on being creative… and tidy

I’m a creative person. Always have been.

When I was a kid I was convinced I was going to be the next Amy Grant… or at least a Broadway star so that I could put my stellar singing, dancing, and acting, skills to good use.

But I’m also a fairly logical and organized person. (For the most part at least.

Many say these don’t go toghether – the idea of being creative and being ordered.

But I beg to differ.

Why is it that messy types get the title of creative? Hmph. Slackers.

I actually think order, boundaries, and space lend themselves to birthing incredible creative if  they are put into place with thoughtful consideration.

There are certain things that actually feed my creativity, and mess and chaos certainly don’t make the list:

A clean, uncluttered beautiful space. I’m working on this one. Our home office is where I like to “work” (create) but it’s most definitely a work in progress. We’re getting there. It’s slowly becoming the beautiful space that I envision in my mind.

A good soundtrack. No explanation needed. Give me jazz, give me folk, give me some new wave, give something—anyhing—that moves me. I bet you’re the same.

A late night. Especially since having kids I so wish I wasn’t a night person (it’s not convenient!!) but I just am. I come alive after dark. So I need to stay up late every onceand-a-while.

Regular input from “beautiful things”. When I watch a good movie, it makes me want to practice my photography. When I hear great music, it makes me want to write. When I see beautiful design and décor, it makes me want to play guitar. When I read a good book, it makes me want to do something craftabulous. You get the picture.

Inspiration leads to inspiration.

This year I want to create space in my life to be more creative. (Or maybe I should say I wan to let the creative loose that’s already there?)

But that requires a few things to help me on the way: de-cluttering, creating space and time, and being inspired by beautiful and interesting and thought-provoking things.

That will take discipline – it won’t just fall into mu lap. Discipline is part of the reason I’ve started this blog – getting me to write every day and cut it off at five minutes.

Dang this post is stupid. I want to rewind and start over. My prefectionsist tendency is roaring rightnow. I guess it’s bound to happen sometimes when you attempt a ridiculous project like

STOP.   Bahh!!

Q for you: I have way more to say on this subject… and an incredible desire to go back and re-write everything I did say… but instead I’ll just ask you… what helps you unlock your creative side?

Love,
A

p.s. I totally cheated on this post. Went back and added in a few more sentances. Shame! But it was so bad and it was yelling at me to FIX it. Bah! This was totally an 8-minute post. Or more. I don’t even know now. And it’s still awful. Fail… frustrated fail. Big, fat fail. This blog is going to beat the perfectionist out of me!!! There’s always tomorrow, right?? *sigh*

Click Clink Five is a blog by Adriel Booker. | Five minutes a day, unedited. | 2012 All rights reserved. | Adriel also writes on motherhood and parenting at The Mommyhood Memos.