Creative Outlets
Is there something that you like to do that you don’t share with others? Do you like to paint? What about acting? Writing? Singing? Decorating? Playing an instrument? Designing a new widget for… I don’t know, maybe the thermostat in your car? (Oh my, that was a stretch.) I have a theory that everyone is creative in some way.
When I was working as a Gifted/Talented teacher, one of my gifted coordinators pushed the concept of content, process, product. This loosely aligns with Rhodes’ 4P theory of creativity.
Side note: Please excuse my adherence to referencing educational theories and scholarly research. I spent 31 years teaching and researching gifted children. It doesn’t go away easily. I do have advanced degrees in the discipline—snort. For real, I have a MS, an Ed.S., and National Board Certification in Gifted/Talented Education.
Rhodes’ 4P theory briefly states that creativity is based on the following:
(1P) Person – the personality, traits, abilities, and interests of the individual.
(2P) Process – the way a person prepares for creativity. How do they think through the process? What do they do to create the “thing”?
(3P) Product – the “thing” that is created and is novel in some aspect.
(4P) Press – the amount of pressure from others that may foster or inhibit the creative process.
To explore more about Rhodes’ 4P theory, see the following:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825005566
It’s a true research paper and a long read—but if you’re into that sort of thing (and I am), go for it.
Let me clarify that I could have explored creativity before my life transitions, but the fourth P—Press—seemed to be in play. There wasn’t overt pressure, but it was implied. My husband was an engineer. He had strong ideas about how to approach things. He didn’t pressure me to accept his ideas, and he thought he was fostering my creativity, but he was inadvertently inhibiting it. There were many times I had to tell him, “There’s more than one way. Let me figure it out.” Now, without that “pressure,” I feel I can explore more freely.
Working and raising kids also inhibited my creative process—not because I felt I couldn’t be creative, but because I was too tired to pursue anything after working all day and managing everything that goes along with raising three children.
In the past few years (after processing my husband’s death and my retirement), I’ve noticed that I have more time to explore creative avenues. I started by reflecting on what I wanted to do as a child. I wanted to be an actress. So what did I do? I auditioned for a community theater’s production of The Music Man. I got a part in the chorus. It was fun, and I’m glad I did it… once. But in the process (2P), I realized it was more work than I wanted. There were rehearsals every night for three months, choreography I shouldn’t be doing, and hours of sitting. I decided I could use my time more productively.
The Music Man led me to something else I wanted to do as a child: sing. I knew I could carry a tune, but I had never sung a solo. I started taking individual vocal lessons. From September to December, I worked on solo pieces with my instructor. While I was comfortable singing with him, I didn’t think I could do it in front of an audience. He was encouraging and helped relieve my anxiety. And I did it—I sang a solo at the Christmas Showcase. I thought I didn’t do well, but my daughter recorded it, and I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t perfect, but it was pretty good. Good enough to continue my lessons.
Then another student asked if I would do a duet with her for the Spring Showcase. Wow. That was a boost in confidence. (Thank you, Debbie.)
Another creative outlet has been The Retired Widow. I’ve always been interested in writing, and this is my way of helping other retired widows by sharing my experiences. I want them to know they are not alone during this time in their lives. I know it’s cliché, but if I could do it, maybe they could too.
My creative outlets require products that are shared with an audience. But there are many ways to be creative just for your own soul. You don’t have to share anything with anyone. That’s the joy of not needing validation. You validate yourself.
Blessings,
Bethanne
