Creativity

cre·a·tiv·i·ty (n)

the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination:

When I originally planned to write this blog post, I had a better idea in my head of what I thought creativity meant, and what it looked like.  I had been reading a book called "A Spiritual Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" and the author, Paul Rademacher, begins connecting creativity to a child's mind.  The way children can think freely without caring about judgement of others is a beautiful thing.  Children also think with such enthusiasm.  I wish that today I could get as excited to start a new project as I did when I came up with a fake clothing store out of my bedroom when I was in elementary school.  To me the idea was genius, and Hallie and I called it "Funky Fashions."  We just created a concept and ran with it.  What halts that initiative for us as adults, when trying to be creative?  I believe its fear of judgement and fear of failure.  
Maybe bringing creativity down to that elementary level can help us actually act on our creative thoughts. Rademacher calls us out as adults by saying that we all feel compelled to grow up fast.  I think he is right to some degree.  I ran out of college ready to conquer the world with all the knowledge and confidence I gained at Meredith, and almost forgot to sit still long enough to take it all in.  I think that finding those moments of stillness are good for our creativity.  It's a space to let our minds flow and our new thoughts release.  For me, that is what blogging became, and what running is becoming.  So ask yourself "am I allowing space for creativity in my life?"