Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Looking At Creativity 4

Lessons Learned…

Creativity Unwrapped 4

Play is the root of creativity, and creativity is the root of innovation.  Children need to play.  We all need much more time in the course of our days to feel the joy, the freedom, the absolute delight of eye-sparkling, imagination exercising, friendship building, playful fun. Such time would do us all a world of good.
Scene 9:
(President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton at the White House discussing war plans while President’s boys are running and playing all over the White House)
Stanton: They’re a little rambunctious.
Abe: They’re boys.
(more playing)
Stanton: We are trying to save our country.
Abe: They are playing.
(more playing)
Stanton: Can’t you tell them to stop?
Abe: Of course I can, Mr. Stanton, but I won’t. These are sad, dark, painful times.  Agony and grief are everywhere. These little ones are lost in the joy and wonder of childhood play. They lift my heart, and they remind me of the hope we must have. Let them play, Sir. Let them play.

Let them run, let them be, full of fun and perfectly free, let them play oh let them play.
Let them laugh, let them hide, let them sing inside or outside, let them play oh let them play.
They are children too quickly they grow; give them joy, give them hope, give them room so they’ll know that you love them.
Let them dream, let them build, imagination can only be filled when they play oh let them play.
Let them care for many a pet, let them splash and get themselves wet, let them play oh let them play.
They are children too quickly they grow; give them joy, give them hope, give them room so they’ll know that you love them.

Tad and Willie played and played through the halls and gardens of the White House with all of their pets and toys. Their happy interruptions and antics warmed the heart of their dad and always brought a smile to his mostly serious face.
(from Forever Honest Abe by Darcy Hill)

If we value innovation, we must value creativity, and if we value creativity, we must value play. We simply must.


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