How are you creative?

We have a question for you. How are you creative? We saw lots of creativity recently when we were at Art in the Garden at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. An artist incorporated an old metal tractor seat into a sculpture of a turkey. There were photographers, painters and people who made greeting cards. Jewelers turned stones and shells into beautiful jewelry. People made lovely cloth handbags, skirts and dresses and woodworkers crafted pens, bowls and platters. There was even birdseed formed into works of art so birds could enjoy the seed and people could enjoy the art. To view some of these artistic creations, use the video link at the end of this article.

If you are having trouble thinking of ways you are creative, we’ll share some different ways we express our creativity. If you know Doug, you recognize he’s an excellent singer and also very humorous. These are creative talents. My creativity can’t be called talents. Doug says my pizza is a “work of art”. Actually, I decorate it to distract people from the fact that I’m not a good cook. He also shares that I look for faces in different places. When I was little my mom and I played a game where we looked for faces everywhere. You might want to try seeing “faces in places” – it’s a fun and creative game to play.

Now, let’s explore how you are creative. Are you a singer, artist, writer or do you have other creative talents? Maybe you’re creative in your daily life and you don’t even think of it as being creative. Here are some examples. Are you creative in how you show your love, braid your child’s hair, how you dress or how you plant your garden? Do you mow your lawn in an artistic criss-cross design? Are you a creative story-teller or problem-solver? Maybe you decorate or organize your home, office, garage or fish house in a creative way. Are you beginning to think of ways you are creative?

We talked to some people at the art show to find out how they are creative and how they stimulate their creativity. First, we met Sue Brown, who was at the art show with her husband, Greg. Sue says Greg provides great support for the business. When we asked Sue how she stays creative, she answered, “I am an artist and photographer. I won my first art contest when I was in first grade and I was hooked. I became more of a serious photographer after doing some interesting trips. To stay creative, I think it’s important to expose yourself to new ideas and challenge yourself to find things that are creative and different. Look at the world in a different way. So rather than interpret it the way someone else has done it, try to find a different way of expressing that. I like to try to do that in my art. It’s important to expose yourself to other artists and other thoughts in order to be able to continue to be creative.”

Then we met Gretchen Detra who was visiting Art in the Garden with her daughter, Hannah. Gretchen found some Apricot Habanero and Pepper Jam. She shared, “I use it on my salmon. It’s really good stuff and I really like it.” Already Gretchen gave us a clue as to how she is creative. She confirmed what we suspected when she shared, “I try to be as creative as I can in the kitchen. I have a tendency of pulling enough things together and just trying to whip them up. Sometimes I win – sometimes I don’t. It’s a hit or miss but it’s fun. I enjoy it!” We suggested that when she wins, then everyone else wins. She laughed and chimed in, “Ya, but when I lose, everyone else loses, too!” After hearing about her creativity with food, we’re sure she’s a very good cook and we would gladly take our chances at trying her creative culinary concoctions.

Sue and Gretchen each found their ways to be creative. How about you? How are you creative?

Here’s a challenge: We encourage you to look at the ways you are, or want to be, creative. Sylvia Plath says, ”The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt”. Express your creativity and don’t let self-doubt and fear stand in your way. We only mentioned some of the artists’ creations here. To see more art and inspire your creativity, put Art in the Garden on your calendar for next year. We invite you to let us know how you are using your creativity – and if you see “faces in places”.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are Success Coaches and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2017 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.