The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.
~Albert Einstein
For a month now, I’ve had a post-it note on my monitor with ideas for blog posts. When creativity strikes, I write them down. One of them was about “Tuesday’s Bread.” Simply put, I was stirred and enraged when I went shopping one Friday a few weeks ago to discover perfectly good bread being removed by the vendor, and being replaced with new bread. Likely, that bread was going back to the vendor—then what? Tossed? Because it was too old?
We live in a society where the bread is TOO OLD? (Don’t get me started on the “imperfect” fruit stores toss….) The bread still had a use by date four days from then. It was fine. Apparently this vendor (and likely many others) swap bread on Tuesdays and Fridays. The man stocking said “No, use the fresh stuff.” I said, “No, please, I’ll take two from Tuesday.” (I always buy two, and freeze them). That bread was fine! I was sad and mad. As I’ve always been when I see fruit or other perfectly fine food being wasted. Anyway…I digress. But it’s food for thought.
Skip forward to Friday the 13th of March…another Friday.
Instead of doing the “bread swap,” the grocery shelves were bare in the wake of panic shopping and stocking up in light of the novel coronavrius (COVID-19 disease) outbreak, announcements of state of emergencies, school closures, and mandates by the state and federal government. Shut down was beginning.
As a former microbiologist and immunologist (and being married to one), who went to school to study these fascinating, devastating masterminds called viruses, at first I was not worried a few weeks ago. Media hype maybe. Flu still was always on my mind (that is still a dangerous virus). But as news compounded and the virus spread, I’ve become more concerned like the rest of world. I consulted my former adviser from graduate school (my go-to person to set the record straight) who concurred. This is a serious virus. I won’t spend this entire post talking about the virus and what we should or should not do. You all know this by now (wash hands, self-quarantine, do what we can to slow the spread and flatten the curve).
Now, we are home. My husband from work for two weeks, kids from school for two weeks [at least…or more…], and me, as an author, who has always been home, and now the party just grew in my quiet oasis of creativity…what are we to do?
Enter unstructured time, forced structured [homework] time, a clash of noise and serenity, and a wee bit of frustration and getting on nerves, while we try to get work done.
But this is an opportune time to nurture our creativity!
As Einstein said, “The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind.”
How can we use this quiet time at home* to stimulate our creativity?
*If you are home. I understand many still must get to their job and keep the chain and flow of supply and demand moving, and I commend all those who are helping in this crisis, no matter you job. Thank you!
My sons (now ages 10 and 12) have always made beautiful messes. It sets my inner neat freak’s pulse soaring, but I know they are being creative with their toys and craft supplies and anything they can find outside or get their hands on. I have to hide boxes. The problem is real, folks!
Building, taping, designing, playing, interacting, reading...
Creativity abounds here!
There will be more time for it now. We’ll also get outside and explore Spring as it slowly arrives and green things poke from the ground. [oh my plant babies, I’ve missed you!] We’ll walk, hike, bike, and explore, all while maintaining social distance. We’ll nurture our spirits. Nature is food for our family’s souls. I’ll keep writing (even if I need to tune out the creative play with earbuds). We will NOT be taking our kids to theaters, sporting events, or public places. I will support local businesses the best I can during this time while also being cognizant of the need to slow the spread.
Side note: Many fear isolation. If you do, please reach out to friends or if you know somebody who deals with anxiety, please reach out to them in turn. Go on a walk (keeping distance), call, message, or do something that eases your/their discomfort. I am used to being home alone but it does get too quiet and too lonely, and that’s when I know I need to reach out and do something social.
For the next few weeks (as we try to do all the time), we will be:
Getting creative (that means writing) — some of the greatest literary works were created in times of crisis.
Cleaning our house, doing projects.
Offering meals, food, services to those I can support during this time.
Encouraging my kids to try some new creative things - at home or in nature.
Keeping the kids’ brains sharp by doing the extra homework from school.
Keeping calm (the best I can), keeping kindness a priority.
Hunkering down at home and limiting trips based on necessity.
