Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.
—Henry David Thoreau
Almost every morning, I go for a walk. I mainly do it for exercise—and, when I remember, to practice being present. More often than not, I catch my mind wandering, and I try to bring myself back to the sights, sounds, and smells of my surroundings.
That was, until a couple of weeks ago, when Purple Crayon's Reading Circle selected Wired to Create by Scott Barry Kaufman and Carolyn Gregoire as their book of the month. The book explores the practices and habits of creative thinkers, and one of these is daydreaming, something I had been trying my best to avoid!
Kaufman and Gregoire explain that "Mindfulness helps us truly see what's around us—a skill of paramount important in life and art—but it must be balanced with giving the mind space to dream, fantasize, and simply roam free." (p. 43) Not only do they give me permission to daydream, they encourage it. Now, my walks serve a whole new purpose!
How about you? Do you make time for daydreaming? If you don't walk, you can just as easily be inspired driving, waiting in line, or even showering! (According to Kaufman and Gregoire, 72 percent of people say they experience new ideas when they're sudsing up!)
What's important is that you occasionally give your mind a break. And, just to be clear, I'm not talking about meditation. While it turns out to be a practice of creative thinkers, too, it's different; your brain is still trying to focus. You want to let it wander.
So, the next time you're looking for a little inspiration, walk around the block, head to the grocery store, or visit "the library" (as one of my friends calls the bathroom). Just remember to bring a pen and paper. You never know what might come up!
And, speaking of things coming up, we've got a couple of great workshops scheduled for March! Give your art more expression by learning Color Theory Through Pastels on the 24th, and join me in Making Needle Felted Easter Eggs on the 25th.
I look forward to playing with you!
—Pam Robbins, Owner
