Feeling stressed in quarantine? Create. Bored? Create.
And I don’t just mean making your own face mask, though I have seen some amazing creations for those. You don’t have to be a talented painter, poet, sculptor, or musician. . . each of us has a natural, curious, creative spirit that many of us have squashed since we were kids. What better time than now to let those fun talents and urges arise?
Here are some of my favorite examples of how people are using their creative energy and skills during COVID quarantine:
- My friend Hana shoved her husband into a closet so she can finally declutter their home office and kitchen. (At least, that’s why she says she shoved him in there. . .either way, apparently he and the dog are quite content in their cozy, new work space, and she’s happily cleaning and clearing. . . .)
- My neighbors, Robin and Jon, are building wooden raised beds and planting their own vegetables, like a couple of pioneers. My friend Lori just ordered a windowsill microgreens gardening kit. “Guess I’m a bougie [bourgeois] pioneer,” she laughed.
- My brother-in-law, Ian, is creating custom watercolors of people’s beloved pets and daddies walking their babies and posting them around the ‘hood for his neighbors to enjoy. (See the cover photo to this post.)
- My college roomie and currently furloughed doctor, Paulie, is busting out his prodigious, but dusty, culinary skills. This week’s challenge: Grandma’s frittata recipe, complete with tricky pan flip instead of baking.
- And me, well, I’m now a master plumber, as I discover creative ways to use the stuff in my junk drawer to unclog my constantly backing up toilet and sinks.
So if you haven’t yet unleashed your inner Rembrandt, budding Shakespeare, wanna-be Iron Chef, or other Master Creator in whatever form it takes, what are you waiting for? If you live with others, you have a captive audience (literally) to appreciate your gifts. If you live alone, and your masterpieces fail, so what? Only you’re there to laugh and learn.
I’d love to hear what you all are creating! Please post on my website comments below if you feel like sharing.
In creativity and health,
Laurie
© 2020 by Laurie B. Gardner
Hi Laurie, thanks for the shout out. Great to hear what others are doing! Thanks for inspiring me to “post” my art 🙂
You’re welcome. Keep painting and spreading your creativity around your town to inspire others and make them smile! – Laurie xo
Yep. All of those things sound pretty familiar (except walking the baby). I’ve been producing lots of artwork, designing better work spaces for 2 at-home businesses and trying different ways to exercise without the gym equipment.
Artwork on my instagram: onceaphotographer
Always the Renaissance man! ; ) Love your photography! Yeah, I’ve been using champagne bottles as weights as I work out from home…soup cans for the shoulder lifts, LOL…
Hi Laurie! The quarantine has gotten me started on a new cello recording project, the
Bach Quadrupletet.
Here’s a sample: https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/TYH-Vae5M37jmrM5tx_mJQ/
Wow! Very cool…and beautiful music! Thanks for sharing!
I want to unleash my inner Marie Kondo …
… right after I call one more friend, check my texts, email, and the latest outbreak news.
Thanks for the encouragement!
LOL! I’m procrastinating doing my paper filing right now by checking email…! We’ll get there… : )
I would LOVE to see a selfie of you using kitchen drawer “Etc. Items” (we all have THAT drawer somewhere in our homes) of you becoming the ‘Joe the Plumber’ of the Bay Area.
…It wasn’t pretty! ; )