Tag: creativity

Categories
motivation

The Value of Determination

Cartoon of two boys walking. One has a dog in his bookbag. The boy says, "I don't know what's gotten into my dog. Lately, he's been so sneaky."

We all know someone who is determined. Another word for it is stubborn. Anybody who has a pet that doesn’t do quite what they want it to do probably considers the fur baby stubborn. Of course, the pet is probably thinking the same thing about its owner!

Determination is needed more now than ever.

  • The United States has been knocked by the coronavirus pandemic for two months now
  • Some states are allowing businesses to restart
  • Business owners have to figure out how to operate in this new environment
  • Employees have to consider if their jobs are still viable or if they need to find work elsewhere
  • Corporate offices have to figure if it is still best for everyone to work remotely or to modify office space for health and safety

Determination will be as valuable and desirable as an asset as a nice stash of bathroom tissue was six weeks or so ago. We will need to be determined to bring the economy back online. This doesn’t mean we must be determined to make things the way they were. Rather, we will need to use ingenuity, creativity, and patience to make things work in a new reality.

Let’s all lead the way to a new way of doing things. Let’s be as determined as a little dog that really wants to go to school.

Cartoon of two boys walking. One has a dog in his bookbag. The boy says, "I don't know what's gotten into my dog. Lately, he's been so sneaky."
Categories
creativity motivation

Thinking Outside the Cereal Box

Cartoon of a mom and a son at breakfast. The son says, "I want something different for breakfast. What about seven-layer bean dip?"

Across the county, Breakfast has been reclaimed! Until the lockdown, it was an infrequent meal that few of us ate because we thought we were too busy. If we did eat it, we gulped down a quick pastry or breakfast sandwich as we ran out the door. Now, most of us have time for the first meal. In fact, this event has caused breakfast cereal companies to increase their ad spend. Here is one part of the economy that is benefiting from all this fun!

Ads for breakfast foods a ray of sunshine for media amid coronavirus cutbacks.

New York Post

Yes, there are plenty of businesses and people that are suffering financially right now. However, there are probably other examples where businesses are thriving. Perhaps they are seeing an uptick when they were languishing a few months before.

It is easy to get into the mindset that the news portrays. Yes, there are still plenty of people affected by this. I have certainly felt the effects. However, We can also ask ourselves what does this moment make possible? What can you do now that you never would have before we were told to hunker down? What is a new skill or business venture that you can start? How can you show kindness and care to those in your community? What can you do to prepare for the reopening of businesses and travel?

One thing I would not recommend is trying a seven-layer bean dip for breakfast. It will make the rest of the day feel funky. Not that I’ve tried it before…

Cartoon of a mom and a son at breakfast. The son says, "I want something different for breakfast. What about seven-layer bean dip?"
Categories
love motivation

Find Some Ways to Spread Some Love

Cartoon of a girl and boy. The girl has notes with hearts on them. She says, "I'm trying to spread the love. Sticky notes help me do that."

The girl in today’s cartoon may not be practicing social distancing, but it’s okay. Stickie notes may be a way of spreading love without coming into close proximity to someone. Besides, there will be a time in the near future when she will once again get to spread the love using all the stickie notes she wants in any way she wants.

We are going through some challenging times right now. If you are quarantined at home right now, or if you suddenly find yourself with lots of time because you are out of work, find some ways to send encouragement and love to others. We still have electronic means of doing that. Perhaps, we can start posting encouraging words to combat all the doom and gloom that is going on right now.

Find some ways to help others. We are better when we offer help and encouragement rather than succumb to all the bad news. Find some ways to spread some love. It will lift your spirits, and it will remind you of what is good and really important.

Cartoon of a girl and boy. The girl has notes with hearts on them. She says, "I'm trying to spread the love. Sticky notes help me do that."
Categories
K! Magazine Kidzmatter Magazine Magazine motivation

Creativity in Bending the Rules

Cartoon of a teacher observing a boy. He says, “While it’s true you’re not standing on the chair, I don’t want you to do that either.”
Published in “K! KidzMatter Magazine “

I am a firstborn, like my wife. We both grew up believing the world had a set of rules that were meant to be followed. Our poor siblings and kids probably got quite tired at hearing the “rules lecture.” It makes it that much more amazing we’ve both been in creativity careers and children’s ministry.

When I drew this cartoon, I thought of all the creative ways kids demonstrate how to bend the rules. They have taught me you can obey the letter of the law, but not the spirit. Is it any wonder one rule can become a dozen variants in no time!

There are certain rules that need to be obeyed for safety, fairness and justice. Then there are unwritten rules we need to reconsider each day. Are there unwritten rules about our culture that are keeping us from thinking creatively? Is there an unwritten rule in our business that no one really knows why we do it that way, we just do?

At any rate, please be kind to the chairs. They get enough abuse as it is.

Categories
illustration Picture Book writing

The Different Hats of Writing and Illustrating

Cartoon of a couple at dinner

In his tweet, Eric Merced reminded me how much of a challenge it can be to write and illustrate a book. When it’s a one-man show, you have to make so many decisions and switch your work mode so many times during the process.

It is so much more challenging than just writing. Now I realize that may offend some authors. If that’s the case, I understand, but I think you would agree that switching from writing, to drawing, to designing and putting it all together would take so much more than just the writing.

I suppose that is why I have such a soft spot for authors/illustrators. It has confounded me that picture books and graphic novels may be looked down on by the literary elite. The effort that goes into these books continue to amaze me.

So hats off to the solo writers, illustrators and designers that wear so many hats as they create outstanding work!

Is there a book you love that is written and illustrated by the same person? Let us know in the comments.

Cartoon of a couple at dinner