“Creativity is not a talent you have, it’s a skill you learn. It’s something you get better at the more you do. It’s something that you do by practicing it.” Ed Bell
Choose a song.
Take a paper and a pen or colored pencil.
Play song.
As you listen to the song, make lines on paper how the song sounds to you. Do not lift the pencil until the song ends. Better if you eyes are closed, but not a must.
Extra Points: Share a photo of what your song “looks” like.
Comments
Lau: Mana – Vivir sin aire. Her comment- art is not my thing.
MON: New Light by John Meyer. Comment: “Really love this one, it lightened me up! And the image didn’t look at all the way it felt as I drew it. Will do this one again!”
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
I will record feedback here of things that were written or talked with from participants throughout the challenge. I will also record my own thoughts of me doing the challenge.
Participant A: Left challenge on day 5. She is a very creative person, she is a graphic designer and an illustrator, she has published a children’s book and posts creative DIY projects on IG. She felt that the challenge was not for her, she felt uncreative. She asked maybe I am not creative. She felt instructions were too hard or too long for her. My thoughts- these games make you work on other aspects of creativity that is not art, like word associations, problem solving, allowing day dreaming to occur and reflection. It also requires vulnerability.
Participant B: She wanted there to be a way where she could see all her responses together, like a diary. So she can see her own personal journey, and asked it she could see other peoples, she missed sharing experiences with other people.
Both comments made me think if I should do a survey to ask for feedback or keep going. I did not want to overwhelm people with messages, for now I offered my IG account so they can post in the comments of every post. Every post gets sent through whattsapp and posted to IG account created for Challenge. 133 participants but in IG account only 41 followers so far.
Today is Day 9 of the challenge.
Suggestions form participants:
Some people wanted to see what other people had done, so they could feel part of a group project. Others said they prefer to do it but privately. It makes them feel vulnerable.
They would like to know what part of the brain they are working. What is the exercise for. Today June 26 I added to the prompt the type of thinking being used for this particular exercise.
A participant commented she did not respond more because it took an extra step- if it was directly on the chat she would have. I decided to send the IG account, offer DM message and email to see if that improved feedback. Don’t feel comfortable opening the group to comments since I think I would loose the main message.
Another participant said she would love to see all her prompts in one place, so she could ser her journey from beginning to end. I told her several people are sending me notes from their notebooks, I suggested to get a diary.
Some people have apologised to me for not doing every day or no day, I have tried to be empathetic and say it is hard for me too, comparing the activity with going to the gym but for creativity.
I decided to do a poll to see how many people where doing it (on day 8), which ones they had done, sent it last night, so far 33 people of the 133 have responded. I am happy about that. Also every day I receive around 4-5 emails, some days more some days less. Sometimes the same people, sometimes different ones that send me 3-4 days at at time and sometimes a one off.
Today is Day 12 of the Challenge. July 1rst. I thought I had lost people, since less people responded some days, but the window activity got around 6-7 responses. I am beginning to realice that this touches on vulnerability with people. When people share they are sharing a private moment, a poem, a small moment, a vulnerability.
Results from Poll sent on June 26
I conducted a WAPP poll in the group saying the following:
We are at the end of week one! Please select all the challenges you completed. Don’t feel bad if you only did one or none! This is like going to the gym- but for your creativity! It requires effort! It’s hard sometimes. Hard for me too! Thank you!
Following was a list of the first 8 challenges.
Although 133 people have signed up not everyone has answered the poll, or participated. I started with 138 participants and 5 have left the group. Today in Day 12. Two new people joined today.
July 4th – We are on day 16. People seem to continue to be engaged. Poll from WAPP group continues to receive answers. So far, 42 people have answered. I did a new survey in Survey Monkey and sent it to the chat, it has been 24 hours and only 3 people have responded. I wonder if it is because they have to click on it instead of responding directly on the chat. I did it in survey monkey because a participant said she would not answer it since it was not private. I am thinking it was only her that wanted privacy since 40 people responded to the other one. I will wait another 24 hours and if not repeat the poll in the chat.
