Posted by permission of
David Singer.

Creativity often begins to develop when you get back the feeling of being wild and free like a child.

Think about it. As a child, no ideas are wrong or bad. All ideas sound wonderful to children! Children are in a state of exploration and discovering the world. They wake up to greet the world with a smile on their face. To children, everything is new and exciting. To adults, we’ve been down that rocky path before, so why get excited about another trip?

For example . . .

When is the last time you sprawled out on the grass and looked up at the sky at the clouds? Do you remember looking at the clouds and finding animals in them, then watching them move? Do you remember feeling the sun on your face and the wonderful feeling of just being alive? Do you remember being curious and asking “why” about everything?

When is the last time you walked along the beach with your shoes off, or walked on the grass with no shoes and felt the grass tickle your feet? When is the last time you smelled a flower? When have you last been to a zoo and really studied the animals and appreciated their majesty? I’m not talking about going to the zoo with your children and hurrying along just to get home as soon as you could. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

When have you last plopped down in the snow and made a snow angel? When have you had a snow fight with your kids? When have you last made snow ice cream? When have you made a tunnel in the snow and just sat there . . . for fun?

These are all parts of life that we enjoyed as a child but we forget as we become adults. But don’t you remember how it felt to really appreciate these things? Who says we can’t do them as adults?

If you can get back those wondrous feelings of thinking like a child, of enjoying life to its fullest, your creativity will bloom. And you’ll be a happier person.

Today’s Assignment:

Depending on where you live, do something that will help you think like a child. Go outside and make a snowball. Take your whole family outside and make snow angels, and send me a picture with a link to your site. I’ll post it on the blog. I guarantee you’ll have a wonderful time. Go inside and make snow ice cream. If you don’t know the recipe, let me know and I’ll post it here.

If you live in the South, go outside and lie in the grass. Describe the clouds that you see. Tell me what they look like. I want to know what animals you see. Think like a child! Take a picture and send it to me. Describe your experience. Take off your shoes and walk in the mud. Jump up and down in a mud pile. Make a mud pie. Now isn’t that fun?

If you live in a big city, take a walk in a park, if that’s possible. If not, just walk down a street. Look at the sky, at the clouds, at the scenery. Enjoy the people. Window shop. What shops are in your neighborhood? Did you notice them before? Say “hello” or smile at people you meet. What is their reaction?

If you have a child, get down on the floor and play with that child. Put on a puppet show. Play dolls or cars, and be sure to include sounds (lots of sounds). Read a book, and insert sounds where needed. Actually PLAY with the child. You can really tap into your creativity by playing with a child. As a parent, you should always play with your child. Believe me, they grow up way too fast.

When you think like a child, you begin to enjoy life more, and that’s what you’ll do in today’s assignment.

Have fun!

Robin