Feb 15 2010
The Teacher Becomes the Student
Recently my husband and daughter were sitting before a colorful glitter paint set getting ready to create masterpieces. With her paintbrush poised in midair my daughter said, “Watch Daddy!” Then, she proceeded to dip her paintbrush in several different colors – drops of pink were left floating in the yellow paint and then pink and yellow were floating in the blue and so on. Once she’d coated her brush with color she began to paint.
My husband’s initial reaction was to say, “NOOOOoooo wait, we don’t want to mix like that,” but only a small animal-like sound uttered from his lips before he caught himself. She looked at him for a moment and smiled. “See? Come on Daddy let’s mix.” As soon as he let go of the idea of organization and doing things “the way they should be done” the two had an absolute blast.
Doesn’t it seem that from the time we reach a certain age we are programmed “not to make a mess”? But I need to ask – what’s wrong with making a mess?? You have to clean it up? Ok, yes sometimes that sucks but think about the last time you really let yourself explore a subject, idea, craft, etc. You probably made a mess which is great. Why? Because when we make a mess it allows us to focus on something essential to our growth – exploration. It doesn’t matter what age we are, the moment we allow ourselves the freedom to play and mess-make, we learn and grow in ways because we aren’t editing ourselves; we are letting thought happen which inevitably creates even more exciting ideas. If we are stopping every few moments to organize everything or make sure things are in order we are distracting ourselves from the free train of thought that happens when we just let ourselves go and therefore limiting our ability to develop those thoughts that let us think outside the box.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that we don’t need cleanup and organization. I’m simply saying that these activities should follow our time of exploration when we are then processing all of our newfound knowledge.
When is the last time you let yourself explore freely OR allowed someone to do so without stepping in to stop them??
Today, give yourself some time to play, make a mess and learn something wonderfully, unexpectedly new!
21 Secrets – On SALE Now!!
A WILD E-course
An e-course
BIG
Dance of the Limitless Creative Soul
Deep
Kreatives Kafe
I make a mess every single day in my workroom! When it gets to the point I can’t see the top of the table and I barely have room to turn around, I know it’s time to clean up … Good article!
Felicia – I’m at that point now!! I’m leaning on things to type…clearly time to clean! Thanks so much for coming to visit
YAY!
Making a mess while cooking!!!!!!!!!! Splatters everywhere!
Bridget – is there anything better than making a mess while cooking something yummy? Maybe only making something chocolate! LOL
Tasha,
You are so right on this. As we grow older we become overly concerned with doing it “right” whatever that means. We do have to learn to abandon ourselves and find time to get lost in our inner childhood, and what an amazing and eye-opening experience that can be for us.
Love you – Mary
I’m working on a new pillow design for the summer. I’ve found the best way to do this is to, well, just do it, then you have something to alter and work with. For this reason, I currently have a stack of five unfinished pillows in my workplace, each one of them slightly different from the rest.
I came up with my Love Bugs design with the same idea. Making a mess is really the most efficient way to get things done
Mary – thank you! When we allow ourselves to get lost and play – well there is NOTHING like it. When was the last time you just allowed yourself to play??? Love ya!
Kelsey – I LOVE the Love Bugs so I can only imagine what your pillows will look like…I agree with you..having that “base” so to speak to play with allows for – well surprises and often wonderful surprises. Kelsey – I CAN’T WAIT to see those new pillows!! YAY!!