I consider myself a creative sort of a guy. There a very few school projects for an 8 year old that I can’t get my teeth into!

Tissue paper, scissors and sticky tape in hand – most projects can be tackled with a creative enough mind.

As I have gotten older it has become apparent that life presents itself with less and less opportunities to utilise the creativity within. I think that’s a real shame. Instead, creative outlets become hobbies, and whilst these pursuits are valuable to us on a personal level, unless you work on the creative sides of the creative industries, you rarely use this skillset as part of your work.

Whilst I work in theatre, those skills are not required for my job role. Problem solving, yes. But that’s a different type of creativity, isn’t it?! Some days I just want to build a robot out of yoghurt pots and be done with it! 

There is no doubt in my mind that the Pandemic was a turbulent time for the majority of us, but my over-riding memory is how creative we all had to become. Creating  interactive zoom quizzes, baking bread from scratch or meals with the bizarre array of ingredients in the larder, homeschooling without a curriculum, exercising around the furniture in our living rooms…. What an achievement that was for us all! 

My trainer and I, mourned my loss of regular gym access and began to get creative! We used those problem-solving skills and a lot of creativity to maximise progress with the limitations of Lockdown! 

5L fanatic softener cartons became dumbbells, rolling clacks full of books were worn front and back whilst getting my 10,000 steps in, hopping over coffee tables, calf raises int he stairs and pull-ups hanging from the landing. 

I’m proud of those times – mentally low, but every day I woke up to find a new challenge and a new way of being creative.

Now with limited time, my focus has been on photography and writing – the outlets that satisfy my creative flair. I am also lucky to have a child who is as creative as their parents are, and who lets me build a shield out of cardboard! I guess in summary, what I am saying is, don’t forget how creative you are. Maximise your life experience with access to the arts. Sketch, build, design, write, sing, dance to your own drumbeat, cook, bake, play…. I think you will feel much richer for remembering the creative person inside of all of us.

TIB