“The Detour exhibition is an exceptional gathering of works on a Moleskine notebook created by artists, architects, film directors, graphic designers, musicians, illustrators and writers of international acclaim, donated to the Moleskine Foundation to support its mission of “Creativity For Social Change. The selection presented here puts the Moleskine Foundation Collection in dialogue with the current exhibition “Civilization” and its main topics: Hive, Alone Together, Flow, Persuasion, Control, Rupture, Escape, and Next. All the exhibited works were developed through the creative use of notebooks. Each notebook tells a different story, a dream or a project, a distinctive way of being, relating to the world. Limited space creates an expressive constraint that urges invention. The extreme freedom of blank pages, and what can be done with them, to give space to the creativity of each individual.”
I found it fascinating to discover this intervention. It inspired me to think of companies to “Team up” with to create new challenges. Participants were given a Moleskine notebook to intervene. The exhibit has a big question in the entrance:
There are two cabinets with the Moleskine book that people from around the world sent. Some photos of the books submitted:
This small exhibit sparked all kinds of ideas of how I could improve my interventions. What if I sent my participants a notebook to work in? Or even a digital notebook? What if this was later exhibited. Maybe a journal to track down their progress. What if I created materials – like a “creativity packet” that people could get before the challenge, work on it and see their progress. Loved this Moleskine intervention, definitely filled my head with possibilities.
Over the last 6 months I have been inspired for this project by many exhibits, plays, musicals, artworks, etc. I now attend or visit these events thinking – what is the intervention? what is the change they want to happen? How does this relate to my project? What do they do that I can learn from for my research.
Following is a list of some of the ones that inspired me most. For some I made a blog post to share how it inspired me.
“Daydream, imagine, and reflect. It’s the source of infinite creativity.” Deepak Chopra
A break from your phone, computer, all electronics.
Don’t take your phone to a place you usually take it. (the bathroom, a walk, while eating).
Allow yourself to get bored for a little. Create space for nothingness.
Instead observe your surrounding. Do nothing.
Extra: Send me a quick not how it made you feel.
This exercise uses: Emergent Thinking
Emergent thinking is a natural process that comes as a result of rumination. It is the most common form of creativity you may be familiar with because it happens when you daydream. “AHA!” moments typically come from here.
Comments
AG: Today I did not take my phone or any reading material when I went to the bathroom. I wouldn’t say it was hard, but it was different. I decided to stay there as long as I stay when I do have my phone and it felt long.
Rosario:
I usually do today’s challenge regularly. I like to stay without communication at home, for example, because I move forward with everything I have to do, without distraction.
When I go to Madrid by train I also try to put my mobile aside so that I can enjoy the landscape, nature, which I love and gives me peace.
When I’m with people around eating or drinking something, I also leave it. Sometimes it is difficult but the important thing is to achieve it and really enjoy the moment.
When I forget it at home I never go back to look for it. In the end I feel that I am calmer without him.
Mon:
I’d been making time for about 20 mins of doing nothing until summertime rolled around. With the kids home I feel more pressure to be doing something all the time, I feel it’s harder to stop, I feel like I won’t get everything done (even though there’s actually not that much to do!!)
Every day this summer I’ve been waking up early to meditate, study for an exam I have to take, and write. Today I decided to change things up and spend the first hour of my day being really mindful. So I kept the meditation but refrained from multi tasking and paid attention while drinking coffee, eating breakfast, etc. What I found is that pockets of time opened up later in the day and that my study time was much more successful. I was also more open to spontaneity and let the day lead me, instead of me forcing everything to happen and then just feeling drained. I will attempt to take this attitude with me throughout the rest of the summer! So, a couple more things clicked: 1- only by making space for nothing can I really follow my intuition, the little voice I hear but don’t always listen to because I’m too busy following self-imposed routines that lead me nowhere except to exhaustion 2- had an aha! moment about how to structure and move forward with my book, thanks to this attitude of nothingness I welcomed today 🙂
Day 13 “Fear is not a problem; allowing yourself to be consumed by it is.” Patricia Ryan Madson
Today…. Talk to a stranger.
Connections with human beings make us more creative, believe it or not.
During the day find a person you know little about or even a stranger that you can interact with, someone on the bus, grocery, taxi driver, old lady crossing the street.
Have eye contact Say Hello. Introduce yourself Ask them an open ended question.
Some suggestions of open ended questions: What has been your favorite part of today? What is something that makes you happy? What makes you laugh out loud? What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Extra points: Share your experience.
Happy Sunday!
