Do you consider lying around as lost time?
Many kinds of creativity happen chiefly in our thoughts.
It takes a massive amount of just sitting and thinking to create new worlds for a book.
Paintings start in the mind before coming to life on canvas.
A sculptor must visualize the goal before the first cut or chisel.
Creativity can look a lot like doing nothing. I know mine often does.
What about yours? Are you giving your mind a space to create?
My kids often slouch in their chairs, roll their eyes at me and say. “I’m so bored!” In reply, I laugh. “Ha! Good, your growing brain cells. Now go play.”
Quiet thinking, being bored, is good for creativity. It forces us to find something. That’s when a potted plant becomes an unexplored island, or a spoon on the table, a boat lost at sea. Without that initial boredom, our brains wouldn’t feel the need to create stimulation on their own. Boredom can be a beautiful beginning.
Are you ready to make space to be bored? As an adult, I find it’s difficult. I have many things seeking my attention, it’s hard to sit and think.
Busyness can overwhelm. When this happens, we can look like we’re bored, but is really procrastination.
Personally, that means I’m experiencing performance anxiety. I fear I won’t be able to do something, so I’m afraid to even try. This looks like sitting around drumming my fingers. It looks bored, but it’s not, and it’s never a good thing. I am not advocating for it. When I learn how to overcome this stumbling block, I will let you know. (Don’t hold your breath waiting for me. It might be hazardous to your health.)
But I no longer find times of quiet, wasted time. I don’t continually need to fill my space with sound. I close my eyes and think. Listen to the sounds of the world. It is as pleasurable and inspiring as music. When was the last time you tried sitting and doing nothing?
I encourage you to find time during your week to practice a few moments of it. Let the dancing dust in a ray of light turn to fairy tales. Let the squeak of a rocking chair shift in to the swing of wood. Watch the wind through the trees. Listen to the chitchat of your kids. You might find inspiration there you didn’t expect. You might find a moment’s peace. Cherish it. It’s worth more than gold.
©2021 Mary Grace van der Kroef

We don’t choose the words. They choose us. So with that said, creativity can find us in the strangest of places.
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Yes and no John. Yes and no. If your writing a fiction story, it works a bit differently then poetry.
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I stand corrected
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But you’re right with poetry.
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I’ve only written one fiction story in my life. It was probably the hardest writing I’ve ever done. It’s a talent all on its own.
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Your right there. I think its a lot of fun. But it takes a long time, and after the hard draft there is always 2 – 5 editing stages. It takes determination to make it all the way.
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Poetry is hard enough for me lol! I respect those who have that talent and desire. It really has to be in me to write like that.
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I always need time and space to incubate a poem or story. Sadly many people seem to have lost the ability to simply be still, to simply be.
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In the world today, it is difficult.
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Thank you for this great post that encourages one to stop and listen! I made an effort to do just that and was blown away by what I saw and heard. It prompted a poem almost straight away. Who knew that when a seagull and a mallard duck fly past each other they greet each other!
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That is so beautiful!
Thank you for sharing. It warms my heart to know it had an impact.
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