And he set off on his walk, taking his big purple crayon with him.
Crockett Johnson – Harold and the Purple Crayon
I am always happiest when I am making something: writing, knitting, cooking, gardening, taking pictures, arranging flowers. Something in me wants expression and if I don’t find an outlet for that creativity I can become depressed and anxious.
We are made to create. It is a part of our life and well-being. We are made in the image of a Creator God. Why would we not also be creators?
Children create naturally in play. They are always building, imaging. They don’t separate creativity from their every day activities. They always have their ”purple crayon” ready.
“The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death. Add to this cruelly delicate organism the overpowering necessity to create, create, create — so that without the creating of music or poetry or books or buildings or something of meaning, his very breath is cut off from him. He must create, must pour out creation. By some strange, unknown, inward urgency he is not really alive unless he is creating.” ~Pearl S. Buck
Create something today! Keep your purple crayon with you.
Does it put you in a better mood to create? What if that creativity is blocked?
Betsy
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I am convinced that Baby Einstien and endless hours of Harold stories have helped to shape the creative genius of my 6yr old wonder child of a grandson. He loves to write stories already and we can’t keep enough drawing paper in the house! I love it. And I love this reminder. I may just have to get a purple crayon and turn it into a necklace. It can cover two needs: my creativity and my awareness that I am old and need to wear purple!
Thanks for your thoughts. I love the picture of your grandson and the endless piles of drawing paper. Too bad that we lose some of that drive to create.
A wonderful blog post and so true. The need to create is in us all and many people are frustrated and depressed because they will not allow themselves to create. Keep that purple crayon handy!
Yes, creativity is part of a healthy life. I know it is for me. Thanks for your comment.
So very like my grandchildren, marching off armed with a huge purpose crayon to mark out a new path for their lives! You are so very correct in urging us all to do the same!
This post was meant for me today. I’ve been feeling dry and down lately, and I know it’s because I’ve not made much time to create for quite some time. I finally have an evening set aside tonight just for me. Now to decide which creative outlet to use!
What a great idea. Time just to create. I hope your evening is scrumptious.