Comments
CECI: We are in Sardinia on holidays this week. A handful of salespeople walk the beach selling different things such as hats, sarongs, accessories, coconut water, etc.
Today, I met Dani, a man from Pakistan who sells bracelets along the beach.
I bought two bracelets for my twins and asked him about his life, after telling him a bit about myself first. Otherwise, it could feel like an interrogatory rather than a genuine conversation.
He told me that he migrated to Italy from Pakistan with his family. He has 2 daughters and his dream is to get his paperwork sorted to move to the UK where he could give his kids a better education. I wished him good luck and he gave me a bracelet as a present for “being nice”.
Carolina, being Latin-American you know I would have had this exchange anyways, because we easily talk about our family life with strangers, and don’t struggle much starting this kind of random interactions
Like this, I also learned about Gonzalo, a vet from Argentina who is working as a waiter this summer to make some money before going to Barcelona to be part of a research project on cancer (on animals). His sister leaves there, had a baby, etc etc.
JP: I went to get a pedicure and the person next to me was very smily and I saw she was reading a book in English so although I’m in Madrid I started to talk to her in English. She lives in a residencia next door which is for NYU students, she is doing her PHD and working on her dissertation and they sent her to Madrid for a month. She is a teacher at the new school in NY and a philosophy grad. I asked her what she liked so far about Madrid and it was interesting she said a) everything is soooo cheap, I love that I can fly anywhere with a few hours, the light oh the daylight! Talking to strangers is something I loved to do in NY and I did it much less here but I have been getting back in the habit, I love the scary first seconds and then the humanity and I was in it ! Thanks for this special treat!
Day 12 “I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I’m thinking of making a few more.” Anonymous
Come up with at least 20 things you’ve never done before, that you’ve never really thought about doing.
This is not your bucket list (things you want to do before you die).
It’s an opportunity to think of things you have never considered but would be nice to do…….kitesurfing, becoming president, visiting Iceland – whatever you can think of.
Extra points: Send your list to IG, DM or unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Don’t forget to put your timer for 5 minutes! Happy Saturday!
Comments
LAU:
visit iran
learn japanese or german
climb the Himalayas
take a journey through the desert
learn to play the guitar
take a trip on a catamaran
read Ulysses by James Joyce
do paragliding
JP: Jumping out of a plane Going to the South Pole Spending a month traveling alone around the US Being ambassador Learning to sail Being a step mom Living in an ashram for a while Going on a silent retreat Writing a book Sitting with the oldest person of a village and hearing their stories YouTuber for good Teaching life skills
Tough creative task! To think opposite bucket list pero still apetecible;)
ISA: Direct an Orquestra Fly to the moon Go out of space Climb beyond 5,000mts Eaten jellyfish Drive a boat on my own Mount a Bufalo Feed a lion Make a pond Paint a car Plant a coconut tree Hold a live hyena Play fagot Sing an opera at the theater Go underwater for more than a minute Play with fire until burned completely Spend the whole day looking at the phone Become a clown Create an app Register as candidate for elections
MON: Go deep sea diving Travel to China Take a skateboarding class Paint a huge painting and hang it in my living room Become part of a traveling circus Learn to cha cha Become a professional photographer Mow the lawn Interview a celebrity Go sky diving Go to an escape room Live without electricity for a week Live in silence for a week Tell everyone the truth for a day A yes day, only for me Jump off the roof of my house Befriend someone I find annoying Go on a moon fast Visit Canada Go pole dancing
“I discovered windows one afternoon and after that, nothing was ever the same.” Anne Spollen
Today, during the day, notice all the windows that you come across. In your home, on your way to work, anywhere, all types of windows.
Observe, what is happening in the windows.
How does it make you feel?
What is the story behind each window.
Choose one window and finish these sentences: I think…. I wish…. I wonder…..
Extra points: Send me a photo of the window with your answers. DM, IG or email unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Comments
I think about the rush to move and to always do something
I wish I could stop thinking too much
I wonder if the overwhelming stream of thoughts is a curse or blessing
think about the holiday feelings and the sense of relaxation
I wish I could travel more freely
I wonder if I am missing out by being in London over summer…
Im a huge window watcher, every day I take time in the morning to open the windows in my house and also close them again at night. I meditate in front of two big windows in my office too and I am constantly seeing nature through the windows. Took this picture of the almost full moon out of my favorite window in the house, with the purple flowers, and felt very connected to it. As usual the camera doesn’t do the moon any justice 🙂
As someone who has lived all over , nowhere and everywhere can be home, as my mom Says, home is where the heart is and I leave behind part of my heart today.
