"Fostering creativity is an exercise in developing your soul and your intellect. It allows you to experience life more profoundly and vibrantly. A life soaked in the elixir of creativity is a life spent in the eternal now. Through creative living, every moment is meaningful."
~Barrie Davenport, How to Live a Meaningful Life
Once upon a time, I was a very creative little girl. My imagination was fierce, all types of art and exploration filled my life and beauty seemed everywhere. Science taught me to focus my energies in a way that stimulated my intellect but didn't nurture my creativity as much as when I was young. I woke up in a fog, wondering when the beauty had left my life. In recent years--after I finished graduate school and had more time to relax--creativity has seeped back into my life. It ebbs and flows, and despite my lack of true artistic ability, I enjoy dipping my toes in those waters once again. I have missed that beauty more than I realized.
"A meaningful life is a process of creation. Like Michelangelo, you must first see the angel in the marble, then begin to carve away to set him free. Decide what is meaningful for you. Who do you want to be? How do you want to live your life? What kind of relationships do you want? Have a vision of your perfect life.
"Then begin carving to create that life. Carve away the excesses that pull you away from what matters most to you. Carve away the limitations, behaviors and beliefs that prevent you from fully enjoying the beauty and creativity of life. As you carve, keep your vision in mind and watch with wonder and discovery as you reveal the angel inside of you.
"A meaningful life is an evolution. It is both the practice of carving and creating. It is the daily awareness and work you do to reveal and refine your authentic self--through relationships, balance, beauty, creativity and personal growth. Today, go create your own meaningful life." ~Barrie Davenport
Okay, so maybe Barrie went a tiny bit overboard with this theme, angels and the like, but I think she has the right idea. I have a sneaking suspicion that my push towards continued personal growth will be very much tied into my need to foster creativity, expand my boundaries, explore new options, let go of fear and try new adventures, surround myself with beauty, inside and out.
"How we live our days is, of course, how we spend our lives." ~Annie Dillard
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