Researching Albert Einstein could make you feel like an idiot. This incredible physicist developed the theory of relativity, and he laid groundwork for quantum theory, the photon theory of light, the Brownian movement of molecules (I won’t continue). Bonus: he has really interesting things to say.
“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein
Not exactly what we’d expect from someone with those credentials. And yet, the truth of these five words can change your life if you let it brew in your brain for a few smart seconds. What do you do when you solve a problem, draw a picture, play an instrument, or write a story?
You begin to employ creative thinking. To create is to bring something into existence. That something comes alive inside of you. It’s said that Einstein thought in pictures, and that was (in part) how he discovered and worked out his theories.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, and giving birth to evolution.” – Albert Einstein
Einstein was a genius. He’s probably most famous for E=mc2. He won the Nobel Prize. He didn’t say the above quote with a chip on his shoulder because he didn’t have knowledge. He found that knowledge falls short. It’s good and important to gain knowledge, but don’t value it over imagination.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving forward.” – Albert Einstein
Time, space, and motion were all important to Einstein. In order to ride a bike, you must time your foot to push down on a pedal, lift your other foot at the right moment to catch the opposite pedal, and keep going. When you keep moving, you can go faster than you could without the bike.
So, what do you have in common with Einstein?
You have an imagination that is capable of amazing things. Don’t underestimate it! Employ creativity in life. Use your imagination. And keep moving forward.
(sources include but not limited to: nobelprize.org, time.com, wikipedia.com)
Until next time,
Invent your story
Games are a great way to build skills while having fun. So this St. Patrick’s day, grab a few tools that will get those kids thinking. This project has some unusual pieces, but is easily modified, so if you don’t have it at home, try something comparable.
Here’s the basics of what you need:
A cup (for the goal)
Some lightweight balls (to shoot at the goal)
A jumbo popsicle stick (for shooting)
A spring (for resistance)
A paint stick (for the base)
Duct tape (for the hinge)
Decorative stuff – paint, sequins, pipe cleaners, etc. (for fun)
Hot glue
Start by lining the end of the paint stick up with the end of the jumbo popsicle stick. Add a piece of duct tape over the top edge of the sticks so they can open and close freely. This is your hinge.
Wrap the excess duct tape around the sides of the hinge. Secure it with a second piece of duct tape on the un-taped side, and wrap in the same fashion as the first piece. You now have a hinge!
If you press the two sticks together, you will feel a level of resistance, but it’s not enough act as a shooter. Put the spring in between the two sticks, and you will begin to get a feel for where it fits best on the base.
Once you’ve found the sweet spot where it will launch you ball, use hot glue to secure the spring to the base. Do not glue the spring to the popsicle stick! You will need the full motion of the top stick to launch the ball into the air.
When the glue is cool, it’s time to decorate. Your game is ready! There are many ways to play, but for St. Patrick’s Day, why not pretend that you’re a leprechaun and you’re saving up treasure in your pot of gold. The person who gets the most of their color in the cup wins the pot!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
This art is easy and super cheap to make. I love the how the 3D effect of weaving the cardboard pieces together really makes it pop. Although the design looked complicated, all you need are four cardboard U’s, glue, a utility knife, and paint.
When creating a template for your cardboard U’s, keep in mind that the wider the U-shape is, the easier it will be to weave. Using a popcorn bowl for a guide works well.
Trace and cut out one piece using the circle guides (I used the popcorn bowl for the outer circle and pan lid for the inner circle) and then make 3 more “U” shapes from the first piece. Once they are all cut out, it’s time to weave them together. This can be a little bit tricky, but you can do it.
If you look at the design, you will see how they are woven together. Start with opposite sides. One “U” will go over the top of the other “U” and under the bottom of the other “U”. Then the third “U” weaves over one side “U” and under the other side “U”. The fourth “U” weaves over-under-over-under the other three, to complete the design.
Once your pieces are woven together, you can pull the ends out to secure the design. You will want to glue the ends to connect them. Hot glue works very well for this kind of project, and again, you’ll want to start with opposite ends. Be sure one side is cool before gluing the opposite sides.
Once your design is intact, you can paint it! You can use green spray paint to give it a nice, even coat for a base. For the finishing touch, add a little gold metallic paint around the edges to accentuate the overall look. Whalah! Ready to dance a little jig? Me too!
Art is about doing what you like, experimenting, and having fun. Feel free to use this idea, but if you get a better one along the way, take the risk and invent it!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Inventor!
I used to be a runner. In high school, I joined the track team because I thought I was pretty fast. My teammates and competitors proved me wrong, but I learned a lot about racing. Life isn’t a race, but years have a cycle to them. When you cross that starting point to go another round, something happens.
