Every weekday morning, I start my day by going for a walk. Some days I listen to music and other days I just think about whatever crosses my mind. A couple of days ago as I walked, my thoughts lingered on Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.
I have been a fan of both for quite some time. Not only do I love their music but I love and admire how creative they both are. Not to mention, both men are living legends and they both seem to be passionate people. If there is one thing I admire in a person it is passion. Physical passion is something anyone can have but passion for living or for a skill/talent seems to be rare.
A few years ago, I had a book that contained the lyrics to all the Springsteen songs up to that time. I read that book as if I were reading the Bible. Each song was so well written, my heart longed to be able to write so effortlessly. I read each song and each one was more amazing than the next. I already loved Bruce but after reading his lyrics in detail, he became a god in my mind.
Here is a verse from Surprise, Surprise which is on Bruce’s current album entitled Working On A Dream:
In the hollow of the evening, as you lay your head to rest
May the evening stars scatter a shining crown upon your breast
In the darkness of the morning as the sky struggles to light
May the rising sun caress and bless your soul for all your life
As for Dylan, listen to any of his songs and the man can take such simple words and turn them into phrases that are so unique. Here is the first verse from one of my favorite Dylan songs, Subterranean Homesick Blues:
Johnny’s in the basement
Mixing up the medicine
I’m on the pavement
Thinking about the government
The man in the trench coat
Badge out, laid off
Says he’s got a bad cough
Wants to get it paid off
Look out kid
It’s somethin’ you did
God knows when
But you’re doin’ it again
You better duck down the alley way
Lookin’ for a new friend
The man in the coon-skin cap
In the big pen
Wants eleven dollar bills
You only got ten
Words cannot describe how much I would love to have the chance to meet these two creative geniuses. Creativity is one of those things that so many of us yearn to have and for a very long time I thought only a select few had the good fortune to be creative. About a week ago, I came to the realization that we all have the ability be creative.
The word creative is defined (according to Random House Dictionary) as: the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.
Did you notice that there is no mention of painting, drawing, singing, dancing or writing? For some reason, I always thought creativity was limited to the arts and was surprised to see that there was no mention of the arts in the definition. I have now come to believe that creativity has to do with how you live your life.
In my experience, many people like to have life down to a set formula. Here is a typical formula: go to school, get a job, get married, have kids, retire and then pass on. Now there is nothing wrong with that formula but it does not sound like much fun. Where is the imagination? Where is the adventure? Where is the space for the possibilities of life?
I am not saying that you should not go to school or get a job or get married. I have done all of those things and have loved each stage of my journey even if some of it was tough. What I am referring to, however, is the creativity with which you approach these aspects of life.
There are no set rules as to what makes a happy life or a happy version of you. Your definition of happiness is what matters in the end. No one can dictate what your version of happiness should look like or be. Many people want structure because it helps them to deal with the uncertainties of life. The ironic thing about life is that there are no certainties. That is what makes life so amazing. You have the power and the ability to create a life that is a perfect reflection of who you are.
Don’t waste precious time trying to be someone or something you are not. You cannot cheat the universe or yourself. Go look within, find your inner artist and go create your masterpiece!
{ 20 comments }
I agree with you so much that I risk re-writing the whole article in order to tell you which bits I loved most! That’s one of your talents, Nadia; you prompt repsonses and comments in folk that touch them deeply enough to produce entire posts!
Lyrics – you know I’m an addict. We should all explore the ones that speak straight to our souls; they’re snapshots of our lives, past present and future. We’re all the composers, choreographers, painters, sculptors and authors of our own lives. We’re the singers and the song, the dancers and the dance. The things that inspire us are the keys to our creativity, messages sent from source to remind us of who we are, what we’re meant to filter through us and transform into something that has a part of us in it. Cohen got me as a teenager – every song a poem – then again when I was living, loving and grieving in Greece :
Thank you, Nadia. You have a gift for making people feel happy to be themselves.
janice’s most recent blog post..A Touch of Grace
Hi Janice,
Thank you for the kind words and as for having a gift, I have no clue. I just am what I am. Someone once asked me how is that you can see the positive in any situation, I just shrugged my shoulders because I did not know how to answer. Some things just happen.
As for the lyrics, absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing those lines.
I am listening to Bob Dylan at the moment everywhere I go in the car ….gorgeous.
I also like Bruce.
Sarah Lulu’s most recent blog post..Friday Shoot-Out – Transport other than cars…
Hi Sarah!
Which album are you listening to? I know he has a new album out and I have been so occupied with other things, I have not bought it yet. The man is amazing.
