Random Task Day and the Urgency of Creativity

If you follow the online home organization guru the Fly Lady, you know that Friday is clean out your purse and car day. I confess I am not very good at following this routine, but I heartily applaud it. But today I will do some random tasks I've put off--washing my yoga mat and bag, plus some other tote and little bag I use all the time. It's been a few years since I cleaned these. I don't want to think about all the germs on this stuff and go all Sheldon Cooper--I just want to finally, finally wash 'em as I keep saying to my yoga buddy.

If you're interested in reading a blog by someone who followed Fly Lady for a year, check out http://365dayswithflylady.wordpress.com/ I searched for "alternatives to Fly Lady" because I've never fully committed, and I stumbled upon some wise words about how routines help us make space for creatitivity. She talks about how when routines help us go on auto-pilot, we get stuff done and have time left over to do what we love. I wish I could find the post I read a few days ago--my memory is that she said the housekeeping is NOT a replacement for creativity. It simply keeps us freer and lighter so we have more mental space to focus on the fun stuff. I've heard this and even written about it, but it's taking a long time to sink in!

As for  the importance of creativity in the lives of ordinary people, I love what  Dr. Brene Brown from the University of Houston said in an interview with Oprah. According to Brown, "Unused creativity is not benign. We are creative beings!" That rings so true with me. I feel much more joyful when I tap into my right-brained side. Brown has some new stuff coming up on Oprah life classes this September. I hope I can check them out online. If you haven't yet seen her famous TED Talks, go check them out. Her research is encouraging because it's stuff you already knew, but now there's proof!