The New Year brings reflection and direction. I think about how far I’ve come – and where I want to be. How do I move forward? If you’re like me, you want to make every step count.
I’ve tried (and failed) at New Year’s resolutions before. This year I got some different advice that’s significant enough to share. It sounds simple, potentially powerful, and effectively fail-proof.
Instead of a resolution, choose a word.
The word can be “chill” or “declutter” or “grace” – whatever resonates with you and lines up with your goals for 2018. When you get tired or stuck spinning on your track, use the word (choose a positive word people!) to keep you moving and power through.
Are you wondering what my word is?
You know, I haven’t completely decided, but I’m considering “try”. I took some pretty big chances in 2017 (learn about my amazing trip from Bluehost) and the adventure wouldn’t be in my story if I hadn’t tried. I met incredible people over the course of the year, did some wacky art, and sewed seeds that may still bloom in 2018.
Friends, I might be addicted to trying.
Thank you for sticking with me as we invent our stories together. What creative/innovative dream are you going to try this year? Let me know because I would love to encourage you.
I hope a good word helps! But no matter what, keep inventing your story.
Grab your guitars y’all – we are going to Nashville, Tennessee!
Bluehost was true to their word. I took the challenge to enter their WordCamp US 2017 Giveaway on my last blog post – and I still don’t believe it, but I won!
I’m so excited (and amazed!) at this incredible gift. Here’s the low-down on how generous they’ve been with this giveaway:
- A roundtrip flight to Nashville, TN
- 4-night stay in a hotel
- WordCamp backpack full of essentials for WordCamp ($150 value)
- 1 entry ticket to WordCamp US
- One $250 gift card for expenses during WordCamp US
YEE-HAW!
I feel like you can move my life into the fiction section of the library now. Seriously! Did this really happen? Yes, it did. Can it happen for you too? Keep stepping in the direction of your dreams and yes! Doors will open up for you. Keep inventing your story!
What is WordCamp anyway?
WordCamp is a community organized event that connects WordPress enthusiasts from all over. At the conference, speakers empower and equip attendees to grow in excellence and expand horizons. It’s a fantastic way to connect with cool, motivated people who make a difference every day. I’ve never been there before, and I can’t wait to soak it all in.
If you want to kick it up in Nashville with WordPress & Bluehost, follow their blog like I did, and stay up-to-date on what they’re doing. It’s a fantastic resource for anyone with a website. And you can still sign-up for this year’s conference. If you come, I would love to meet you!
I will definitely share more of my story with you as everything at WordCamp gets rolling. So far, in my excited flurry to connect with them, I accidentally gave them the wrong phone number to contact me! Bluehost couldn’t be cooler, and I am just thanking God that I get to hang out with them in a few weeks.
In the meantime, thank you for journeying with me. I want to hear your success stories too, so we can celebrate together. What has been a catalyst in your story so far?
Happy Inventing!
For all of my readers out there, this post is going to be a little bit different. I’ve started to switch my website (currently hosted by WordPress) over to a Bluehost account (which partners with WordPress) to expand what I am able to control on my site. Bluehost is offering a free trip to their WordCamp Conference in Nashville, and the way to enter is to write a blog post about why they should pick you.
I’m excited about this opportunity because I don’t want to be a regular business. Or a regular author. Or regular in any way except how I like my coffee in the morning. The reason I chose Bluehost is because I want to take my website/web business to the next level. The reason they should choose me is I have a vision for my website, and I want to partner with Bluehost.
When I launched my site about a year ago, I was compelled to write about invention because I believe the concept of invention is universally valuable. The recorded history of mankind is inspired and thrust forward by men and women who share this zeal. The pursuit of the wonders that can discovered when people fuse new ideas with strong existing foundations is an adventure worth taking.
If chosen, my goal in Nashville will be to learn, share, and go to the next level with Bluehost. Whether or not I am selected as the winner, I would like to recommend it to anyone in a similar place in their business. You can learn more about WordCamp here. I received an entry into the Bluehost WordCamp US Giveaway for writing this post.
Also for my readers: what do you want to take to the next level in your story? Don’t let anything hold you back. Figure out the first step you need to take to get there, and take it.
Invent your story!
Keeping a time sheet sounds like a needless, stifling, and altogether gross task that could shift your creative writing focus and undermine your inner artist. I avoided this devil for a long time. After all, as long as you write to the best of your ability, why would it matter how long it takes?
It matters.
Time is important. A book may take 6 months or 6 years to complete depending on the amount of time you invest into researching and writing it. But you won’t know how much time you actually invested in it if you don’t keep track. A time sheet may not change how long it takes to complete your work, but it will make you a more informed writer.
And information is motivating.
