What is creativity anyway? Does it mean that we should all be able to
knit sweaters or paint landscapes when we get older? Is it something that is
only for the gifted few? What if we find
that we are not a Grandma Moses when we pick up a paint brush? Is this elusive creativity something that
shrivels up and dies as we get older?
In the book “The Mature
Mind,” by Gene D. Cohen, M.D., PhD. the author makes it clear that the word
creativity doesn’t just refer to talents such as writing, painting, and
sculpture. We are all creative in our
own way. He describes creativity as the
process of bringing something new into existence. He suggests that there are big “Cs” and”
little Cs”. The big “C” applies to the
extraordinary accomplishments of major artists, scientist and inventors, which
doesn’t apply to most of us. On the
other hand, we have something called a “little c”, which is just as
important. The little “c’” refers to
everyday activities and accomplishments.
Each person has a certain area in which he or she has a special
interest. For example, perhaps you like
to garden or love to teach. Your little
“c” is a compilation of your knowledge and your experience, and we all know by
this time, that knowledge and experience increase with age.
Some people never have the
chance to tap into their creative potential until they retire. Life is often so busy that they don’t have time
to even recognize their own potential.
It isn’t until they reach retirement age that they are truly free to
pursue real interests.
People who find a creative
outlet early in life, and can build their careers around it are indeed
fortunate. They are already grounded in
the process and can expand their interests accordingly. Others have had to put their creativity on
hold for whole lifetimes, but that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been there all
along. There is a book called “Secrets
of Becoming a Late Bloomer” by Connie Goldman that says that our personal
manifestation of creativity can take the form of a hobby, a job, or a volunteer
commitment. Keep in mind that
creativity is a term, she says, that can be applied to making a meal as easily
as writing a poem.
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