Imagination. Creativity. Ingenuity. They are many different ways to say clever thinking. I pride myself on being a frequent source of good ideas, carrying out quick thinking on my feet and possessing a hearty and healthy stream of creativity flowing through my noggin. If I’m put in a position where there is little to watch, read, see or do, I can usually find ways to keep my mind preoccupied and my heart invested in whatever I’m doing.
As I get older, I realize that creativity is about more than the arts. Sure, I write and I enjoy dabbling in either admiring or even attempting some other art forms like visual art and music, but sometimes the best use of our creativity is in how we can reframe in our lives. The ability to reposition and place things into a new, fresh perspective is a truly powerful tool, and it can take you from feeling hopeless and failing to sensing some bit of optimism and achieving. And it would be simplistic to simply write this off as turning lemons into lemonade or other worn-out clichés. But let me give you an example.
I’m going to say something controversial. Are you ready?
You sure?
You really sure? Because once I start down this road, there’s no turning back.
Yeah? Okay.
Losing is sometimes a good thing.
LARGE GASP FROM THE MASSES.
Seriously, losing can be the best thing. Whether it’s a job, a person, a game — okay, maybe your life might be the exception. But even losing your possessions or financial livelihood can be a tremendous learning experience. It can bring you to a new canyon of contemplation and deep remorse or sorrow. And then tomorrow happens. And sometimes tomorrow takes a few weeks or a few months, maybe even a few years. And you reflect on that day of loss, and you cannot believe where you are now and where you were then. No, not the day you lost but the day before you lost. How much has changed? How much have you learned about yourself and others? And most of all, how much of that would you probably NOT have learned without going through what at that time, felt like the most horrendous experience of your life.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying ‘hey, isn’t it great to become unemployed? To get divorced? To lose a beloved friend or family member? Of course not. But what I am saying is that just as all of these people and places and experiences shape who we are when they enter our lives, they do that again multiplied when they exit. And to simply see and feel the pain from that loss without stopping to notice and absorb the benefits — the lessons and the new opportunities and new people that can arise from it — well, that would really be cheating yourself out of something very special.
So how do we get to that place of seeing it for what good it has brought to you? Creativity. Learning how to step back and see it in 3-D. You know, I don’t actually enjoy 3-D movies but I will admit that I have a real appreciation for something once I feel I have intellectually wrapped my arms around it. As if this dilemma or conflict or major change in my life was sitting on a stool before me and I had the ability to walk all around it and view it from every angle. How cool would that be? Most of us don’t bother to try, but what if we did? Would we notice once we wiped away the tears or the sweat from our fear that there were actually some good views of it if we merely took the time and risk of walking around it and seeing it completely.
That’s being creative, finding ways to not only get the full picture but strategizing for how to work within the confines of this new scenario that is no longer just a possibility but has become our new reality.
So…
It is Friday. Have you had a rough week? I haven’t had the easiest but I lived. And I made it to Friday, and you know what? I’ll make it to Saturday, too, and partly it will be due to my creativity, but I gained a new appreciation about a few things I learned from this not-always-sunny week.
I hope you will, too.
~ ck
I appreciate the support you gave me when i needed it very much.
At this point in time,i appreciate being alive and living quietly in my safe little corner.
I appreciate the love i received in my life from those that were family by birth.
I appreciate the love i still receive from those that are family by choice.
I am still writing and it really helps me see my emotions from a different perspective.
Helping me deal with whatever life throws at me and has thrown at me.
I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and wish you all the best things life can bring you
I am so sorry that I was not aware your beautiful comment was posted here. I’m experiencing some difficulty receiving my notifications. Thank you so very much for sharing this with me, Angel. I’m so happy to read how you are doing, and it was my pleasure to offer support. Always love hearing from you. x ~ chris
Wise words indeed Hun xox
Thank you, Deb. Happy my words resonated with you 🙂 x ~ chris