Author: soniabellhouse

I wrote about online courses and I have taken several of them through Future Learn(UK) and the University of Iowa(USA),Yes I  admit am a bit of a girlie swot! I have taken history,  fiction writing and even a short psychology course

Both sites offer free courses, Future Learn offers short courses in  variety of subjects from health to history from Literature to archaeology as well as courses on writing. They provide a glimpse of what a more extensive course would be. The history course I took provided informed comments from learners worldwide,Sadly those friendships ended with the course,

Not so with the University of Iowa courses the depth of knowledge and information was excellent( A course is just starting -look them up!) The bonus was the valued friendships that were forged. I met a poet from New Zealand and we are still in contact a couple of year later. I also made great connections with a couple of writers in the USA and in Canada, I trust these people to be honest with me about my work  We are still friends today,

Learning was the aim the friendships were the bonus.

Almost all the creative people I have met have been generous with sharing their expertise. Writers, who are the group I generally hang out with share websites, contests, and information. There seems to be little competitiveness rather a spirit of celebrating everyone’s success and commiserating when things don’t go so well.

A group I  call’ the friends I have yet to meet ‘have come into my life via one of the online courses I took or even via Facebook. They too tend to be creative people and  are happy to share resources. These ‘kindred spirits’ are based in differing places.

A couple are in the UK, one is Isabella Rose  we connected over her brilliant photographs and her love of nature. She  has given me permission to use this lovely photograph of a bluebell wood.

You can find more of her work at https://izzyrosejournal.wordpress.com

Solitaire La Lune Chat I ‘met ‘via  her Facebook page and enjoyed her varied postings about cats and other things We have become friends, exchanging news, pictures, and birthday  cards.

I still go cold when I think about it- today  I was almost mistaken for a shoplifter.

I intended to return a can of salmon I’d bought by mistake – it was salmon and chilli I had wanted plain salmon. To be sure of returning it , I’d put it and the store receipt in my handbag. There were a few other chores to do first- and when we got to the supermarket I breezed right in and started shopping.

Half way round I realised I was supposed to be  returning the salmon , so I asked my husband to get it from the car. He returned shaking his head, saying “Its not there. you must have it.”

I opened my handbag and there nestling inside was the tin of salmon- too late to try and explain it away. I swear I must have flushed red with embarrassment. What to do? I was expecting  store security to accost me at any second.

“Give it me,” my husband hissed and I glanced around me before stealthily sliding the can into his hand. He strolled  away to  return it to the shelf and I continued shopping.

I only relaxed when we had not only left the store but left the car park. Did I do right? What would you have done?

Creativity is more than just those few people who earn a living as artists, writers or performers. Many, many more people do these activities  because they enjoy them, and feel a sense of accomplishment when they perform or create.

 Everyday creativity is when we use our imagination to improve our daily life for example .

Re purposing an item. Find another use  for an item that you might otherwise throw away. My broken  fountain makes a great planter, all it needed was a couple of drainage holes drilled in the base

           What is a Creative Pathway?

    Do you think that you aren’t creative?   If so, why not?

Most of us have been told at some point —often at school that our efforts at painting or writing or singing weren’t good enough.

As John Lennon said

” All kids draw and write poetry and everything, and some of us last until we’re about eighteen, but most drop off at about twelve when some guy comes up and says, “You’re no good.”

So what did we do? We stopped. We didn’t say ‘but I enjoy it, I’ll do it anyway, for fun’.

We didn’t say” I can improve; I’ll give myself a second chance. Another try. ”

Maybe we should have done just that, but it’s never too late to think of yourself as creative and to express yourself.

I believe that we all have the potential to be creative or more creative in everyday life

In my next post I  will talk about everyday creativity.