July 10th. The challenge ends today. – 40 people of 140 have answered the first poll. – Choose your color seems to be the most popular activity from week 1 – Laugh Out Loud was the favorite overall and favorite from week 2. People sent videos, comments, said they would do it every day, did it in groups, loved it. – People were vulnerable, share beautiful poems that were very personal. – I think the challenge was too long. I also did it and missed some days, fount it hard to do daily unless I did it with another person. – Between 3-10 people sent me emails every day with their activities. – Second poll I tried survey monkey and only received 12 responses, general comment was it was a link, too much work, people prefer it in the chat even though it is not private. – Last poll I launched today on the 21st day, I am doing a hybrid. Chose 4-5 questions that did in the chat and in seconds people were responding. Also added a longer survey in google forms and offered both. – I think future challenges should be shorter, not sure what the right number of days. Thinking of trying 5-7 days
Since first poll resulted in better response than second survey in Survey Monkey, 40 people vs 12. I decided to try both in the last survey. So did some important questions directly in chat with these results so far. And one in google forms, So far 30 people have responded the chat poll vs 10 the google form, but responses are still coming in today- poll was sent three days ago.
SO far these are the results from the chat poll:
Will keep adding learnings to this page!
NEXT STEPS
Analyse results of all surveys.
Would love to do two more challenges before September 1. For Creatives- limited to a group of 10 people, open chat, everyone shares their daily activity with group and we answer questions like: I see….I think….I wonder… 2. For Non -Creatives – also limited to 10 people, open chat, different exercises, everyone shares and maybe some exercises are in teams. 3. Challenge for Employees – teachers and staff of University of Hesperides. Online university would offer their staff to join the challenge and activities from 21 day would be sent daily, people would be able to comment and share if they wanted. This challenge would be aimed at reflecting on how exercises can be used in the classroom, how they can build community and teamwork within the group and the classroom. (if successfull). In conversations with head of Teacher training to launch end of July.
Have done games in small groups informally to see how it makes people feel and connect. Will continue to do so over the summer.
Are trying to approach Brixton Library to do a monthly workshop at the library that involves Creativity and Civics.
Interview Eva Katherina Herber. (not yet confirmed) Am analysing her book Activate your Strengths to investigate her methodology. Would like to have exercises where participants discover their strengths and have to use them in creative activities.
“I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, i’m thinking of making a few more.” Anonymous
Imagine a box beautifully wrapped in front of you.
Take a moment to “see” the box.
Now touch the box,
What color is the box?
How does the box feel?
Open the box
Describe what is inside?
Notice a detail about the gift and examine it.
Thank the giver.
Trust your imagination – there is always something in the box.
Extra points: Share your description of the box with me. unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Reflections:
Erin:
Alberto: Yo he visto una caja de carton, color naranja, de textura suave, color naranja mate (sin brillo) y agradable. Dentro hay unos zapatos de goma, azules, super cool y comodos, tal vez para correr. Me los regalo la chica que mas me gusta del mundo, y estoy super feliz de que me dio este regalo.
JP: I see an Emerald green box, satin like feel, it’s squishy once I touch it, it leaves an indent, I can’t seem to tell where the top of the box and the bottom start or finish so it’s difficult to open. When I finally do, I see inside the ring that was left to me by my grandmother, each granddaughter got one. Mine had a Colombian emerald , a light I had never seen before, flashes came to me of seeing my grandmother with it. I close my eyes and thank her for all the beauty she gave me inside and this special family treasure she has trusted me with.
MON: The box is wrapped in a dark purple felt which is very soft, with a light purple ribbon. underneath the wrapping is a plain white box and inside the box is a carousel, those that you turn and music plays. The gift is from my higher self and is reminding me about the joys and innocence of childhood, and how I should embody that child-like feeling no matter what happens today.
LAU: The box is large, round and has a wine red velvet bow. When you touch it, your hand goes through the box as if you were in virtual reality. I open it, intrigued, and inside there is a paradisiacal beach, with warm, crystalline water, white sand that does not burn your feet, and palm trees on which multicolored hammocks sway. The temperature is warm but pleasant and there is a slight breeze. On a bamboo table rests a cold natural fruit juice and an open book. Thanks to my imagination for showing me the exact place where I would like to be right now and offering it to me in this magic box.
CARO: I receive a box and all my memories are inside it. Little moments. The first time I made my own dinner or payed for my own trip. When my dad taught how to make a mustard sauce for a barbeque, or the “Oscar” parties in NY, Rise graphics R,C, L, ME, M V, L, C, M, MC, A, S, C, N, BCDEFGHIJKLMONOPQRSTUVWXYZ….., I cannot count all the special people in my life. I would need to fill up a humongous box of friends from all over the world. My box would have photos of all those moments. Life gave me my box.
