I've had the great fortune to spend most of my life exploring creativity and innovation as a scientist. I love seeing what a science lab can create, and I get energized when inventions become real products. Okay, I admit it; I guess I'm kind of a nerd. But I'll accept "nerdship" if it means I get to keep the creativity and curiosity that often slip away as we become adults.
As we become adults, we fill our lives with "adult" matters: finding a mate, getting a car, getting a job, making money, buying the coolest clothes, getting great abs, dealing with baldness, getting a house, getting a bigger house — you get the point. And then we have to pay for and maintain all those wonderful things (I gave up on my abs a long time ago). If we let them, those responsibilities can drain our brains, our energy, and our joy in life.
I think life and our adult preoccupations can easily make us lose our curiosity — even about simple things. Maybe we need to set aside those distractions occasionally and take time to think and ask questions. Yikes! Maybe we should think about how to make life easier and more fun. After all, someone invented that cool built-in handle on top of cardboard packaging so you can carry your 12-pack of sodas. And what about Crocs™? How cool are those? They're rubbery shoes — why didn't I think of that! Maybe we need skateboards made from recycled materials.
I believe we'll see a surge in creativity and innovation. I've watched this happen on a much smaller scale in the workplace. When money gets tight, business problems arise, or products run into trouble, new inventions abound. So, on a global scale, I see tough economic times. I see concerns about the environment. I see an aging workforce. These challenges will drive an explosion of creative new ideas, products, and businesses over the next five years. I can't wait.
So, I encourage us all to create. We sometimes make creativity seem too mysterious and difficult. Yet, we all encounter things in life that we'd like to simplify. Give them some thought and see if you can find a way to solve the problem. Creativity doesn't belong only to kids or weird scientists lurking in their labs. Creativity belongs to everyone. Keep the curiosity of a child — ask questions: why? how? and when? are good places to start. Try some creative thinking exercises:
- What if all houses were underground?
- What would extreme golf be like?
I wrote a little story that combines a quilt, a little boy, and his boundless creativity. It's hard to imagine what that combination might produce. After living with a quilter for over 33 years, I realized that her fabric creations could inspire all kinds of creative thought. I could even remember those times as a boy when I turned the commonplace into a fun place. The storage space under the stairs from the kitchen to the backyard wasn't a place to store tools and yard supplies. To my friends and me, it was a dark cave waiting to be explored. I didn't let adult conventions constrain my imagination. So, I realized that a quilt could mean much more than a homemade blanket.
In Just a Quilt?, I explore a child's creativity through a quilt his mother made for him. He transforms the quilt into a race track, an airport, a cape, a shield, a tent — just to give a few examples. But the story means more than creativity. It also connects the child to home and the security of his quilt. Sometimes even the most creative people need comforting.
Just a Quilt? became a creative adventure for this science nerd, too. Never did I expect to write a children's picture book. Never did I expect to write anything about quilting. But I found myself rushing down this pathway, and I couldn't stop. The story blossomed, and the ideas cascaded like a waterfall. Maybe the story has helped me tap into my own creativity in a way I never expected. I can't wait to see what happens next. ☺
Dalen Keys is a scientist and author of children's books.