Thank you Nadia! I love this post for the broadening of the concept of creativity. Just yesterday a realtor came to see my house and I was telling her about homeschooling Hunter. We showed her his books, his maps of the world, his LEGO room full of original creations… Then at one point she asked if he played any musical instruments, and I suddenly felt really bad because he doesn’t. I’ve tried to get him interested, but he just isn’t… same with foreign languages; the only one he wants to learn is Latin (the language of science).
Yesterday I was feeling a little guilty that I hadn’t done more to cultivate his “creative” talents. Today I’m realizing (thanks to you) his creativity is wonderful, it’s just that his current interest is not music. Big deal!
Lisis’s most recent blog post..Fellowship Fridays: The Magic of a Smile
Hi Lisis,
Isn’t it amazing how we have a concept about what creativity is and the dictionary defines it without ever mentioning music or arts? Good for Hunter for knowing what he wants to do and for you for being fine with it.
Nadia,
“The ironic thing about life is that there are no certainties. That is what makes life so amazing. You have the power and the ability to create a life that is a perfect reflection of who you are.”
How true! Sometimes we struggle to create a life of security and safety, but security and safety are an illusion. I like your idea of embracing uncertainty!
Roger – A Content Life’s most recent blog post..Silence and Solitude
Hi Roger,
I have always found it funny that many people think certain things in life are sure things but they really aren’t. Life is like a ball of dough, it is what you make out of it.
I love what you wrote about defining happiness. Happiness is unique and we would all be a lot happier if we focused on our own happiness rather than attempting to achieve someone else’s idea of happiness.
Positively Present’s most recent blog post..down and out is overrated
Hi Dani,
Just as no two snowflakes are alike, no two versions of happiness are alike.
As you know, I’m a big fan of human beings in general, and I think creativity is their most amazing quality. It amazes me to think, for example, that an author can sit down and create an entire world with scenes and personalities that can make our hearts pound and bring tears to our eyes. And it’s all created from nothing! Yet it’s so substantial. I love it.
David Cain’s most recent blog post..Strength, Soviet Style — Raptitude Experiment No. 2
Hi David,
I am with you on the wonder of being creative. I think to create is one of the greatest gifts ever.
I don’t know what creativity is, but I know it does not come from the mind; it comes from a different dimension of consciousness. All the things we consider good comes from this place of stillness: joy, compassion, intelligence (not intellect), knowing (not beliefs), creativity, flow…It seems creativity flows naturally from inner peace.
Kaushik’s most recent blog post..Ramana Mahirishi
Hi Kaushik,
I believe that creativity is inspired by the heart and not the mind. So you are right that it does flow from a place of inner peace. May all people find that peace.
Nadia, Here is one of my favorites from Dylan. I don’t know if it is in a song or not.
“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.”
I agree, these guys are geniuses. I hope you get to meet them someday.
Stephen – Rat Race Trap’s most recent blog post..Movement With Attention
Hi Stephen!
Great quote from Dylan and thank you so much for sharing it. I love it. I will have to add it my collection of quotes.
As for meeting them, I hope so too!
They are ones of my favorite singers back on the old days. I wonder what are tehy doing right now.
Paul @ Palabuzz’s most recent blog post..Taken from Broad Daylight
Hi Paul,
I happy to know that Dylan and Springsteen were two favorites of yours. Springsteen has a new album which is very good and is on tour. Dylan released a new album too but I have not listened to it yet.
Hi Nadia,
Thanks for this. And it’s reminded me of a speech I did a couple of months back – when you talked about people having a set formula for life. I talked about the same thing, except looking at it from the basis of one day instead of a lifetime. As in – we get up, go to work (or school), have dinner, watch tv, go to bed – then get up the next day and repeat. Going through the motions. And how we get stuck in our comfort zones. (by the way, doing this speech in front of about 100 people was very challenging for me – and putting me way outside my comfort zone!). The underlying basic premise was that we all have something unique to offer the world – and we should find that. What I didn’t focus on was being creative. And it’s like the missing link for me. Not only in finding that which makes our heart sing will put us in a place of much joy – it will also allow our creative talents (that we all have) to shine. And they’ll shine because it’s something that matters to us.
Sorry to have gone on long here, Nadia. This is a topic that over the last few months is something I’ve thought much about – and your angle of creativity is another “ah ha” moment in the journey for me. And I’m loving it – how we can let our creative genius shine when we step out of our comfort zones and really listen to our heart.
And…I love Springsteen too!
Lance’s most recent blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Hi Lance,
No need to apologize our the length of the comment.
I never care about that. Good for you for facing the challenging of talking in front of 100 people. That is so awesome!
I believe every single person can be a creative genius but they have to discover that side of themselves and like you said, really listen to their hearts. I think people want to listen to their hearts but they do not know how. So many thoughts cloud the brain, it is hard to distinguish between thoughts from the heart or mind.
{ 1 trackback }