Creative sparks
During your journey through life you will have many sparks that will ignite your creativity, goals and dreams. A spark sets it in motion. It is that willingness to start something without knowing how it will turn out. When others are “jealous” of your work or creativity, it should be taken as a form of compliment.
Most people depend on someone or something outside of themselves to light their fire.
Your passions, your personal gifts are planted within you by God. It is up to you to cultivate them.
What are the 3 elements of fire?
1) Fuel: If there is nothing to burn, nothing will burn. Your “fuel” is made up of what you are focusing on. What do you read, watch and listen to? Does it empower you or does it enslave you? Be aware of what you are looking for in your body and mind.
2) Oxygen: this is the essential bond that the environment creates so that the fire can continue to burn. Your oxygen is the people you surround yourself with. Be aware of who they are and if they build you up or tear you down. Plum accordingly.
3) Ignition – A beautiful car will stay parked unless there is a spark that starts the engine. Your ignition is often fueled by wonder and a willingness to try something new or take an area of your life to another level. How bad do you want something? What are you willing to do for your health, your life, your finances, etc.?
I had my “first spark” at age 8. I was at summer reading camp. During the 15-minute break between classes, I decided there was plenty of time to climb the beautiful 9-foot tree next to the girls’ dorm. I climbed hand over hand pushing up every inch in my tennis shoes until I reached the top of the tree and landed my right leg on a rusty nail attached to a board.
As I came down, my right leg was torn and blood flowed down the tree like sap. Nick, a counselor, saw what was happening and ran up to the tree and said, “Do you want to lose your leg?
“I shook my head. No!”
He took me in his arms, called another counselor to call my parents and have them meet us at the hospital!
In my mind I see my mom getting into our car, driving the 3 1/2 hours to the hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. As she drives, she says to herself: “I have to get her out of the trees before she kills herself!”
By the time Mom got to the hospital, she had a plan!
When he arrived, he saw me sitting there with over 25 stitches on my right leg. Mom leaned over and gave me a fierce hug. He looked into my brown eyes with his beautiful blue eyes and said, “Madeline, if I buy you a violin and give you lessons, will you promise me that you will never climb another tree?”
I looked into my mother’s bright blue eyes and promised her that I would never climb another tree if she brought me a violin and gave me lessons. “
For many years I had wanted to play the violin and this was my chance. It all started with the first spark, landing on a rusty nail. That rusty nail saved my life and was the first spark of my journey.
What was your first spark, the catalyst, of your journey?
My second spark!
When summer camp was over, Mom came to pick me up with my new little violin and my bow in the back window in its case. The next day Mom took me to see my violin teacher, a handsome and smiling young man, Mr. William Whitson, a violinist and military officer.
He taught me how to hold the violin and bow, where to place the fingers on the string, and how to make a sound on the instrument by pulling the bow through the strings. He did it by modeling how to play for me and then asking me to try it out.
He also taught me to read the notes on the musical page that parallels reading a book and in my first violin lesson he taught me to play the theme of Beethoven’s ninth symphony, Ode to Joy.
Third spark:
After my first violin lesson with Mr. Whitson, I asked my mom to take me to the public library so I could borrow a book on Beethoven to read all about him. That day was the beginning of my enjoyment of reading.
Mr. Whitson’s breath was the spark, the second catalyst, the fuel that kept me going through my moments of frustration.
Many years later, at 17, I had the honor of playing the world famous Carnegie Hall. That journey would never have been possible without the investment my mentor made in me.
What are some examples in your life that changed the trajectory of your life?
What sparked the creativity of Charles Dickens for the first time?
Dickens said: “One person ignited my imagination and gave me the tools to be a writer.” At the age of 3, Charles was so full of energy that he never wanted to go to sleep. His mother had a maid named Mary Weller who worked for 3 meals a day and a warm place to sleep in front of the stove. She did not clean the house. Her job was to “find a way to keep Dickens to bed at night. She told the best horror horror story.” She knew 125 stories, but Dickens’s favorite story was “The Killer Captain” and he always asked for this story. (Engels, E. (1997). Dickens for Children. North Carolina: Ink Authors.)
What was your second spark?
At age 11, the debtor’s police took Charles’s father to the debtors’ prison in front of Charles. He said, “I will never be poor again.” His mother and brothers were sent to Marshalsea Prison and during this time Charles was sent to work at Warren’s Blacking Factory for ten hours a day. He had to wear five pairs of socks, while working in the factory, to have some protection against the rats that bit his socks in the factory. His traumatic experiences, feelings of alienation and betrayal are the subjects of his books “David Copperfield” and “Great Expectations.” (Claire Tomalin, “Charles Dickens”.)
These two sparks were the catalysts for Charles Dickens’ future of writing books to bring about social change from poverty, child labor, and workhouses. Dickens changed the world through his writing.
What woke up Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson?
“In 1995 I had $ 7 in my pocket and I knew two things: I’m broke … and someday I won’t be.” He decided to relentlessly pursue his definition of success. First in the world of wrestling, then in the movies.
Do you remember that first spark that set you on your way?
Throughout your journey, there will be plenty of sparks to get you moving!
How can you help ignite a spark in others, a fire within them, to act and take that first step?
How can you be a spark, a catalyst for change for someone else?
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Who will you help change?
Sparks are the catalyst for change!
1) Write down your first, second, and three “sparks” that changed the direction of your life.
2) Like Charles Dickens, was there a person or place that sparked your creativity to take action for your future?
3) How can you activate a spark in someone else’s life to act?