I think I’m going home I wish I could stay here where it feels like home I wonder if I will ever know where home is
MAR:
I think that plants sleep in winter, they sleep long and restful dreams so that when spring comes they have the audacity to spread out and grow.
I wish you have beautiful dreams of arms raised, of infinite seeds and of a splendid green.
I wonder if we can ever tell each other our dreams and our longings. I love plants and they love me
My window says I look amazing yet I think I am not ready to show. And very different from the rest.
It appears there is so much going inside, it may feel safer and Free staying closed.
I wish this window could understand the impact to the rest of us if it opens and shares what’s inside.
I wonder if it simply can’t or just don’t want to. Maybe it isn’t ready?
MAR:
I think that plants sleep in winter, they sleep long and restful dreams so that when spring comes they have the audacity to spread out and grow.
I wish you have beautiful dreams of arms raised, of infinite seeds and of a splendid green.
I wonder if we can ever tell each other our dreams and our longings. I love plants and they love me
“To say Yes is to make a leap of faith, to risk oneself in a new and often scary relationship.” Patricia Ryan Madson
Choose a person close to you: and for one day agree with all of their ideas. Find something right about everything they say. Look for every opportunity to offer support. Give them the spotlight. Notice the results.
See how often it may not be convenient or easy to do. Obviously use common sense!!
Use these phrases to help through the day (they count as a YES): You bet, you are right, I’m with you, Good idea. I support you. I’m here for you. I have your back.
Fenomenal, Estupendo, Estoy contigo, Te apoyo, etc.
Extra points: Share your reflections on how you felt, if the relationship changed for that day.
I know it is more than five minutes…but sometimes we only spend 5 minutes with our loved one….try it for as long as you feel comfortable. Have Fun!
Comments
MON: My intention was to do this with my husband and my response to the first thing he asked me was no!!! i decided to cut myself some slack and start over. it was a pretty intense day today so the yes intention lightened things up and brightened up the house. i told the kids they will each get a yes day on a random day this summer so that was a hit, especially with Carlitos who is always asking when he’s going to have a yes day 🙂 then we talked about watching the movie together
JP: I am on holiday with my brother and his family we don’t usually get along and so I tried the exercise throughout the day, it was tough to be agreeable, yes and …helped me keep calmer Also being agreeable I think threw him off, I realized by the end of the day it helped the communication. It was tough at first but by mid day it was more natural and helped us reach better communication for sure!
AG: I tried it with my partner. I always say NO to him. It really changed our day. It was hard. He noticed. He did not expect it. I felt different.
Write down all the different ways that those two random words can be connected.
Find at least 10 ways.
Extra Points: Share your list!
Comments:
MON: I wasn’t sure how to do this exercise so I wrote a poem. Words: Friendship and Chamber. A friendship can be a chamber in this chamber you are always trapped sharp edges icy concrete metal bars a little window close to the ceiling the air rarely moves.
A friendship can be a chamber in this chamber you are always welcome silky couches fluffy pillows pijama parties swamps laughter the air flows freely.
M: fingers and continue 1) from the fingers the love continues 2) Continuing with the fingers, we reach the end of the hand 3) Fingers continue the body beyond the skin 4)Continue stroking with fingers 5) the fingers continue the work without the mind knowing. 6) fingers continue to dance to the sound of emotion 7) every time I continue contact, the fingers are the first to notice 8) even when I remain silent, my fingers speak 9) It is impossible not to continue dancing when the fingers are the ones that keep the rhythm. 10) fingers allow or not continuity. There’s something definite in how they express themselves
Day 3 “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein
Create a recipe OF yourself.
If you were a dish and had to break YOU up into ingredients, what would those ingredients be?
How would you prepare yourself?
Get as descriptive as possible and write down the ingredients and recipe, step by step, as if it were in a cookbook. Put timer for 5 min and write it all down. Or take photos, or draw it. However you want to express it.
