Many years ago, when I was still young, I worried about the longevity of a favorite author. For reasons unknown, the picture on the book jacket was of, what I thought at the time, an old woman. The book was good, but I doubted whether the author would be able to write more of them. Thankfully, I was wrong. The author went on to write 29 books in that delightful series, and I read them all, many times.
I learned my lesson. Creativity is not only timeless, but it has nothing at all to do with age. The best part is that creativity and well-being work hand in hand, so what’s not to love.
Studies show that creative endeavors can protect your brain against premature aging. Mental acuity and better mental health, what could be more important than that?
Creativity endeavors, what does that even mean? Researchers throw the door wide open and include such activities as solving puzzles, singing or dancing, drawing, painting or sculpting, crafting, and creative writing. But that’s not all. Throw in playing an instrument, gardening, cooking or anything else that stretches your imagination. There are many ways to be creative.
How do you spark your creativity? By not buying into the thought that some people are creative, and some are not. Creativity is universal. You’ve all heard the adage “use it or lose it.” It’s true. Even pursuits such as knitting, quilting, or weight training need a certain amount of creativity, and they all need to be done often to build even a modicum of proficiency.
Creativity isn’t limited to the arts, or even to achieving total mastery. Do not compare yourself to geniuses in the field. Enjoying the process is more important than focusing on the end game. Don’t despair if your painting, or whatever, looks like something a child might do (laugh). Have you visited an art gallery lately?
All people have the potential to be creative, but not all people give themselves permission to follow their passions. If you are interested in staying healthy and living longer, think of ways to stretch your creative muscles.
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