Our inner Picasso

Creativity--- a word full of emotion. To some it is a blessing, a gift and one that is used nearly every day. To others it's a blessing they wish they had and almost covet. For some creativity comes as easy as breathing and for others they struggle with the concept of anything that is self created.
                                                         
In my opinion creativity and imagination are in tandem with each other and at times, one in the same. Without a healthy imagination you simply cannot light the embers of our creativity. We see the uninhibited imagination in children who see sea serpents in clouds, pots and pans as drums in a rock concert, couch pillows as the walls and ceilings to a "fort". And in books like Harold and the Purple Crayon. Somewhere along the path to adulthood we lose that spark and see only clouds full of rain, pots and pans with last nights' dinner cluttering the sink and couch pillows tattered by the family cat. I am never more aware of this as when I watch my own children. Where one can pick up a rubber mallet and aim it like a gun, the other will remind his brother that it's a "tool, not a toy". One can still lay on his bed surrounded with his star wars action figures and play a romping game complete with sound effects while the other will roll his eyes in disgust and return to more pressing matters such as tonight's episode of Wipe Out.

Fortunately there are still a few grown ups who have not lost the magic of their imagination and creativity. We call them artists ( Monet,van Gogh, or Picasso ),authors ( Shakespeare, Twain, or Hemingway) and sculptors ( Michelangelo, Rodin or Shaw-Judson). Those of us who embrace our inner Picasso look to such "Masters" for our inspiration. But where does creativity actually come from?  Scientifically, we all have TWO brains. The left half and the right half.  Both halves, separate and distinct from the other are responsible for different functions. According to Dan Eden ( "Left Brain:Right Brain") creative people tend to be right brain users which means they are broadminded, seeing the whole picture rather than fine details and are big risk takers. They are in both the present and the future, are good at philosophy and religion. The right brain is where imagination rules!  This is the exact opposite for people who use their left brain. They are detailed, practical, logical and safe. For them facts rock!    In a way, each of us has our very own James T. Kirk and Spock in our heads! Sadly, it would appear that many of our heads of State and Federal Government have become like the Neanderthal. It's been said the Neanderthal had huge brains but failed to evolve into humans. The people "in charge" have made a mess of things and blame each other for their own misconduct and misgivings. The truth of the matter is no one person fucked it up. It took many and will take just as many if not more to "fix it". Playing it safe is no longer an option. 
                                             
                                                                      
I leave you with this. I think that creativity is best described as " the process of producing something that is both original and worthwhile." I believe that we all need to tap into our inner Picasso or Harold. We need to entertain ideas drawn on butcher paper with a purple crayon. We need to don the business suits and high heels and grab a bucket of side walk chalk. We need to run through more puddles and chase more rainbows. We need to get down to brass tacks, which aren't really brass or tacks but clouds in the shape of sea serpents and unicorns.We need to blow more soap bubbles and watch amazed at the rainbow halo in each new sphere. We need to do more original and worthwhile things. Creativity is not the exclusive right of the 1%  it is in each and everyone of us.  Inspiration can be and is found in everything! When we stop believing, when we stop creating something original and worthwhile, all is lost.  I refuse to believe that all is lost!