creativity vs. ingenuity

We see many ways people have "creatively" solved a problem, but that is really an act of ingenuity. The clever or inventive solution. In fact creativity starts really when the needed acts of ingenuity are done. The artistic endeavors that are manifestations of truly creative efforts, have nothing to do with the practicalities of problem solving. They react to the emotional aftermath of the immediate. We see the creative in so many histories and cultures. Even ancient peoples, whose identity we can barely discern, exhibited creativity, cave painting for example. Too often it gets interpreted as having some kind of deep religious meaning, but if they had only been dealing with the day to day acts of eating, mating , and staying safe, they would not have used the creativity to find the pigments and the tools to put those pictures on the wall. Was it solving a problem? No, it was creative.
While people have often told me I am clever, I sometimes hesitate to say I am very creative.

leading from the middle of the pack

It was brought home to me once again that it is not those figures of leadership that bring innovation or creativity or even drive to any given enterprise. It is those in the trenches doing the day to day work who see how things can and should be changed to the improvement of all.
I have often thought that those who engineer or design an item should be willing to spend intimate time with it for several weeks. Those who lead troops should be on the battle field. And doctors should be the ones responsible for dealing with any aftermath. But it is the consumer and the soldier and the nurses who really know the shortcomings and improvements that need to happen, but the willingness of those with the power to direct widespread change seem too often deaf to the value of what their subordinates are telling them.
But I will try doing my part. I will continue putting forth ideas for improvement and change where it affect me.

in search of something lost

I have spent more than a month and a half on a quest to recover my self. It started with an operation to remove my uterus because of massive fibroids. I was assured it was something I would not regret because my life would be so much better without all the side effects of the tumors. and being nearly fifty and beyond "safe" child bearing years even if the damned thing was working right this seemed like a wise idea. I had enough sick leave for the projected recovery period and a job where I could go back to work in a light duty capacity and do fine.
I am choosing to forget the hospital stay and dealing with the pain and coming out of anesthesia.
after the staples were removed 9 days later the insicion had not closed properly and an infection had set in.
Extreme buggies. an anerobic bacteria and a drug resistant bacteria were the main culprits.
Since then my whole being has been focused on healing and coping with the frustration of being off work, having little energy and taking drugs to kill buggies and deal with the pain.
Creativity needs a different venue to fill my life. I can only hope I find the space for creativity again soon.

cabin fever

How do you find the time to be creative in the midst of chaos? With so much happening around me, my brain finds no way to take stock of new ideas. With so many other things to be done my brain gets no chance to capture the fleeting thought that could lead to something. Making some time and space becomes more and more critical. A feeling that I may lose myself, melting into the chaos, teases along my nerves and the peace and quiet I crave becomes as important as air to my survival.
But try living with someone in a tiny one room cabin. The desire for solitude pushes them out the door. And why not not me out the door? Because I have no place to go for the solitude. The world out there is full of people and I need the space to talk to myself, dance, sing, sketch, curse or just think. The someone though doesn't spend all day every day of the work week surrounded by those with needs and time sensitive tasks.
Maybe I can learn to ask a bit more nicely.