Learning To Be More Creative In Early Retirement

Friday, December 6, 2013

Learning To Be More Creative In Early Retirement

I've never thought of myself as being particularly creative. I like to do lots of different things - baking, photography, decorating, landscaping, entertaining - but I've always considered those to be different from the 'hard' creative arts like drawing, painting, designing, creating and the like. However, yesterday Mike and I attended a class on why creativity is so important in our lives, and I'm now looking at things with completely different eyes.

The instructor started off by explaining that all people are born creative. What happens to many of us over the years, however, is that our creativity gets drummed right out of us by our families and society. "You didn't draw/do that right," or "Stop wasting time and do something productive!" are common messages many of us heard as we were growing up. The instructor then went on to deliver the following truisms:

- All people are born creative
- You're never to old to become more creative
- Creativity can be increased with practice
- Creativity contributes to physical health
- Creativity is about the process, not just the end product
- It's ok to fail more than you succeed.
- Even mundane tasks can be approached creatively.

I found the topic incredibly interesting, particular the part about the process being as important as the end product. The instructor gave some examples on how to do this, including tips as simple as changing the order in which household chores are approached. If you always wash the floors before you dust, reverse the order. Change the normal day on which you do something every once in a while just to see how it feels. Take your daily walk or hike in the opposite direction you usually go.

Some of the instructors other tips in how to strengthen creativity were simple as well:

1. Take joy breaks. Rediscover the unlimited energy that follows child-like fun by thinking of a least a dozen ways to enjoy little bursts of fun, like twirling around, jumping up in the air, sliding down the hallway (I do this one all the time!), singing out loud, dancing for a few minutes or making funny faces in the mirror, and them do them several times a day.
2. Enjoy three slow, deep breaths several times a day.
3. Always have something fun to anticipate. Put as much dedication and creativity into planning your fun as you do your work. (I'm pretty good at this one too!)
4. Celebrate! Create positive momentum by finding at least one thing a week to celebrate.
5. Keep growing. Learn something new every day.

So, in the spirit of the above, last night when I got home I decided to look for a creative way to use up the last cup of mashed potatoes left over from Thanksgiving. After doing a little research on the internet I decided to make potato bread, which is very much of a creative stretch for this yeast-bread newbie. I started the bread at 5:30 pm, and by 9:30 pm these two beauties came out of my oven-

 

I was so excited by how they turned out that I went running upstairs to tell Mike so he that could come down and admire my little works of art. 

I'm not sure how enthralled he was by their appearance, truth be told, but I know he was enthralled by how good they tasted. I cut him a still warm slice, put a little sweet butter on top, and he was in heaven.

So today I'm trying my hand at a James Beard molasses brown bread I've previously been too nervous to try. This pushing your creative self thing really is fun!

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Here's a link to the recipe I used to make the above potato bread: 

Easy Potato Bread