The Reasons Creativity is More Than Being Different.
“Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can plan weird; that’s easy. What’s hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity” – Charles Mingus
I’ll take Charles Mingus’ lead on this.
Lately, I have been thinking about creativity and how to use it as simply as possible.
I am in a very creative place right now at present. I wake up thinking about something creative, create all day and go to bed thinking creatively. In fact, it isn’t all that uncommon for me to wake up thinking about something creative I want to do.
What the heck is going on?
I’m over sixty years old.
In my lifetime, I may be my most creative self EVER. right.now.
What the heck is going on?
I think I know. If you believe your life is led in a path which is best for you, whether you believe in God or some other high power, then you will understand this story.
I taught drama for thirty-eight years. I directed for most of those years as well–at least 250 plays and musicals with adults and children alike. Need something truly unique? Check out this costume design lesson using Christmas wrapping paper.
I thought when I retired, I would probably continue directing or teaching in some capacity. I did a little of both, but you know? My heart wasn’t really in it any more. Maybe it’s because it takes a lot of energy to do both and I just couldn’t muster it anymore. Because of some unforeseen circumstances, those doors closed to me at the same time I was losing my interest. I thought I needed to continue with both, because that’s what I had always done–taught and directed.
Then a door which had always been closed to me or actually, I refused to try it, opened.
Guess what? I am interested in sharing my lessons with other teachers which leads to me where I am at present. I’m very happy with this decision.
Oh my gosh….I should have done this years ago!
I give credit to my dear husband, Tim, for patiently suggesting to me I create a book of all of my thirty-eight years of teaching drama lessons and units.
I wrote a middle grade book, Bumbling Bea, but it doesn’t get enough traction (because simply there is too much competition no matter how good your book is and marketing it is a bear) and I needed to do something where I had more contact with people.
Instead of creating a book of my lessons, I started a store at Teacherspayteachers.com
There are reasons creativity is more than just being different.
When you are creative:
- you are interesting because you have many ideas flowing all at once
- you are happier because you are in a zone in your mind which relaxes you–you lose track of time and your day-to-day worries
- creative problem solving is deeply satisfying and concrete
The challenge of creativity is to do something simply and well. It’s easy to use “hair choreography” to cover up your mistakes or weaknesses. (If you don’t know what that is, it is when a choreographer has the female dancers whip their hair around a lot in lieu of more dance steps.)
Being different may set you apart from other people, but being creative is something of which we have all been endowed. It is just a matter of where our creative talents lie.
But Charles makes a very valid point. You were given this creativity so do something amazing with it! Don’t let it sit in some closet amongst the dirty clothes or down in the basement by the extra cat litter (okay, that’s a metaphoric stretch but you understand what I mean…)
USE YOUR CREATIVITY AND USE IT SIMPLY– NOT ALL GUCKED UP
I was perusing the web to see if I could find some research concerning the importance of creativity to the human psyche and ran upon Adobe.comeducate.com
Here is what they have found out so far:
“What we discovered was extremely illuminating. Three quarters of the educators surveyed believe that students need to develop these skills to protect their futures, as the professions that require creative problem solving are less likely to be impacted by automation. However, it isn’t just job-protection where creative problem solving makes a difference. Almost 90 percent of respondents believe students who excel at creative problem solving will have higher-earning job opportunities in the future, and 85 percent agreed that these same skills are in high demand by today’s employers for senior-level and higher-paying careers.”
These challenges are occurring everywhere in the world, not just in the U.S. I figure if the German teachers are as frustrated as the Japanese, there is a big problem.
Really, I think my store should be re-branded CreativityforU because that is what I am peddling.
Every single lesson or unit, bundle, worksheet, assignment, quiz, etc. was developed to use one’s creativity to accomplish it.
Here are some examples:
Costume Design with Fairy Tale Characters
Drama Units and Lessons Curriculum
or if you just want to purchase one lesson, check out: Set Design, the Rendering
In this world and this day and age, it simply isn’t enough just to be creative. You have to know how to apply this talent and use it as simply as you can.
Problem is, too many people think they aren’t creative which goes back to how creativity is perceived by the general public and Charles’ quote.
Our teachers know this and strive every day to encourage our students to be creative in everything they do. That’s quite a heady responsibility if you think about it.
When was the last time you were creative?
I’d love to hear about your adventures with creativity whether it be some recipe you made, how you decorated your home for Christmas or painted a picture. Everything counts.
Contact me at dhcbaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net
