The Right Stuff 7-21-11

Who has creativity and who doesn’t? I could sit on the internet and take a bunch of tests to see if I’ve got it or not. I wonder what they would say about me? I really don’t know if I have the “right stuff” to qualify me as a creative person. What would the average person say the creative person qualities are these days? Just the idea of me thinking about creativity makes me feel not so creative. I feel a little scared about the topic although I get the “that was the most creative lesson!” from some of my colleagues. Is that a positive comment or a negative one? Are they trying to say that my brain is awesomely charged with the “right stuff?” Or are they saying I’m kind of an air head that just throws lessons together? I have a feeling the next time someone even alludes to the fact that perhaps I might be creative, I might have to escape in the nearby faculty lounge. Maybe instead I might have to ask them to explain that comment because I don’t really understand.

Who do I think has the “right stuff”? My son’s friend, who I will call Brian for purposes of anonymity, has the “right stuff.” He builds stuff: all kinds of creations that move and have useful purposes. After my son comes home from his house, I love to ask the question “What is Brian up to these days?” I usually get a rolling laughter from my son which is a good indication that something fabulous and creative is going to follow.

Creativity? Why is it important? Because children like Brian are going to come up with terrific inventions and solutions to terrible problems. If I was a betting person, I would bet on Brian’s future. This kid is going to invent something fabulous. He will probably be rich and famous too. Why? Because he has the “right stuff.”