Creativity is about living life creatively in ALL ways. This means it’s not just about creating physical objects; it’s also about creating non-physical things, which could be the emotional, spiritual or intellectual results of a creative urge.

A smile can be one of the most creative things of all and, given that it costs nothing in materials, is of instant construction, and we can all do it, can produce the most incredibly creative results.

For yourself a smile can change the way you see yourself and your life. In the morning, look at yourself in the mirror and no matter how miserable or angry – or happy - you might feel, crack a smile. Force yourself to smile at yourself in the mirror. (It’s probably best to be on your own when you do this…)

Keep smiling. It will make you feel good. It will make you look younger and friendlier, more approachable.

You might feel daft standing there smiling at yourself in the mirror – but why is that? Why shouldn’t you smile at yourself? You’re a nice person. You deserve you to smile at you. You deserve you to be nice and friendly to you. Of all people, you should be able to rely on yourself to be nice to you. Too many of us are not nice to ourselves.

You might succumb to a fit of the giggles because you’re not used to smiling at yourself and you feel self conscious. That’s good, too - giggling’s good.

You’ll be surprised at how this exercise can lift your spirits. Also, just as you want to keep all your muscles fit and healthy - you want to keep those smiling muscles in use and fit, too – it makes for a better face-shape.

For other people, a smile can make all the difference to their day, too. It’s like those cartoons you see where a passenger (Sybil) gets on the bus and the bus driver frowns at her. Sybil then frowns at another passenger (Harry) who had been thinking of offering her his seat. Harry doesn’t offer her his seat. Harry feels bad because he didn’t offer Sybil his seat so when he gets to work he snaps at his office manager who then suspends him from work. Harry goes home and kicks the cat.

(By the way, Sybil, because her back was aching from not being able to sit down on the bus, goes into the shop and shouts at the assistant (Lana), who bursts into tears and phones her boyfriend (Rhett). Rhett tries to comfort her; Lana shouts at Rhett; he goes out, gets drunk, starts a fight, the gang joins in, another gang joins in, and we’re into war before you know it.) All from a frown.

If the bus driver had smiled – (you can see it all can’t you) – then Sybil would have smiled at Harry, who would have offered her his seat. Harry would have felt really good about himself, gone into work and been cheerful and helpful; his office manager would have promoted him and he’d have gone home and hugged the cat.

(By the way, Sybil, because she’d been offered a seat by that nice Harry, goes into the shop and praises the assistant, and gives her a huge tip; Lana phones Rhett and tells him how wonderful he is and how she will indeed marry him; Rhett is so joyful he works hard, becomes a scientist and works out how to return the earth to health, and ensure world peace.) All from a smile.

Creativity – positive and negative – permeates every area of life.

Do your bit for world peace and smile!

Creatively yours,

Susan

This is my artwork blog – there are a few smiles on there if you want somewhere to start. (Monty and Rosie are my Border Collies)