What do you do with an idea?
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My family is planning on buying a home in the next few years, and we talk about this goal as a family. One day last week, I asked my son what he wanted in a new home. He replied, “Love. Joy. Kindness. Loving. Honesty. Creativity.” I could not have loved him more in that moment. I hugged him, kissed him and reconsidered my own very materialistic list. These are the things he values in a home! Creativity. That’s one that stuck with me to ponder how well I am fostering that in my home. I literally did not know that creativity was something he thought was important! I had to reconsider how I am creating space, time and resources for creativity in my home, and I’m going to share two books that have helped me do just that.
Are you or the child in your life creative? Do ideas come to you? March’s book pairing is for anyone really, who has ideas or lives with someone that does. I truly believe that God drops a whisper of an idea into our hearts, or clearly plops them right in front of us. In either situation, what do you do with ideas that come to you? How do you respond to the children’s ideas in your life? This month’s book pairings address these questions. The children’s book this month, a New York Times best seller, is What Do You Do With an Idea?, written by Kobi Yamada and Illustrated by Mae Besom. The adult book pairing is Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert. This month, let’s explore ideas and what it means to live a creative life starting with these two intriguing books.
Ideas come and go. Sometimes we catch them, sometimes we let them go. This blog- the idea to share monthly book pairings for a grown up and kid to read concurrently- for example, was an idea that came to me. It followed me and I fed it, and watched it grow, just like the main character in this month’s children’s book recommendation - What Do You Do With an Idea?, written by Kobi Yamada and Illustrated by Mae Besom. The child is followed by, then develops a relationship with his idea, and he chooses to give it attention. The illustrations are a must see, as they grow from black and white to a colorful world because of the main character’s care and attention to the idea. My son and I have read this book several times, and again just last night. Every time, I am moved and inspired to pay attention to ideas that follow me, despite a busy schedule and ask, “What attention should I be paying to this idea?” While this children’s picture book encourages little readers to grow ideas and be confident that they might change the world, it is challenging to grown up readers, too. It reminds me of how Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You Will Go speaks to the college graduate and elementary school child at the same time. This book was one of the inspirations that encouraged me (in spite of my fears of being overwhelmed) to start this blog and the monthly book pairings.
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert has challenged me to think about the choice to live a creative life, the broader picture from our kids’ book pick this month. What happens when you choose to live creatively, and foster idea after idea? Elizabeth Gilbert encourages a lighthearted approach to creativity, and challenges readers to commit to a life of creativity regardless of failure, or success. Being a person who suffers from perfectionism way more often than I care to admit, this encouragement was right on time. It encouraged me to write an imperfect blog and put it out there in the world, instead of sit on the idea until it’s perfect, or never perfected and never pursued. The two books intersect with the idea that creative thoughts come to you. Big Magic suggests that a larger force, the universe, is sending ideas your way all the time. I believe that God is the one behind the whispers and billboards of creative ideas that pop into our heads. For years, my Dad had this idea to make a mayonnaise knife, with an extended blade, so the handle doesn’t get all gooped up. It was a great idea that he sat on, and eventually someone else had the same bright idea and made the product. Elizabeth Gilbert addresses this creative phenomenon that has happened to many of us - we have an idea, then someone else takes it! Or was it God (Elizabeth calls it the universe) trying to realize an idea into the tangible world? Being a working teacher and mom who piles on many other things on top of the already existing responsibilities, I am left with the daily choice - do I choose to grow ideas and live a creative life? Or let them pass me by for someone else to bring to life? I, for one, want to be a creative vessel. However, I put a lot of pressure on myself for things to be perfect or amazing, including creative endeavors. One of the most helpful sentences in the book states that a creative life is as simple as seeing “where curiosity will lead you next. Then follow the next clue, and the next, and the next.” (p. 238) That, I can do. No pressure.
Reading this month’s book pairings has opened up some great conversations about creativity in our home, and helped us plan for a creative life to include more creative activities in the upcoming weeks. The ideas are coming to me, my son, to you, and your children. What will you do with an idea?
Click here to enter to win March’s book pairing giveaway!
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