A: I imagined a big box placed on a table. The box was blue, sort of a vibrant blue (my fav colour) with white polka dots. It was wrapped with a white ribbon with a beautiful bow at the top. The blue paper of the box feels smooth with a matte finishing. I untied the ribbon, and opened the lid. To my surprise, all four sides of the box fell apart, revealing images, notes, cards and pieces of memories from different parts of my life. It was a great gift! Thank you to the imaginary friend who gave it to me
ISA: Got a box- at least it looks like a box. It is clear yet nothing shows. I’m curious- how do I open it? How does it work? I now know or rather I know now… it is this moment, this present moment what I have in front of me. Love it! Can’t wait to hold it, enjoy it and make the most out of it. Grateful to life and all around it for this moment. Ubarikiwe!
ISA2: Received a box unlike the other daily parcels I receive every day from amazon. This one was furry, covered with black smooth silky fur. It smelled of geranium and I couldn’t wait to open it! It wasn’t big, or small either. It took me a while to find out that it had a button that I had to press in order to unleash it. It had 5 pictures: one in a jungle, the Amazon, I think; one of a huge desert, no one in the picture, just sand; a large picture of a family portrait, all riding horses, one small passport picture of a dog and one of my grandmother!!! Nothing was written anywhere, where did these pictures come from? Why my late grandmother? What is this all about?? Thank youAbu, for being present everyday…
Gise:
In front of me is my golden box which is almost a reflection of myself. Sparkly and bright.
When I open my box, by unwrapping the big bright shining golden bow, I see the gift that is inside and I am instantly filled with joy.
Inside the box, there are multiple crystals and good luck charms representing health, abundance, good virtue, gratitude, happiness, and more!
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
“Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures.” Lovelle Drachman
Choose a color for the day. (It can be your favorite Color. )
During the day, notice everything around you that is in that color. Make a list of all the things that you find in that color.
Extra points: Make a list of 30 items in that color. You will start with the obvious ones…but will need to get creative as the list gets larger.
Extra Points: send your list to: unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com
Comments:
INES: YELLOW Mi bolso La barra del metro El pantalón de la señora de enfrente La corbata del chico de traje Pegatina de Precaución con las letras en rojo La línea límite No pisar del metro El logo de Amantis El pelo rubio recogido en una coleta de una chica La tapa del cubo de basura negro Una flor artificial decorando un escaparate Hojas en el suelo Amarillo en un cojín En la luz de un restaurante En la camiseta de la señora En las sandalias de otra señora
C: Funny I just realized I wrote 30 orange items and forgot about the fruit! Photo with my list is in Spanish & English
1- Sun 2- Gatorade 3- Fanta 4- Cup of tea 5- Lamborghini 6-Veuve Clicqot 7-Autumn leaves 8-My happiness 9-Decor in jacket -Thailand in my living room 10- light from windows when walking around my neighborhood at night 11- moon (that oval one that I remember as the best one ever seen in my life) 12- tiled roofs in my neighborhood 13- safety lights in bicycle 14- jackets on workers @ construction site 15- triangle in trunk of the car for emergency 16- horrible paint of a house in my neighborhood 17- traditional clothes prisoners/ jail 18- my water bottle 19- sky at sunset 20 – leather of chair with bear skin in my living room 21- silk cord shisha 22- Kilim under my feet 23- leather boxes where I keep mosquito coils 24- Hermes 25- pencil 26- the fluo market I use frequently 27- flowers of the plant Marina gave me before moving to Argentina 28- Thailand Monks 29- my dog’s collar 30- exotic orchids in my garden
K: Yellow. I wonder if people chose yellow because of the color of your post. I was more aware of the task when going to new surroundings than at home. I went to supermarket and forgot of the items I had seen. I wonder what other people’s reflections are. I liked paying attention to color. I also wonder what the patterns are for a color in different surroundings – in the kitchen, in the city, in nature. I noticed a lot of yellow in my kitchen tonight, especially in the fruit basket; lemons, bananas, prunes When doing the night walk to close the gate it was dusk and I noticed a lot of yellow getting “born”: the moon, the stars, The streetlights, the strings of lightbulbs in the garden.
A: BLUE
M: PURPLE.
at first i thought, there is no way i will find 30 purple things. then i started seeing it everywhere, and then i started writing a poem in my head! rather than send the 30 things i’m sending the poem. I plan to use this again another day, with another color!
