When Creativity Shines
Today’s post is brought to you by Cade Smucker, who just so happens to be our son. We asked if he would write you a Letter from the Lauffice (or, in his case, a Letter from the Dungeon Basement Bedroom), and this is what he came up with. He chose this topic, which I thought was interesting. In any case, here you go. Cade’s Letter from the Lauffice:
Creativity used to be this thing that sparked from empty minds, minds that had nothing to do but read and write, walk through nature and stare into the sky. Those sparks came easily because nothing inhibited or delayed it from starting. Boredom is the gateway to creativity.
However, things have changed. They have changed A LOT. No longer do minds just coast along until a creative thought springs into it. With huge steps taken in technology and entertainment, boredom is no longer a thing. Which, at a glance, is awesome. Being bored is not the most fun feeling, but it goes a lot deeper than just brief entertainment. As a young creator, struggles with balancing technology and creativity are real, and almost every teenager is fighting it. Most are losing the fight.
I love to read and write. I find few things more satisfying in life, and reading other people’s works of art is something that gives me peace, knowing there is someone out there who was able to translate the thoughts in their head into physical form. However, something has changed since the writers of old had picked up a pen. With phones and screens a constant distraction, making art in this new age has a new layer of adversity.
With there being a constant temptation or distraction from the peace of mind, it can get really difficult to properly sit down and write. Even as someone who loves to do it, there will be days or even weeks when I never find myself writing. Because of this deep-rooted obsession of avoiding boredom, thousands of teenagers are turning away from creativity and towards constant entertainment, and it is getting harder and harder to resist.
Although I am struggling as much as the next person to stay off screens and dedicate time to creative outlets, there are a few tips I have for teenagers like me who want to unplug more often.
A great way to take a break from devices is to dedicate certain amounts of time, as little or as much as you’d like, where the phone goes away and spend that time reading, writing, painting etc. However, doing this for the first time can be incredibly difficult, so do not be discouraged if it takes a while to get into the groove of doing something creative. The more you do it, the easier it becomes to put down your screen and let the creative spark out.
Another way to get off screens and allow boredom to enter your mind is by taking walks outside. The temptation to be on devices almost disappears when the beauty of nature is around you, and oftentimes it can be great inspiration to create something, from a landscape painting to the setting of a story. Although this one requires some things you cannot control, like decent weather and a place to go, there is no better way to stay off your phone than using this method.
A final way to free your mind is keeping a journal. This is something I struggle to do, but nothing quite rivals the power to stay off your device than writing about your thoughts and your experiences throughout the day. Not only does this help forget about using the phone, it also allows inspiration to set in, by using your day-to-day activities as ways to maybe help create something you like. The most important thing about creating stuff is not that it gets super popular, or a lot of money is involved. The most important thing is that you like what you created.
These ways are just three that can be used to unplug. Although being a teenager is difficult and very stressful, the amount of stress that disappears when off technology is remarkable, and that is when creativity shines.
Cade
