Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Taking the Dream Out of the Box – Playfulness

Playfulness, idleness, a sense of wonder, curiosity, daydreaming, make-believe –

are they all useless, mindless activities, keeping us from making progress on the task in front of us?

or are they integral parts of the artist’s existence, cornerstones of creativity?

When I was in school, everyone’s favorite part of the day was recess. When we were allowed to go to the playground, we were free – no responsibilities, no worries, no work. We made up games. We made up names. We made up new worlds and new people. We grew older and younger. We imagined ourselves with different colored eyes and different colored hair. We changed our backgrounds and our families. We became rich or poor. The worlds we inhabited were of our own making.

Isn’t that what being creative is all about?

So I’d like to suggest, if you get stuck like I do sometimes –

take your mind out for recess.

Start earning your M.S.U. degree. What’s that you ask? It’s "Making Stuff Up".

Need a place to start? Perhaps asking yourself one or more of the following questions will get you on your way.

If you could time travel, when and where would you go? What kind of circus entertainer would you like to be? If there were such a things as a creativity pill, what would happen if you overdosed? What would you ask for if you had a fairy godmother? Who makes you laugh and what it is about that person that cracks you up? What makes for a perfect day? What’s the silliest song you know? What fills you with a sense of wonder?

“If good ideas do not come at once, or for a long time, do not be troubled at all. Wait for them. Ideas come with the dreamy idleness that children have.” Brenda Ueland

There’s still more to taking the dream out of the box. I’ll pick up this topic again next week. In the meantime, I’ll be hunting up my magic wand. Where’s yours?

5 comments:

  1. my perfect day si with my DD and DH in home, with a sunnt day.

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  2. Very lovely thought to start the day and SO SO true! I will finding ways to earn my M.S.U. degree this week! Thanks for the gentle reminder to focus on the simple fun things!

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  3. Oh I can do this one anytime. I love it because it can change anyway you want it too! ALWAYS a Happy ending!!
    Hugs, Lisa

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  4. Thanks for the great post..oh to be a child again! Warm wishes, Esther

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  5. Ginger, I love this post! I think today's kids don't know really know how to "makebelieve", because they are sooooooo busy with scheduled activities. When is the last time you saw kids skipping in the street or bouncing a ball against the wall - I still remember all the games we played as children. I've always been a day-dreamer, and enjoy "making stuff up!" My mind wanders in and out of things all day lone. Thanks for making me feel that all my daydreaming is good for me LOL!

    hugs,

    Brenda

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