Moving On Ceremony Purple is the tulips on my desk my favorite flower a shirt I bought yesterday it says “it’s always better in the sun,” to be worn on sunny days only? Purple is the sand in my hourglass, five minutes — the expected length of this exercise. Purple is a book on my shelf indigo sky white stars the top of a Frozen thermos they still use long after they’ve stopped singing let it go. Purple is a bracelet on my wrist my daughter made a gem on another bracelet i’m wearing today, my husband called it a “push present,” But can you still call it that, if you never got a chance to push? Purple is wildflowers on the way to school, graffiti I pass every day and never see, a magazine discarded on the street, purple page face-up, just there for me to see? She graduated today from fifth grade they called it a “moving on ceremony.” Moving on — isn’t that what we’re always doing? Purple is the Eiffel tower keychain on her backpack the walls in her room, duvet cover, pillow, giant S, books, toothbrush, favorite Nirvana shirt. Purple is the grocery store where at first sight, there’s no purple (and I begin to wonder does just not sell? and why do I criticize people on their phones, when like me, they might be writing poems?) finally, I see it, there, right in front of me: purple is all things lactose free beet dried penne mini fuets carrousel on a Milka wrapper. Purple is the plums on our tree giving and giving and giving long after everybody’s mouths are full. Purple is lavender bush under centuries-old olive tree the one facing her bedroom window. No matter how quickly she moves on, how much she sees or doesn’t see, purple is where I’ll go when I need to find her.
I: YELLOW Yellow Dress of la Negrita, clay sculpture at home. Photo album on my shelf Cala flower in my living room The Inside part of the purple orchid dining room The inside part of the huge white orchid Post it Painting hanging on the wall The 3rd cacho on the Diablo de Yare hanging Ottolengi SIMPLE book 4 bananas 3 lemons Dishwashing sponge Lemon juicer (exprimidor!) Arrows on the street going out of my garage Postbox Butter Cheese Corn Beer Security Bar in the public bus Corn tortilla Kombucha Yellow pencil Mustard Olive oil Apple Pineapple Daisy Flowers Google chrome logo Orange juice Raw spaghetti Soap
P: Pink
CARO (ME): Yellow
CC: GREEN
Reflection on window pane
Tree leaves
Moms bracelet
Store front
Store awning
Earrings
Window shutters
Glass
Linen shirt
Moms eyes
Sculpture
Book cover
Glass bowl
FIFA soccer pitch
Bottom of sponge
Cilantro
Wires in ceiling lights
Mueble tv antiguo
Highlighter
Clothing tag (20)
Sample fabric
Avocado on toast
Hair tie
Wine bottle
Kleenex packaging
Button on PlayStation remote
Cruz 10 small work
Liquid inside glass temperature reader
Color line on pillow
R: BLUE Cielo Tapa de tupper Dibujo camiseta pijama Calzoncillo Tomi Calzoncillo Jorge Cuadro puerta azul en casa Mueble manteles Botella azul Caratula libro Cojines habitación Cuadro habitación Cómoda Detalle perchero Pijama Vestido largo Jean Adornos Pelota Caja madera Números de la nevera Bolso de carrito bebe Globo Pared comedor Perro cerámica Botella sifón Peluche Zapatilla Botella vidrio Pared baño Bote gel Bote crema cara Afeitadora Sujetador Pared habitación
G: Orange
L: AZUL (BLUE) Mi color del día ha sido el azul y me ha parecido interesante que de este color son cosas infinitas y hetéreas como el cielo o el mar pero también muchas cosas coercitivas y reglamentadas como muchas señales de tráfico, barreras de paso etc. También mi anillo azul, de mis favoritos ultimamente, que me da tanto placer contemplar..