You can also choose another person to do this with. (your spouse, kids, friend, coworker)
Extra Points: Share your recipe with me. Send it to: unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Comments
I: Prepare for 2 days of incredible cooking: the HALLACA! Ingredients: The dough: Corn flour Harina Pan: one of the most magic ingredients, it is a thin sandy dry flour that only with water and salt, turns into a smooth dough versatile qnd ready for so many possible uses. Hear it will be for the hallaca. Lard: animal fat is super important. A source of energy for us and the “glue”to all ingredients. Color: the yellow/orange color that makes it beautiful to see (imagine a white pale hallaca…? Pretty sad…) The filling: Diversity in meats: chicken or hen, pork and beef. Each one in a proportion that’s just right. Capers: love them! The acidness in life. Olives: nice to find. Almonds give the balance: they are the Ohmmmm element. A bit of onions very thinly chopped. A broth: without this as a base, they are disconnected. Brown sugar: subtle but present sweetness Hot ají : spicy with flavor, can’t live without it. A lot of string and scissors. The platano leaves, impossible without the most beautiful element: the shield, the skin, the cover that protects the hallaca. It comes direct from nature, which I love. I I dind need to learn to develop a certain “shield” in my life, to protect myself the outer world, and not be so transparent. It is my missing ingredient! I am de allá y de acá: I am the 4th generation from Spain -Venezuela- Spain. The Hallaca is made up of ingredients from allá and acá… and I couldn’t conceive life without both countries, both cultures, both ways of being and seeing life. Preparation: The first day we spend it slow cooking the broth with the meats, and chopping everything very small.
We also prepare the dough. We wash the leaves, very important! The second day we assemble it, and we tie it up in a beautiful gift package!! This is ME!
MONICA:
Ingredients 1 cup experience 1 cup heart 1 cup honey ½ cup empathy ½ cup boundaries ¼ tsp lemon zest ¼ tsp cayenne pepper Directions Grease a pan with butter and sprinkle some flour too, so the cake does not stick. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Celsius. Start with the experience, which includes a whole bunch of unrefined traumas such as having a mother who recently birthed a stillborn, having to become parent to one of your parents at age 11, being subject to violence from the other parent, and not being allowed to explore your sexuality or pursue creative passions for danger that you might become too powerful. Next, add the heart, which is the easiest and most effective way to soften these hardships. Make sure you sift the experiences and heart together slowly, allowing the contents to settle. Only when you’re ready, mix in some premium unprocessed honey, a sweet reminder that life is short and the only thing that really exists is the present moment. Add in empathy towards yourself and others, and then shortly thereafter, add the boundaries. Make sure you don’t skip this step; these are necessary for the cake to remain whole as it rises. Put the mixture in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Once baked, remove and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of lemon zest and another ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper on top. A measured quantity of each should pack a punch, but feel free to add more depending on your preferences.
GIS:
JUL: Definitely fusión! Portuguese bacalao because I love the sea, I’m sometimes salty but tender love and care I can become sweeter;) mango topping with tomate de árbol bring just the sason and Latin touch from Colombia with a side of sweet potato fries new york style. It’s kind of the dish you read off a menu and you thing, um, interesting yet doubting yourself but when you take the first bite you realize and say to yourself one more time, don’t judge a book by its cover. Loved the challenge!
LAU: Las delicias de Laura Ingredientes Líquidos -Bondad (nunca hay suficiente) -Tranquilidad (al gusto y según circunstancias) -Vive y deja vivir (incluir en todas las recetas). -Empatia (la tienes en casa o no pero debería incluirse siempre) -Lectura (al menos un libro por receta) -Amigos (de los que ya tienes y abierta a añadir más) -Familia (imprescindible y la mejor materia prima) -Risas (con atracón, aunque duela la tripa) -Experiencias Sólidos Chocolate (negro o con leche pero que no falte) Un café con leche bien acompañada ( sustituir por descafeinado a partir de las 6 de la tarde).
Preparación Tratar con mimo los ingredientes líquidos, que son los más delicados. Tamizar a algunos miembros de la familia o maridos, mujeres de amigos que son más densos para darles aire. En un bowl mezclar el café con el chocolate y reservar para cuando se necesite. Añadir un viaje o una cena con amigos. Cocinar a fuego lento y servir en tu mejor vajilla. Disfrutarlo a tope! Congelar una parte para ir sacado cuando estés baja de moral.
CARO (me): My recipe would be a full meal, because I taste different every time, sometimes it has sesame oil, other times a bit of spices from my dad’s dinner table, Aji picante for sure, some Some dark Chocolate (Venezuelan of course), some Almond Butter- very smoooooth., Some suspiros hand beaten from my abuela Rodriguez, and the curry rice salad from my granma’s house made by Elsa, definitely a bit of centollo from La Castanal, and a gamba a la plancha from Menorca and some chopitos, tequenos and one Hallaca but only the one that Carmen makes. Eggs Benedict from brunch in NY with friends, Smoked Salmon from my first night living alone in NYC. ohhhh and the spicy crispy chicken from Bulgogi in London and my friend Maria’s aguacates from some local farmer, my delicious carrot cake that my mom loves and my friend Mercedes makes for me that makes me feel loved and a chanchito from Maria Elba. I would mix it all up and invite all my wonderful friends from all spaces of life.
