Back to School: Nurturing the Creative Soul

Goodbye summer, hello fall. Holidays are over. What a perfect time to assess where we've been and where we plan to go with our own creativity.

We are so fortunate that these days a wide breadth of opportunities for personal growth is available to us. From one-time to multiple series, on-line to in-person workshops, seminars, courses and classes cover virtually every conceivable topic and passion.

We must be active in pursuit of creative growth. "Learning is not a spectator sport," said D. Blocher. Learning need not be an expensive venture, either. There are many free and low cost courses offered online as well as in local art galleries; museums; community halls, centers and colleges; religious institutions; and associations. Even the undertaking of a new project can present an enormous learning curve. We also can learn so much from one another.

Sometimes, however, an impediment to creative development is our own attitude.

Think about it. How often do we use the word "too" as part of an excuse not to do something new? As example, is there really an age where we're too old to learn? Well, let me tell you about my 80-year-old mother.

Mom LOVES her piano lessons. For years, she's been a perennial beginner. Advancing only at a snail's pace, she knows she'll never be a concert pianist. Yet, to fulfill her creative urges she resolutely keeps on studying and practicing despite personal frustration, responsibilities and health issues. On my son's last birthday, she brought along her sheet music to play "Happy Birthday" after lunch. She insisted all eleven of us—including three confused toddlers—sing along with her. We sounded awful as we struggled to slow down our words while she painstakingly sought out each note. At the end of her performance she stood up with a flourish and huge smile.

We gave her a standing ovation, laughing and wiping away our tears of joy. Mom bowed deeply.

Yes, learning matters. It feeds our curiosity, imparts broader knowledge and understanding, teaches new skills, helps us strive towards new goals, boosts our self-esteem and opens doors to new possibilities. Best of all - like kindling - it stokes our creative fire.

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A version of this article first appeared in the September, 2008 Creativity Coaching Association newsletter.