Days like today – thinking about creativity

As I write this I’m listening to an early work by Mendelssohn  - he was in his teens when he wrote it.

I’m easily impressed by someone so young writing something so beautiful. Even more impressed by my favorite composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was nineteen when he wrote this.

Anyway… I was thinking how dabbling in creative outlets other than writing – such as listening to music, reading, going to the movies or a play, visiting an art museum or gallery, etc. – almost always leads to an increase in my own creativity.

In her seminal work, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron refers to this as “filling the [creative] well.

However, my well-filling doesn’t always involve the creative arts. I can find just as much inspiration from walking down a country lane, playing with my granddaughter, or planting flowers.

Inspiration, no matter what the source, fans creative embers into flame. We need all of the arts, all of beauty, nature, and other creative spirits so everyone can fill their wells.

Have you a particular well-filling activit or person that revitalizes you? I’d love to hear about it!