A Born Creative

I’ve been a creative soul for just about my entire life. From the moment I could grasp a pen and spell my name, I was thinking up stories and before I could write, I was drawing.

While I enjoyed spending half the day outside playing (I was one of those kids whose parents had to practically yell at their kids to come in because it was getting late), what I especially loved doing was drawing, writing … just creating. I had the 64 box of Crayola crayons, the one with the built in pencil sharpener. Colors of which I selected with careful precision. Is this the right color for the grass? No, this shade would work better? How about a crimson red for these flowers or maybe a lavender? Wait! Let’s throw in some goldenrod yellow!

Like some creative children that loved stories and writing them, I took up making my own book. I would take a small stack of blank white copy paper or loose lined notebook paper (whatever was available) and staple two pieces of construction paper to it front and back. If I was feeling especially creative, my homemade book would include glitter. I would write the title of the book with craft school glue, shake a considerable amount of glitter on it, then let it dry. I’d even hand write my own menu, drawings of food included for when I played restaurant with my pretend food and toy kitchen!

When I drew, I went into detail. I would draw shoelaces on shoes or the steam rising out of a coffee mug.

I didn’t always need colorful crayons and markers. I sought creativity in the simplest things. I remember summer nights outside on the picnic table with just some paper and a pen.

The right pen mattered — Even as a kid

Writing with the right pen matters. I don’t care what anyone says. Not all pens are the same. And I strongly felt this even as a kid. Quite amusingly, my favorite highlight of going to the store wasn’t just exploring the toy aisle but seeking out that other magical aisle. The stationary and craft aisle. Where all the pencils, and pens, markers, and crayons were. As a treat, I was allowed to pick out one pack of pen. A reasonable two pack. I was drawn to pens with fun designs, the bold gel pens that made colors pop even at the risk of smearing, and the soft squishy grip that made drawing and writing even more enjoyable.

Being a creative kid shaped me into the creative soul I am today

Even today, when I am in need of a new set of pens, I seek out each pen in the stationary aisle with near careful precision. Today, I like a bold black medium point ink pen that writes smooth yet dries quick (I’m left-handed after all.)

It was obvious I loved being creative as a kid and my family strongly encouraged it. For my birthday or Christmas, I was given at least one thing to stimulate my creativity. Maybe a coloring book, a new notebook to write and draw in, or even a new set of pens.

As I got older, I found myself drawing less. I swear I was a better drawer than I am now! But I was always writing! It was even then, that I had dreams of being a writer. And who would have thought one way would be by creating stories on a writing platform like this one?

Here is a story I wrote in I believe first or second grade (handwritten with the help of my teacher because my handwriting wasn’t exactly the best! 😅) As a kid, cantaloupe was my favorite fruit!

I like to plant cantalopes. The sun is shining. I like to eat them too. They are good.

Jasmine, about age 7