The Tomato Plant of Creativity

After the crazy Texas ice storm, it was really nice to be outside on a sunny warm day. We hadn’t planted anything yet for the spring, so I decided to pull some weeds- something I’ve had no interest in until now. In fact, my husband called while I was outside and I said, “You’ll never guess what I’m doing!”

And that gave it away… his first answer? “Pulling weeds.”

The smell of fresh dirt and grass was wonderful after days of snow and ice. Waves of gratitude washed over me for things I take for granted, like electricity and running water. We were very fortunate.

Getting back to nature seems like a wonderful reset, a natural new year. But these weeds! How is it that we must spend so much time and effort helping tomato plants grow, bear fruit, protect from insects and diseases, yet these simple weeds peek out as the snow melts to say “I’m still here! Miss me?”

Which got me thinking… about creativity.

I remember hearing “I’m not creative” growing up, as so many of us did, uttered by adults, repeated by kids. And I had pondered over what this word was. What does “creative” mean? We couldn’t even describe it well. I just knew that it was an elusive thing, something everyone wanted. I had learned that to be creative was unattainable.

The alternative is that we as human beings, are all creative by nature. By nature.

I think we’re trying too hard. We fight with the tomato plant to grow and we’re angry at the weeds that just friggin’ grow! “Just be creative and make something!”

When I’m in the creative zone, I am open, present, and hold no expectations. To get into that zone is another story, and it doesn’t always happen. It takes work.

My goal is to practice creativity until it becomes second nature. That’s when the fun begins.

So get out there and be like the weeds and grow that tomato!