When the new arrives, we generally have two choices in how we respond. The first path is resistance. This is the path of fear. We tighten up, we judge the change, we worry about the future, and we try to fight it. This path almost always creates suffering. The second path is acceptance. This doesn't mean "giving up"; it means opening up. It is the path of curiosity where we observe, learn, and adapt. This path creates peace.
In the 5th grade, I remember making a drawing of something in art class. What ended up on paper was exactly what I had seen it in my head. Something cognitive manifested into something physical, and I had felt creativity for the first time. As a young teen, I had been listening to bands like The Decendents, Face to Face, and The Gorilla Biscuits.
This, says Alexey Pajitnov, while holding a scrambled Rubik's Cube, is my favorite puzzle. But I also think it's simply one of the best things humanity has ever invented. If we could only send 10 things into space, this should be one of them. Standing beside Pajitnov who revolutionized the digital world when he created Tetris, the best-selling video game of all time is the cube's creator, Erno Rubik, smiling widely.
When we think of creativity, we don't usually think of it as a skill one can develop through hard work and intent, like learning a new language or developing our math abilities. Often, we think of artists or entrepreneurs as inherent geniuses, born with some genetic quality we could never obtain.
Some days, starting feels effortless. A clear challenge or opportunity presents itself, an idea crystallizes, and then contracts into a single coherent thought. Today, frankly? That's not happening. I'm staring at a pristine white canvas while the cursor mocks me. That uncomfortable space-the blinking cursor, the first messy draft, the false starts-isn't a nuisance. It's where creativity lives. Today, the temptation is to skip past all that.
"[My train of thought] let its line down into the stream. It swayed, minute after minute, hither and thither among the reflections and the weeds letting the water lift it and sink it until-you know the little tug-the sudden conglomeration of an idea at the end of one's line."
Everyone's heard that expression, "Life is for the living." I've always assumed living in this context was a noun referencing all people currently alive. Now I'm looking at it as a verb. Think of it as a verb, as an action, as I say that life exists not for the dying of it, but for the living of it. Well, of course, right? Living occurs right now, in the present. Life is a gift.
A group of researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark offered "...an outlook on potential ways in which what we eat, where we eat, and how we eat might positively support creative thinking, with applications in the workplace and home. [They presented] the view that, by offering a rich multisensory experience, eating nourishes not only our bodies but our mental well-being." They went on to state that, "If creativity is based on the process of discovering heretofore unknown links between different areas/sensory attributes, then consuming food that offers more sensorial experiences should give more opportunities for inspiration."
The Street Where Santa Lives by Harriet Howe and Julia Christians, Little Tiger, 12.99 When an old man moves in on a busy street, only his little neighbour notices; with his white beard and round belly, she's convinced he's Santa. But when Santa falls ill, other neighbours must rally round to take care of him. Will he be better in time for Christmas? This sweet, funny, acutely observed picture book is a festive, joyous celebration of community.
With the holiday season upon us, you may be wondering about your own creativity, or perceived lack of it. The neighbor who makes the gorgeous decorative wreaths that put our store-bought gift to shame, or the chef who creates the festive meal for twenty people while we struggle simply to reheat and serve-surely these people have more creativity than we do. Think again.
Happy Birthday: Use your imagination this year. Tap into your creative mind, talents and skills, and follow your heart. Socializing, creative endeavors and speaking up are favored if you want to flourish. Expand your interests, learn something new and experience what life's all about. Embrace people who share your interests and concerns, and choose destinations that promise personal growth and new beginnings. Don't wait for things to come to you; seize the moment. Your numbers are 8, 13, 24, 29, 33, 36, 45.
What is the most powerful performance driver in advertising? Keller answers his own query this way: 'Not your media plan. Not your targeting strategy. Not even your click-through rate. Creativity. Full stop.' In a new column (HERE), Keller asserts that audio is effective explicitly because it is invisible. Sound invites imagination by tapping into a 'theater of the mind,' speaking directly to emotion and memory. One key: 'Build audio in, don't bolt it on.'
If you know anything about social media, you know how toxic it can be at times. Instagram's entire culture thrives on leading young girls down a rabbit hole of comparison and feeling unconfident in their own skin. Snapchat becomes uncool immediately after leaving high school, and TikTok has definitely ruined our generation's attention spans. This is exactly why I believe that Pinterest is by far the best social media platform, and it definitely does not get enough credit.
The same is often true for entrepreneurs. A Journal of Business Venturing study found that the most successful entrepreneurs tend to be middle-aged, even in tech. In fact, a 60-year-old startup founder was three times more likely to launch a successful startup than a 30-year-old startup founder, and nearly twice as likely to launch a startup that landed in the top 0.1% of all companies in terms of revenue and profits.
Like all of us, I'm busy, but most days I manufacture the time to cook for my family. I braise beef ribs for hours, I let stock simmer all afternoon, I julienne vegetables till they're just right for the salad. It's slow, deliberate work. I move through the kitchen without hurry, letting things take the time they need. And when I do this, when I give a meal the patience it asks for, it shows. The flavors deepen.
For years, I tied my identity to productivity. My self-worth hinged on how much I could accomplish in a day, how many boxes I could check. The busier I was, the more valuable I believed myself to be. But that constant need to perform left me mentally and emotionally drained, disconnected not only from others but from myself. The shift didn't happen overnight. There wasn't a single moment of clarity, but rather a quiet unraveling of old habits and a tentative embrace of new rhythms.
'If you don't speak, someone will speak on your behalf.' It's a maxim that Tim Delaney holds close and one that I hear regularly from him. It is, naturally, a point well made. All brands should aim to be part of 'the conversation'. But in today's fragmented media landscape, simply speaking up is not enough to guarantee being heard. So, what's your strategy to get heard?
Lauren Groff: If you want to write something that's going to affect people emotionally, you have to do it emotionally. Nick White: And it has to cost you more than the time you're spending writing. It pushes me to my emotional and intellectual capabilities. I feel like when something is working it is because all cylinders are firing, and I am working at the very bleeding edge of what I am capable of.
