Be Brave Enough to Live Creatively

Mike got a great fortune in his fortune cookie recently.  It simply said, "BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO LIVE CREATIVELY".  Isn't that fun advice?!

I never really thought about how much courage it takes to be creative.  Think about it, though.  Start with fashion.  It is easy to just follow the crowd and wear what is popular and trendy.  What if you see something you like but it isn't currently in style?  Do you wear it?  I admit, I usually won't.  That's not to say that I only wear the latest trends but you know what I mean, don't you?  I want to fall somewhere within a category of "normal".

This applies to other things as well.  Have you ever seen any really funky furniture that you thought was cool but just a bit over the top for your home?  How about colors for your home?  What if you wanted to paint your front door grass green (I do)?  What if you thought a purple fence would be fun?

Let's talk about hair.  Way back when I was in junior high school I thought of a really fun haircut.  I've never seen it on anyone.  I'm too chicken to try it myself.  See?  I'm just not brave enough to live quite that creatively!  I even have a name for the haircut style.  I'm calling it the "terrace".  It's simply 5-7 crisply cut layers that go straight around the head like terraced rows, not blended layers.  Think rice paddies, only hair.

It would be quite sleek and not one bit messy.  I'd use a flat iron to make it look even cooler and I'd walk with my head kind of swinging to get a fun movement going.  Do you think it would catch on?  Too bad I don't have that much courage.  If I were a rock star, maybe I'd try it.

What would you do to live more creatively if you had the courage?  Do you think you will try it someday?

You Are Lucky To Be Different

After Sunday School I had a lovely conversation with one of the girls I teach.  She's a 5th grader and I try to instill words of wisdom in her.  I don't know if I managed that but she certainly gave me some words of wisdom.  I was so impressed with this girl.

First of all, she was wearing a kimono.  That in itself made me smile.  She is a very self-assured little person.  She told me she was wearing a kimono because her mother was going to take her out for sushi after church.  I told her I loved seeing her in her kimono.  I didn't mention that I also smile when I see her come to church in a dress that would be fancy enough for any prom.  She has her own special sense of style and doesn't worry that she dresses differently from other kids.  She told me about one of her favorite outfits which she calls her "optical illusion" look.  It involves tights, skirt, top all in black and white strips going different directions.  I can't wait to see that!

This young girl told me that one of her friends had once written about her saying she was lucky to be "different" and she hoped she wouldn't change.  I was happy to know that girls her age appreciated her uniqueness as special.  There are likely those who tease her as well but my little friend didn't really care about that.  She was very self-assured and confident in who she was.  I quite enjoyed visiting with her and left feeling she just might be able to be herself even in those peer-pressure teen years. 

Tomorrow I think I'll wear something bright orange...