I am not sure if this is the reason why people are creative, but it must be one of them; it is life affirming! It really does not seem to matter what you do as long as you are involved in creating something. I write, draw and paint, paint digitally and by hand, craft things, and attempt photography. I also cook a bit. My wife enjoys interior design, sewing, gardening, and cooking as well. All of it is being creative.

As the above list is limited to what we do then it probably does not contain a lot of other activities that could and should be considered creative as well. Carpentry, metal work, pottery and ceramics, glass, knitting, tapestry, home-brewing, music, acting, dancing, the list just goes on and on if you stop to think about it. What every item on that list has in common is that they all involve creating something unique. The end result might not last that long, like a tasty meal for example, but it did exist and that is the point.

There is something unquestionably rewarding in bringing an object into being, or even an experience, whether that be a haiku, a dance, or a huge garden reflecting the passing of the seasons. I expect that for most people it is often the smaller end of the scale that they achieve, but it does not matter because the thrill is still the same. We all get that buzz and glow of self-satisfaction when something we have worked on is suddenly complete and can be presented to the world. In many instances the world might not care, but so what? We care, that’s why we invest time and effort in the creation, and it is we who get the feeling of accomplishment. That makes it all worthwhile because in that moment we feel alive.