Often when people hear someone call themselves a creative they automatically assume lazy, lack of focus, or direction. I would say that this generations definition of creative would be the equivalent of the artist of yesteryear.
What is a creative? (As defined by the dictionary) ~ relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.
“change unleashes people’s creative energy”
• (of a person) having good imagination or original ideas.
“I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit.” ~ Erykah Badu
I’ve always considered myself a creative. Someone who is imaginative, artistic, inventive, talented and intelligent. As a youngster I was always into things that allowed me to express my creativity. Drawing, painting, writing, singing, building, acting and expressing myself through quirky fashion choices. Being raised by older traditional parents, being a creative was not something that was welcomed. “You needed to go to school so you could find a good job that you could ultimately retire from.”
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Albert Einstein
Me + societal norm often led to boredom and rebellion. When I had children I knew that one of them would posses some of those qualities but I never imagined it would be all of them!
All of my children are highly intelligent, some in the traditional sense, others not so much, but intelligent none the less. Let me say this, intellect doesn’t always mean book smarts.
My daughter while in school excelled in writing. From the time that she could write, she was brilliant. I saw something in her early on and I knew that nurturing that piece of her and allowing her to fully explore and express herself through written words would lead to great things. After graduating high school she chose to pursue music instead of going to college. My initial feelings were that of disappointment, but I remembered that the “traditional” route isn’t for everyone. Today, my daughter is an amazing artist with sick pen game. While she and I don’t always agree on the content of her raps, it doesn’t take away from her brilliance. This rap speaks about police brutality against our young black men. Check it out!
My oldest son, has excelled in everything academic. High school AP classes while attending college, playing multiple sports and maintaining well above a 4.0 GPA. From a small child he was always intelligent, interested in magic, card games, singing and (screaming)…he can do so many things with a deck of cards! He’s also a directive genius. He’s made short films and lots of funny videos! He’s quite the comedian actually. Some video ideas have made me scratch my head in confusion, but his level of creativity is unmatched. Here is a random clip of him during dinner one night. This was his reaction to store bought meatballs 😩🤣
My third child. The quiet and shy one. The one with a sense of humor that not many understand. He’s a creative genius! He can code, play the keyboard and is an amazing editor…all self taught! He’s taken his talents to social media where he has thousands of followers who admire his work. He often calls himself weird and I always correct him! I tell him that he isn’t weird, he’s unique and one of a kind! Here’s a recent edit he did!
The last of the bunch! The comedian of them all! I knew I had a problem when he told me that he wasn’t going to college because he was going to be the next Kevin Hart. He has struggled with adapting to the standard curriculum. I noticed from a very young age that he learned differently, and the way he learns doesn’t always work for traditional teaching methods. We’ve had our moments, and admittedly I’ve called him lazy. Poor choice on my part. I recognized what I’d done and made the correction. His learning style has caused a bit of low self esteem. He has called himself dumb 😔. I keep instilling in him that his grades are NOT a reflection of his intelligence! He is making strides y’all and I’m proud! Needless to say, he’s gifted and brilliant at building things on the computer! He loves designing homes, and to top it off, he’s an expert in Greek mythology and can cook!
The point of this blog is to encourage parents out there with children who defy societal standards and move to the beat of their own drum. Children who asks question after question after question. Don’t be so quick to tell your child to sit down and be quiet. To call them lazy or even mock their being different. Do not and I mean do not compare them to others. There is no such thing as “normal”. Allow them to express themselves freely and openly. Pay attention to the things that peak their interest. Nurture those quirky habits and help them develop and own them. I should create a bumper sticker that reads, “proud parent of a creative genius”.
“The creative people I admire seem to share many characteristics: A fierce restlessness. Healthy cynicism. A real world perspective. An ability to simplify. Restraint. Patience. A genuine balance of confidence and insecurity. And most importantly, humanity.” ~ David Droga
Until next time…🦋
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