Where’s Yr Box of Crayons?

Currently, I’m reading a book called Ignore Everybody And 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod. A cartoonist among other things, Macleod has been blogging creativity for quite a while on his blog Gaping Void.

Here is my favorite sentiment so far:

“Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the “creative bug” is just a wee voice telling you, “I’d like my crayons back, please…Go ahead and make something. Make something really special. Make something amazing that will really blow the mind of anybody who sees it.”

Can you imagine if we all gave ourselves back that “box of crayons?” Like if the whole world just exploded with amazing, latent creativity, all the things that so many people have been holding back for years because of social training, poverty, fear, etc. What kind of world would we have if everybody just went for it? Turned off the television and turned to a piece of paper, or a pile of paints, or whatever else they needed to make real their secret woodsy visions?

It’s really up to us to make that happen. To challenge the fear and just set aside some time everyday to work on whatever project it is that is whispering to you in a ”wee” voice. If you’re like me, that voice has become more of a yowling roar.  

And the reality is that most of us can make the time to do this. Set aside an hour a day to write, or paint, or make a collage, or write a song. If you don’t have an hour, carve out twenty minutes. Facebook won’t miss you!  (unless you’re trolling over the Petals and Bones Fan Page)

So where’s yr box of crayons? What are you going to make/write/draw/do today that is amazing?

xo

Leilani