getting your crayons back

mary jane dodd

everyone is born creative;

everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.

then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away
and replace them with dry, uninspiring books
on algebra, history, etc.

being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug'

is just a wee voice telling you,

'i'd like my crayons back please.'

- from 'ignore everybody

and 39 other keys to creativity'

hugh macleod

most of us here have found a way to express ourselves with our hands (or voices, or feet, or bodies)

but surely we all know of people who haven't - they may be older than we are... and they just don't know what to do - and yet they yearn to do it... 

i'm already lucky, i know how to speak with my hands... 

and so i feel there is an obligation to help, to assist those who just don't know how to yet... or to encourage those who can to not set it aside... and if someone doesn't want to do it themselves, how about getting them to museums, concerts or plays?

our culture views play as wasted time, non-productive, no salary attached time... 

but what really makes us whole?

is it any surprise that craft centers are popping up all over? art retreats, online courses, magazines - all in demand... 

being a part of this microcosm allows us access to lots of information - share it when you get the chance... 

bring yarn to a senior center, or volunteer to do something simple with any group of adult people who might be looking for some inspiration... 

let your kids leave their crayons, paints, paper, guitars, markers and keyboards out - if it's available, they will use it...

and besides when is the last time you put all of your materials and tools away?!

my neighbor is a potter... and she once said to me 'if everyone had a lump of clay, there would be no war.'

i get it - 

so do you - 

and because we do, let's keep it going.