Page 3 - Senior Times South Central Michigan January 2022 - 29-01

Senior Times - January 2022 Page 3
EXPLORE YOUR CREATIVITY IN THE “GOLDEN YEARS”
By: Tim Mitchell
We all have a spark of creativity. We were born with it. Yes, there are some minds that appear to be more creative than others, however, none of us are exempt from this innate char- acteristic. Yet, creativity is often stifled by the daily routine of life. Work and family demands become the primary focus, leaving our creative side on the back burner.
69 he began preparing his work for publishing, and at 73 he published, Roget’s Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases. He continued making revisions to his work until his death at age 90. There are countless students and writers who are thankful for Dr. Roget’s creative think- ing. Published at 73.
Nevertheless, some level of creativity remains in every person throughout the entirety of life. In fact, creativity has no demographic boundaries and, thankfully, can be renewed at any age.
At the age of 67, Anna Mary Robertson, devoted herself to painting themes of rural and agricultural life in America. When she was 78 an art collector discovered her and she eventually became known as “Grandma Moses.” Her book, My Life’s History, was published when she was 92. Published at 92.
Interestingly, the “golden years,” a time when life is not as hectic, often re-opens the door of creativity allowing many to discover or use dormant creative talents.
One individual perfectly portrays this sce- nario. Growing up, she repeatedly moved from place to place with her parents and siblings. With a desire to help her struggling family, she decided to become a teacher. However, after only a few short years, she gave up that profes- sion when she married, to help her husband on the farm. Her adult life became especially dif- ficult, scarred by numerous tragedies including the death of her infant son; her husband being partially paralyzed; the destruction of their barn along with its hay and grain in a mysterious fire; and the total loss of their home from a fire accidentally set by her daughter. This led to severe debt and financial hardship. Later in life she began chronicling her memoir about her childhood, only to be rejected by publisher after publisher. Not to be deterred, she continued to
This list of outstanding examples could go on and on as countless people have illustrated their creative side in demonstrative ways.
Examples of creativity during the golden years are plentiful.
improve her manuscript as the years continued. It wasn’t until the age of 65, that she was able
to convince a publisher to take a chance on her writings. Her first book was published, with several others following, the last of her works being published at the age of 76. There was even a long-running television program based on her writing. You will know her as Laura Ingalls Wilder and the name of the TV series, Little House on the Prairie. Published at 76.
The good news is that creativity knows no age and one does not have to become a well-known author or artist to benefit from the fulfillment found in releasing their creative side.
There are countless others who found a cre- ative expression later in life. Gladys Burrill, for example, ran her first marathon when she was 86 and became very well-known after completing the Honolulu Marathon at the age of 92, gaining herself a place in the Guinness World Records. Marathons at 86 and 92.
So where will creativity lead you? Is there
a book inside you wanting to break out? Do
you feel drawn to expressing yourself through painting or some other artistic form? Maybe it’s woodworking or metal sculpting or classic car restoration. It could be pottery, gardening or dec- orating. There is no limitation on creativity.
Peter Mark Roget, in retirement, enjoyed making lists and began creating a catalog of words organized by their meaning. At the age of
Publisher’s note: Whether learning a new skill, developing a new hobby, or keeping
your brain active is part of your New Year’s resolution, age does not have to be a barrier. Let these few examples inspire you to consider what you might be able to do. In case you need a little nudge sign up for Life Long Learning classes at a location near you.
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