Say a project takes 8 hours to complete. (This is something you won’t know, by the way, if you don’t keep track.) You have the option to tackle it in different ways:
This example is not entirely fair. You will not get the exact same results if you write for an hour at a time or 4 hours at a time. But creating a time sheet to track your writing will help you begin to see patterns, find your rhythm, and enjoy your craft.
It can also motivate you to keep writing. You will have proof each day that you are moving forward and your work is not sitting on the shelf. If you don’t have an editor, agent, or publisher in your life (and honestly, even if you do) you don’t have someone waking you up in the morning telling you to write. You need to make the choice for yourself.
Keeping on track as a writer can be challenging. You have to be the boss and the worker bee at the same time. I don’t know of a business out there that doesn’t track the time their workers put into each day because time is valuable.
As you invent your story, keep track of the time you invest in it. You, your time, and your story are worth the effort. Using this tool may streamline your writing to be more efficient and effective, but I think the most rewarding part is the ability to look back one day and see how far you’ve come.
Happy Writing!
What do you do when something you care for breaks? If your 18-year-old vehicle needs a new transmission, is it “broken” or does it just need another new part? Or say you find a hole in a favorite shirt. Is it trash now? A work shirt? Or still a regular shirt, just with “personality”?
I’ve never been one to enjoy throwing things away. There’s a certain sadness to it.
Like “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. There are many layers to that story, but one noteworthy angle is the tree is very useful. Even when it’s down to a stump, a stump still has value. I love that story with all my heart.
But there is a point in life where you can get stumped if you don’t embrace change.
Here’s how bad I am at this:
My popcorn popper. I’ve had this popcorn popper for over 10 years. It first cracked – just a little bit – about 2 years into its current lifespan. But it still worked. In fact, it even worked better in some ways because the crack provided a little bit of “give” for transferring popcorn to another bowl.
Over the last 8 years, the original crack grew, and it split the entire lid of the popper. There is literally 3-4 inches of lid left before it’s broken in two. But people handle popper problems in different ways:
Some people would throw it away or donate it 8 years ago.
Other people might keep it for awhile, but once it’s ¾ gone, it’s done.
I am convinced that there is someone out there who, even after it’s split in two, would duct tape this puppy together and say, “See! It still works!”
Sometimes inventions break because we break them.
Sometimes things just break down.
At some point, we have to embrace that change is a good thing. Brokenness is never fun, but sometimes inventors get so caught up in what’s broken, we lose sight of the original goal.
Does the popper make popcorn?
But don’t stop there, because after that, inventing becomes a whole lot more fun. Values and critical thinking can be applied. Is the popper operating to the best of its ability? How can we improve it? Is it aesthetically pleasing? Does it need to be? Would it be better to adopt an entirely new way to pop popcorn altogether?
When we embrace a mindset that allows for brokenness to be a catalyst for change, the world becomes a place that is full of different ways to make popcorn: over the fire, off the cob, in the microwave, on the stove in a pot, in a covered tinfoil pie plate….
I’m getting hungry, so I’m going to wrap this up. When inventions break, face the broken pieces and move forward with your end goal in mind.
The results may be the best part of your story. Happy inventing!
I’m not a professor. Before you hit X, you need to know I did take a nature writing class in college. So, I am professionally taught. Right now, my butt is on a rock and an oak root is buddying up to my coffee mug. It doesn’t get more natural than that.
Welcome to nature writing.
My first assignment to you will be the same challenge I took from my professor in college:
- Get up a half-hour earlier than you normally do.
- Make coffee. It must be coffee.
- Grab a notebook, pen, and your coffee – then go outside.
We had to go to the same spot every day and write – so we were advised to pick our spot carefully. I climbed a tree by a pond back then. I’m feeling kind of lame on this rock now, but that’s okay. I’ll climb a tree tomorrow.
Anyway, once you’re in your “spot” – and if you live in the north during the school season, you’re probably getting cold fast – here’s what you do:
- Write what you hear, taste, smell, touch, and see.
- Write what you’re thinking about.
- Write how you feel.
- Drink your coffee.
The coffee part was the killer for me because I was not a coffee drinker – so I thought I’d be super-smart and buy the cheapest stuff I could find.
Gross.
But it became an odd companion to me. And I visited that tree long after the class was over. You know, it’s funny because it sounds like a complete waste of time. And there are people who will always think something like nature writing is a complete waste of time no matter what you say.
I was going to try and describe all the things I hear, and feel, and imagine right now, but my professor nailed it:
You’ve just got to experience it for yourself.
So, we studied a bunch of books, wrote reports, and all that jazz. For today, I’m going to cut out early and find a tree. As for you, you have your assignment.
Class dismissed.
*I originally wrote this post as a guest blogger for questtype.com. It’s a really cool blog that has fun DIY projects for kids and adults, delicious recipes, and great writing advice. Check it out! Questtype.com.
And have fun inventing your story today.