A: GREEN. My water bottle Grass Palm Trees. Street near my house My house plants plants My garbage bin My eyes Daughter’s Nail polish My green clogs Green traffic light Green construction send Landscaping truck with green letters Green markers Little Green frog Green bug Green folder with one of my kids, end-of-the-year paperwork Bright Green Jeep Dark green olive trees Clusia plants Parts of my leaf blower Parts of my leaf blowers, battery and charger Sofa cushions Weeds sticking out of bricks in my driveway The letters on everybody’s Florida license plate Plastic bin in my garage My fake Christmas tree also in my garage The handle on one of my shovels The brushes on one of my brooms Sprinkler heads
I: Orange
AG: BLUE
Only got to 16…
The sky Madrid public Buses Parking garage sign Vests on Suits Shirts Cubos de basura para Papel y carton BBVA logo Madrid street name signs Taxi stop sign Eyes of a homeless man New torres de colon Lights on top of police cars European union flag background Starfish in logo of La Caixa A book cover in my office
LAU: YELLOW
Towel
Morning pee
Soap
Guy on the tube’s shirt
Obstructing the doors can be dangerous (warning signs)
Circle line on tube poster
Stitching on my shoes
Line before mind the gap
Woman’s outfit (whole thing)
Way out
Beerkat
Pedestrian crossing box
Scaffolding padding
Flowers on plant in plant store
Chairs
Labels on cameras
Floor marks
Inside of gaffer bag
22 amaran plug ends
Corners of monitor
Batteries
Top button on rcd monitor
Led amaran lights set to warm
Top stripes on actor’s shirt
Park closed if locked call # sign
Back license plate
Mango ice cream
Wire tag label
Bumpy side walk letting you know where the edge is
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!
This is a group challenge. People were invited through whattsapp to participate in a 5 minute a day Creativity Challenge. Everyone is sent one activity to do every day for 21 days. Targeted at “non-artists” or people that consider themselves “non-creatives”. 133 participants joined the challenge with area codes from: Spain, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, UK, USA, Vietnam, Puerto Rico, Belarus, Thailand. It started on June 20th 2023. I sent two prompts two days before.
Invitation to Join:
You’re invited to join a Creativity Challenge, 5 minutes a day for 21 days. For Non-artists.
Hi I am Carolina, an MA Researcher in Applied Imagination. I am working on a research project about the decline in Creativity from childhood to adulthood.
Creativity:
Has been proven to make you happier.
Is the No1 skill required in current workplace (World Economic Forum )
Studies show that our creativity is in decline.
2 Days before Start
[0:54 am, 18/06/2023] Carolina: Welcome to the 21 day Creativity Challenge. Thank you for joining!
2 days to START!
Start date June 20th
This is how it will work…every night (UK time) I will be sending you an activity for the next day.
This should take 5 minutes of your day.
I recommend you be STRICT with those five minutes. Put a timer if it helps.
These activities are aimed to help you develop your creative side.
At the end of the challenge I will ask you to fill out a short survey so I can use it for my research and you can share if taking part impacted your life in any way. [0:32 am, 19/06/2023] Carolina: Tomorrow is the day! 1 day to Start!
Some tips:
Every night (my night), I will send you a 5 minute task for you to do. Choose a time of day to do your Creative task. On your way to work, on your morning run, with your coffee. Use a timer. Reflect on the task. Where you comfortable doing it? Was it hard, was it easy?
Extra Points: If you choose to share your insights each day with me you will be automatically entered into a lottery for a 25 Euro Amazon gift card. If at least 30 people finish the 21 days and share their insights with me daily I will donate 250 Euros to https://www.chamos.org.uk charity.
Thoughts, reflections, questions, photos can be sent to Carolina: unpackyoucreativity@gmail.com
I will also post the daily challenge in IG @unpack_your_creativity
One Before Start:
Tomorrow is the day! 1 day to Start!
Some tips:
Every night (my night), I will send you a 5 minute task for you to do.
Choose a time of day to do your Creative task. On your way to work, on your morning run, with your coffee.
Use a timer.
Reflect on the task. Where you comfortable doing it? Was it hard, was it easy?
Extra Points: If you choose to share your insights each day with me you will be automatically entered into a lottery for a 25 Euro Amazon gift card. If at least 30 people finish the 21 days and share their insights with me daily I will donate 250 Euros to https://www.chamos.org.uk charity.
Thoughts, reflections, questions, photos can be sent to Carolina: unpackyoucreativity@gmail.com
I will also post the daily challenge in IG @unpack_your_creativity
“At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play — with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn’t).” (Robinson, 2006)
Robinson, S. K. (2006, June 27). Do schools kill creativity? Www.ted.com. https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity/c
Speech from 1997. Still applies to today. Blurb from the post:
In this lecture-style presentation, John Cleese claims that creativity is not a special talent. People are either in an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ state of mind. The closed mode enables people to apply themselves to tasks with vigour and concentration; the open mode is more relaxed and conducive to creative thinking. Cleese talks about how leaders can induce an open mode in their team members and establish confidence in them to accept that there is a succession of learning steps on the road to total quality.
