The Death of Creativity?

As I am once again overdue for my latest blog post, I turned to some other creative types for inspiration. I first began by asking others to suggest other blogs for me to read through my status on Facebook and when that didn’t have people screaming from the roof tops, “you have to read this, it’ll change your life” (except for The Oatmeal, from Kari), I read some of the blogs I already follow and looked for other great blogs that those bloggers recommended.

First, though, I read this post from Kurt Reynolds blog, Teacherscribe.

Did you read it? Just click the link! You have to read at least the first part for the rest of this to make sense!

I can wait…

Just read it already, it’s not going to take up the rest of your day, just a few extra minutes…

Still waiting…

Alright, if you haven’t read it by now, you’re only cheating yourself. Here’s the comic that the post is kind of centered around:

 

I had seen the comic before and I thought the same thing that Kurt thought, that it may be one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.

I’ve written before about how I could always entertain myself, still can. But imagine if when I was younger if my parents had seen the things that I would do and my rambunctiousness as a disability rather than just a great imagination and a lot of energy.

Here’s a list of a bunch of other blogs that I’ve stolen from Allie Brosh who writes her own blog (and Book) called Hyperbole and aHalf.

PBF comics

Hark, A Vagrant

27bslash6 (David Thorne's Blog)

The Oatmeal

Nedroid

Whiteboard Unicorns

Cake Wrecks

The Bloggess

Buttersafe

Chicken Maker

Dramatic Reading of A Real Breakup Letter

Gary: Landlord of the Flies

Steam Me Up Kid

 I stole the list from her for two reasons; one, she’s fricken hilarious and you should definitely be reading her stuff, and two, she’s super creative and suffers, like a lot of creative people, from depression.

Now you’re probably thinking, wow! This is the most depressing thing I have ever read. Give me a minute here…

The greatest thing about being a creative person is the ability to come up with creative ways to deal with the things that bother you. The problem is that a lot of times the usual things like medication or talking to someone, even friends, don’t always work so you have to get creative. I think, like myself, writing really helped Allie get through her lowest lows and helped her turn out an unbelievably funny book that makes me smile every time I even see it. If you spend any time on any of the social media sites, you’ve more than likely seen at least one of Allie Brosh’s drawings, here’s one that you’ll probably recognize:

It’s her character throughout her posts and the slightest expression on her face along with her great story telling ability will make you cry with laughter. Something simple, creative, and very funny.

Now imagine if Allie Brosh’s parents had said that there was something wrong with her as a child (and she’ll be the first to tell you that they probably should have!) If they had tried to curb her imagination, and enthusiasm with drugs we may never have had Hyperbole and a Half, or any of the other fantastic blogs that she follows.

Kids can be tough to deal with some times, as a school bus driver I certainly know that, but as a person who was once in their shoes, and can still act like them from time to time, I think as adults it’s important that we attempt to weather the storm. Look for creative outlets for these kids, chances are you may find that they’re just not being pushed in the right direction, that they need something to let them express themselves.

I do still get angry from time to time when the kids are really messing around on the bus, or if my niece and nephew are screwing around, but I like to try and remember that I was once in their shoes. That I was a kid who probably pissed off my parents an awful lot but was given a lot of slack (and guidance) to get myself into the right position.

For all of the hours I spent talking to my GI Joes and Transformers I’m surprised I didn’t end up in a looney bin, but thankfully my parents allowed me to be me, and every last ounce of weirdness that came with it. Consequently we now have Banana Daiquiris and Life Lessons, where I and all of my creative weirdo friends have an outlet to keep Hobbes alive and well.

I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that the goal of all of us is to one day grow old, but not one of us have the goal of growing up. Somewhere along the line we’re told that everyone must, but the young at heart are the ones for me. The ones who never take life too seriously and never let their creativity or dreams die.

I hope you encourage your kids to be creative, to live a creative life and to not be afraid of taking chances. Have fun and don’t take life too seriously…you’ll never get out alive anyway!