# 3 - I need to create

The Top 10 Things I've Learned in My 50 years on this planet...

# 10 - Don't sweat the small stuff

#   9 - Being mean blows chunks

#   8 - You can't reason with the unreasonable

#   7 - I need quiet

#   6 - Life is unpredictable; change is constant

#   5 - Giving is good; receiving is hard

#   4 - Less is more

#   3 - I need to create

 

We are down to our last 3 in this top 10 list.  And my birthday is 2 days away!  3 days from now is my sky dive and then the par-tay!!  I'm excited!!!  Happy 5-0 to me!!  Woo-hoo!

 

Ok, sorry, back to the post.  Momenty lapse into dancing now over...

 

These last 3 things I've learned are each a bit more personal - things that I've learned that are true for me.  Others may not see them as true for themselves, but that's ok.  I will read your top 10 things learned list when you turn 50 and respect what you've learned.

 

So # 3 - I need to create.  I don't just like to create or love to create, I need to create.  Cooking for me is about creating.  I have posted plenty of pics of things I've created in the world of food, so I think this point is probably self-evident.

 

Writing is creating.  Again - perchance this one is also self-evident...

 

So let me talk about a few other arenas where I need to create.  I need to create beauty - or at least be part of creating beauty.  I am part of the "village" at work that has been caring for this little African Violet.  For the longest time, it was alive but not blooming or truly thriving.  I'm not one of the parents - I'm only part of the village, but I do get to enjoy the efforts of its real parents, since they tend this beauty in the window that is right behind my desk.  Simple.  Beautiful.  Life.

As I was snapping this pic yesterday I couldn't help but think about the fact that my photo skills can't begin to do this little beauty full justice.  Not like my brother can.  He can create beauty with a camera that I will never be able to touch.  If I could find his flicker site, I'd post the link here, and you'd see what I mean...He needs to create, too, I'm thinking. 

 

Learning is creating for me.  I am a geek.  It's true, and I'm proud.  One of my more geeky tendencies is that I LOVE to learn.  I don't just have to learn.  I don't just tolerate learning.  I actually like to learn.  No, that is not completely true.  I don't just like to learn; I :LOVE to learn!  New ways of doing things - new ways of looking at things - new ways of thinking about things - and then applying those to create in new ways.  It can be learning something complex like new ways to design and utilize SAP functionality (my job); it can be learning something simple like how to plant a garden; it can be re-learning something simple like a new way to cook corn on the cob...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBF6bv4Oe4

 

(Is he cute or what?!  Makes ya want to just give him a little hug.)

 

It can be learning something useful like how am I supposed to post comments as replies to other people's comments on this blog thing?!  I'm serious here.  I tried like 73.5 times yesterday to reply to Natalie's comment about # 4 - Less is more - and I got no where.  No where.  If anyone can tell me what magical setting I'm supposed to adjust or what profile I'm supposed to be using or whatever incantation I'm failing to recite to make this work, I'd LOVE to learn from you!  I used to be able to...and now I can't...and I have no idea why. 

 

So Natalie - if you are reading, here is what I wanted to comment back.  Ready? 

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement, Natalie.  You've always been a woman of soft-spoken, kind-hearted, wise words.

 

At the risk of sounding too theological, I actually think I'm not alone in this need to create.  I actually think it is evidence of being made in the image of our Creator.  We may not all need to create with quite the same intensity and definitely not in the same ways, but I think we all need to create on some level...even that bit of universal biological clock ticking need for procreation can point to what I'm talking about.

 

I'll close with one other example of my need to create.  I need to create memories.  When I bake a cake for someone, not only do I get to create the cake, and not only does that cake always create a smile on the other person's face (seriously...always...try to receive a cake sometime from someone and not smile....ain't gonna happen...), it usually creates a memory.  I brought some raspberry mascarpone chocolate croissants into work on Monday for a friend's birthday - created a memory.  The sisterhood made homeade toasted raviolis recently to serve at my birthday party this weekend - created a memory.  (Yes, I know, I'm slapping my hand now as I type for failing to take pics of the process and post here.  You're right.  I'm sorry.  Sigh... again, see how much I have yet to learn!)

 

But don't give up on me.  I will get better at this stuff.  (Hopefully even figuring out the blasted comments thing!)  Because I love to learn.  I love to create.

 

Nay, I need to create.