often literally next door to each other)
So when we first started the creative classes, the kids would simply copy my designs – and be proud. And so the creative strategizing began…
Eventually, they began experimenting on their own. Slowly. And in small steps. But by the end of my time there, you would not see 2 projects come out the same. In fact, when new kids would come, the regular attendees would fuss at them for copying other kids’ work. They’d explain how much better it is when you come up with your own ideas & designs. Ahh music to my ears.
Once they were given a chance to be creative (knowing they wouldn’t be punished for it) they all embraced creativity.
The other day I was working on a project and a friend asked if she could help because she never got a chance to be creative. I was caught a little off guard because I’d never really thought about having chances to be creative here in the States. Part of it is because my career choice in life (even though it has changed several times) has always involved creativity as a focal point in some way, shape or form. Everyone in my family encouraging creativity in many different ways has been an added bonus. And of course Pinterest…
Then I went to Albania where creativity was rarely encouraged. Then I came back to the States where creativity is not only encouraged but is everywhere. Maybe because I always look for anything creative & different or maybe it’s because I spent 2 years in a place completely the opposite making me more aware of creativity (and the lack thereof). But I can feel it all around me here. I can see it almost everywhere I look.
So why does my friend feel that she never gets a chance to be creative? I think it’s because we are told only certain people can be creative. Or being creative only refers to art. But really creativity is a skill that you practice and doesn’t necessarily apply to art. You can be creative in problem solving, in how you travel, in how you prepare/cook food, in organizing your day, in the route you take to get to work, in choosing new activities or places to eat. The opportunities to be creative are endless! You have to look for (and recognize) the chance to be creative and then take it.
The best way to be creative is to do/see/experience something different and let it change the way you do/see/experience things in the future.
Creativity is a skill that anyone can possess. Creativity is a skill that anyone can practice. Creativity is a skill that anyone can grow.
I am a firm believer that everyone can be creative – if they are looking for opportunities to be creative & are willing to take the chance to do something different, see something different, experience something different and maybe even be a little different.
Always, always, always take the chance to be creative. You will never regret it.