Creative thinking

I've really enjoyed this fall.  A different season of my life--literally.  But I've just so enjoyed all of the colors, taking hikes, bike rides, and just enjoying the trees in my neighborhood.  I went for probably my last morning bike ride today.  At a brisk 40 degrees, I suited up in warm gear, complete with my skiing neck gator and shoe covers.  But I didn't mind the temperature because there was little wind and the sun was just coming up.  Oh, how this made the scenery look just stunning! I just had to snap a few photos, but passersby may have looked at me strange when I stopped on my bike and took pictures with my double-mitted hands. Over an hour later, I returned home, refreshed, having thoroughly enjoyed my early Sunday morning soaking in God's creation, wondering where I woudl be next fall.

At the creativity workshop. Asbury Woods Nature Center



And over the weekend, I went to a creative thinking workshop at one of the local nature centers, Asbury Woods.  A renovated house set in the woods, it was the perfect setting for this workshop.  And with only two other participant and the teacher, sitting in a conference room with oak chairs, and woods visible through the windows, it did spark creativity.  We learned that logic is not always present when being creative.  And that it's very important to play in life, because this helps with creativity (I did, in fact, go to this workshop because I wanted to do something fun). We did go through a list of things that affect creativity, like your
environment, your upbringing, what you read and listen to, and who you have as friends.  But the professor asked if we wanted to add anything to the list.  And it took me a bit, but I added:  money.  When you have money, you buy what you need and that's the end of it.  But when you're watching your money, you become very creative.  You make due or find another way to get something accomplished.  Or you go without.  But it can also inspire you to pick-up or resume hobbies that are practical or resourceful.  I've found in my life, that when I have less, I create more, when I have more, I buy more and create less.  We finished the workshop by inventing games with kitchen utensils (see photo).  We all came up with different ideas -- especially for the can opener!  The professor said that he expected this -- if everyone comes up with the same idea, there's too many people in the room.  I left the session glad that I went, enjoyed meeting a few new people, and promptly went home to finish some painting. : )