Two experiences today gave me pause to ponder inspiration beyond reason. Yes, I did say beyond reason.
I was having coffee with a friend this morning. Her daughter, all of three and half years of age, engaged another regular at the coffee shop, an older gentleman that seemed fascinated with the technology of her new Leap Frog tablet. He spent several minutes visiting with her, allowing her to share all the many items of interest on the new gadget she had received for Christmas. As we were getting ready to leave, the man commented that she would be ahead of all the other kids when starting school. He went on to share how he had a very hard time with school, having suffered from attention deficit disorder and dyslexia. He discovered that what interested him most is what he needed to successfully learn. He learned to read because he was so interested in a particular story, he wouldn’t allow himself to be distracted by other things going on around him. This created his focus on the learning at hand. Once reading had been mastered, the door holding him back was unlocked and he felt as though he could do anything.
Another observation today: watching a seven month old baby, who was tired, but still remarkably entertained when distracted. He became so excited upon a new discovery, his whole body went into motion displaying his delight and interest in something new. This interactive learning drew a smile across his face and those around him.
These events caused me to consider how easy it is to learn when we are interested in what we are doing…..and how we can continue to learn by staying interested. This led me to other thoughts as well, like what interests and/or inspires me to keep along the creative journey.
Presently, spirals are particularly fascinating to me and I am adamant that something will develop from this as I learn about them. I am energized by observing, photographing, tracing and drawing spirals. Uncovering them in my environment is particularly exciting to me, like finding a lost connection or relationship. Spirals are like treasures that I have the good fortune to reestablish in a future creative endeavor.
Now tell me, what inspires you?
– Karen
