THE CREATIVE ACT

There is a lot of science behind the creative act. It is quite broad. Also, there are many philosophical discussions about where inspiration for creating comes from. But for me, the important aspect is the creative act itself and how it makes us feel. For this blog, I'm not interested in where our unique ideas from creativity might come from—from within or without—like happy "aha!" moments or capturing a passing thought (like seeing hummingbirds flitting around a feeder). If the science and philosophy behind creating interest you, there are any number of books and resources on the subject. Look into the Flow State, the release of dopamine when feeling happy, exercising the body and brain, aging brains and building new neural pathways.

Why Retirement is the Perfect Time

Our lives before retirement might not have included much time for creative pursuits—work, family, other responsibilities, and the many activities associated with those responsibilities took precedence. And let's not forget running out of energy for anything to do with creating. Time and energy might have been in short supply for years, leading us to forget how to be creative.

In retirement, we have the opportunity to relearn how to have fun and take time for ourselves. What is it we now have time to relearn or discover?

What Creativity Can Look Like

Creativity is very broad. Think about it. It can be cooking a new, interesting dish or remodeling a building. Needlecraft, woodworking, writing, painting, dancing, playing music, singing. Even creating snow angels in winter—not just for kids. The creative act can be anything we're doing for the first time or in a new way, anything that engages our imagination and hands.

Creating takes us out of time, or at least we're not thinking about time. It puts a smile on our face to see that we have created something with our minds, hands, interests, and passions—like a poem or a painting. We might think beyond our aches and pains, forgetting them for a time while we are in the flow of creating.

Addressing Self-Doubt and Other Barriers

Let's talk about self-doubt. Who needs this? You don't. You are creating something for yourself. You do not need to share with anyone. You don't need any level of skill. You're not monetizing your activity unless you want to.

The point is you're doing something that interests you. It might not be a painting to be hung in a museum or a piece to be played with an orchestra. And that's perfectly fine. In retirement, creative acts are about self-fulfillment, not necessarily external validation or commercial success. You don't need to accept criticism from anyone.

It seems to me that when you monetize or market your creation, you move out of the creative realm and into something else—which is fine if that's what you want to do. But if your goal is the joy of creating itself, you have complete freedom to keep it private, share it with a few friends, or do whatever feels right to you.

My Creative Journey

COVID was a life-changing event for many people, as we experienced confinement in our homes for weeks on end. During that time, I continued my piano playing, took up cross-stitching (which I'm still continuing), put together 1000-piece puzzles (something I'd never done before), and started teaching myself about watercolor painting.

Recently, my husband Dale (who retired in January) and I learned how to frame my needlework projects from over the past year. I love the stiletto cross-stitch projects interpreted from the art of Sally King, a British artist, by Bothy Threads. Other sources for cross-stitch projects are, of course, Amazon and The Stitchery. Lately I've become interested in embroidery—there are so many different stitches involved, and transferring patterns to cloth. I might be part hummingbird myself, flitting from one creative interest to another.

Dale has moved on to a project to recover our dining room chairs. He studied videos on YouTube and is building on some work he previously did. This time, the chairs need new padding and stabilizing steps.

Getting Started

Start small. What interests you? What materials do you have at hand? What do you know, and what might you need help with from your friends or YouTube? There could be classes locally available and free at senior citizen centers. We often hear about book clubs—why not craft clubs or creative groups where you can share what you're doing?

So pick up that pen, brush, spatula, songbook, sewing kit, wood sander—and have fun.

Your Turn-------!!!

Fill in the following sentence: I've always wanted to try: _______________________________________________________________________

Or choose from these ideas:

Ice skating

Tai Chi

Rock climbing

Sewing

Writing a book

Zip lining in Costa Rica or Tennessee

Now—what's stopping you from taking the first small step this week?