Remember, Honor, and Embrace the Creative Spirit
The month of May includes holidays that honor others, such as Mother’s Day, Teacher’s Day, Nurse’s Day, and Memorial Day. I want to honor, remember, and embrace one mother who was born on May 14th over a half-century ago. She represents all mothers who do what they need to do each day. Like many women and men who mother (including teachers and nurses and fighters for causes), she did not think that anything she did while raising her daughter and two sons was particularly noteworthy.
She likely would insist that she didn’t sacrifice or persevere to make the world safer, smarter, or more equal and just. She likely would insist that she wasn’t creative or particularly talented. She likely wouldn’t acknowledge that she could sing, draw, dance, or write.
And yet, she danced in her daughter’s Zumba classes and created lasting relationships with the other dancers. She danced at her children’s weddings and watched every dance performance of first her daughter and then her granddaughter. She sang “Happy Birthday” a thousand times.
She baked cupcakes, cheesecakes, and layered desserts with her teen granddaughter and decorated them with swirly frostings in chocolate or cream cheese or colored sprinkles. She spent hours in creative play with her grandson ordering food from his restaurant, chasing after criminals, or building Lego galaxies.
She designed layered Jello in all the colors of the rainbow, waiting patiently for each layer to harden. She would cut the Jello into small jiggly pieces that could be picked up with little fingers and popped into excited mouths. She filled her home with the smells of lumpia, kabobs, Cornish hens, roasts, and potato skins . . . not just enough for one dinner, but enough for everyone to take some home at the end of the meal.
She could twist her hair into an updo or wear it wavy and long, falling around her perfectly made-up face. She designed her outfits with attention to detail and chose the perfect shoes to go with each one. She never went anywhere in a hurry or a mess.
Being a creative human isn't just about stereotypical talents like singing or drawing or athletic ability. It's about accessing the knowledge within each of us to create (like lumpia and rainbow jello) or to solve problems (like teaching her granddaughter to cook or her grandson to design costumes by Zoom instead of in person).
In fact, our creativity can be most engaged when solving complex problems that have no easy solution like how to cope with cancer or how to say goodbye to those who can’t imagine life without you. Nanny, Vivian, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Friend, your creativity mattered. We remember you. We honor you. We still feel your kisses on our cheeks and your creative embrace.
It is in these small, creative moments that the next generation learns the skills necessary to solve complex problems and heal the Earth. Take a moment to honor and remember someone whose creative spirit influenced your life and made an impact.
