I think that all would agree – the most creative period of our life was our childhood. Playing in the sand with our buddies or spending an hour or two on that new video-game was not wasting time. It was crucial for forming our brains and developing the right-side brain structure. So, if most of us did it then, does it mean that we are all creative? Well, yes… and no.
The important question is to ask ourselves: when did we grow into adults? And what does that mean anyway?
Various things have an impact on developing our creative brains. Social status, the way we were raised, cultural differences, and many more. But when we take all of that, we played in any way we could. Some kids had the most expensive toys in the world, some were playing in the dirt. Charlie Chaplin was so poor as a kid that he made a cake out of mud and pretended to eat it. And he became THE Charlie Chaplin after that.
That leads us to one conclusion: wealth is not connected to development of a child’s creative brain in any way. Than what is it?
It’s growing up.
To be precise, it’s abandoning the creative mind and focusing on the logical, survival-base strategies which are forced upon us as adults, taking more and more responsibilities and tasks throughout the day. Life moves on with or without us and very often we are forced to leave the creative, playful mind behind and focus on the bills. Some of us snaps under that adulthood pressure and BAM! You’re 30 and turned into (or not) a boring, tedious person and you don’t know why. What’s the cure?
Play.
JJust play, have a hobby, do those little things that you’ve always wanted to do. Take that old guitar and play some tunes. Write a short story. Paint a picture on a kitchen wall. Find a way to take a photo of the moon with your smartphone and binoculars. Spend some time with your inner child. If you don’t do it, no one else will, and why the hell not? It can be a lots of fun!
Creativity is priviledge, but not for the rich – for the free.