ARI:
ERIN:
Isa Recipe 500 gr Alberto 500g Illeana 1 measure of independence 3 servings of spirituality a bit of rebellion
Combine the first two ingredients in a large trusty container and with the curiosity palette. I added little by little the independence, making sure it blends very well. Let rest in an atmosphere of love and freedom for as long as necessary.
Knead the mixture with the spirituality portions – securing one at a time and through the 3P (passion, patience and purpose) strainer. I sprinkled the rebellion and allow the surface to soak well and then carry all the content inside. When you have a bright color, cut into 3 portions and start to shape. Let it grow in controlled exploration environments. You don’t have to worry about whether the shapes look alike or not, remember that eventually the mixture comes back together and is allowed a mash in an open container to any other ingredients you want to add according to taste. This recipe is ideal as a companion to strong and sweet dishes. Enjoy!
Ubarikiwe!
M: This is my recipe. My husband says that I’m going to increase the amount of control and impatience. And the truth is that he is right. But I like the way I wrote it: two cups of enthusiasm a cup of tenacity a jet of joy a spoonful of foolishness a spoonful of impatience a pinch of humor 100 gms of curiosity chips A bunch of intensity A bunch of control Procedure: Mix enthusiasm with tenacity, add a little bit of joy and when the mix is homogeneous, add foolishness, impatience, a pinch of humor and chips of curiosity. Knead gently, stretch gently and once extended let fall as a rain drop the intensity and control. Bake in a moderate oven for 40 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream
The challenge started out with 120 people, by day three we had 133 people. Participants sent me photos and comments about their experience each day. Following is the prompt sent and some of the comments and photos people sent me.
DAY 1
DAY 1 – STRETCH…a simple way to start.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Anonymous
Put a timer for 5 minutes.
Stretch. your arms
Stretch your legs
Stretch your back
Jump up and down 5 times
Yawn 5 times
Move all around
Sit cross legged and focus on your breathing. Repeat. I am breathing in, I am breathing out.
Don’t stop moving, breathing or stretching until timer is up.
Do what is comfortable for your body….your version of these movements.
Extra Points: Do it with a partner and share a photo of you stretching. Or share insights, thoughts, reflections to unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Remember if 30 people share every day I will donate 250E to https://www.chamos.org.uk/ And you will also be helping me in my research! Thank you!
Comments from participants
Mother and son: I had a lot of fun starting the day with my son Simón in this energetic stretching creative driven activity. Definitely had more energy walking into the metro today 🙂
Mother and son doing the challenge
L2: Estiramientos y respiracion durante 5 minutos. Es un ejercio con el que estoy muy familiarizada porque practico yoga 3 veces en semana por mi cuenta, por lo que me siento muy cómoda realizando esta actividad. Al hacerlo fuera de mi práctica habitual, mi sensación es de que los 5 minutos se han pasado muy rápido y por otra parte me doy cuenta de que en tan poco tiempo tu cuerpo es capaz de relajarse y oxigenarse para afrontar el siguiente reto que tengas por delante. Creo que voy a intentar hacer estos 5 minutos en momentos concretos del día fuera de mi práctica habitual.
A: I did my Creativity exercise this morning during my daily walked to work. Sunny day, cool breeze, walking along the Castellana side path. I stopped at a bench and did my exercise. I loved the stretching and jumping. Mindful meditation put me in a good mood for the whole morning, and it was short (2 minutes) so easier than usual meditation exercises. It’s so important to feel good… Awesome!
L and D: Dario and I really enjoyed today’s challenge, the five minutes flew by.
C And C:
Group of friends that all did the challenge and shared this photo.
K: I had a crappy day and I postponed my stretching to the end of the day. I’m glad that I did it. While doing it I was thinking about what this had to do with creativity, and I thought to myself that this time alone helped me relax and that I should do this every night and take time to listen to my body. The five minutes went really fast. Thank you for this challenge.
M:
Anonymous: 20/06/23 – Stretching – Almost forgot to do it, but did it right before I slept. Was worried I’m going to wake up late for work and when I did the stretching it helped keeping my mind off that and so, less anxious.
Carolina (me): I had a tough time doing the challenge during the day, but right before midnight I did it with my son. I felt great after it. Ready for a good night’s sleep. I also loved doing it with company.
M: I was procrastinating around writing a story that I’ve had in my head since yesterday and decided to start the challenge. After 5 minutes stretching and breathing I felt more calmness and clarity. Then I sat down to write a first draft!
