When you have unique and different life experiences, that can open your creative world in so many ways. Recently I heard an interview by Steve Jobs on how to think differently, and I thought it was really interesting, because he talked about how creativity blossoms when you have interesting experiences you can draw upon. Then you make connections and synthesize something new.

Sometimes, I think we don't dive into those kinds of adventurous life experiences as much. And in some ways, we don't really have to because life is much more convenient. We can read reviews and spoilers on movies before we watch the full thing, we can order our food without leaving the house, and so on.

But in this carefully organized and convenient life, we sometimes miss out on spontaneous adventures and experiences we could have. And often, those unexpected moments are the very things that can jump-start our creativity.

I find when I go out of my comfort zone and try something new, even if it doesn't completely work out, there's still something I can learn from it. And making time in my life for different experiences often gives me brand new ideas!

One of the interesting real-life experiences I had recently was at the annual Open Studios in my city. It's at Manufacturers Village, which was once an abandoned building. I remember seeing that place so many times as I walked by, because it was right on my way to the park I like to visit. Years later, someone bought the building and finally started investing in the artistic activities there. Now it's a thriving studio for artists in my area, and they sometimes have events that are open to the public.

When I went there, I had so much fun. I was able to meet a lot of other artists and even get a few of their works! Each artist had their own style and purpose for what they created, from feminist art to photographs that come to life through light. One woman's art was even inspired by the history of Negro League baseball!

I also met a very nice artist who invited me to her open studio experience, where everybody can gather together and paint. I enjoyed that, too; the studio felt so relaxing and groovy. I hope to be there again!

Another artist I met has a similar creative style to my own, in that we both want to inspire people and encourage them through our work. She’s a Black artist like me, too! We hit it off and she said she’s open to us creating together, so I’m excited about that as well.

All these experiences are really opening my mind to how artists continue making work and sharing it with others, even in today's time (where art is sometimes sidelined and not appreciated as much). It inspires me to go deep into my art and keep on making it, knowing that someone will connect with it. Each of these artists took a different approach, but the uniqueness of each piece shone through in a way that drew you to it. It didn't have to fit a neat box of what "popular" art should be.

Having those kinds of experiences, where you're exposed to different ways of creating and new points of view, are a key part of things you can draw upon as a creative person. In whatever field you're in, whether you're an entrepreneur, a designer of software, a musician, and so on, a life with rich experiences gives you a broader palette to choose from.

Access to Experiences: The Realities

Of course, when I bring up finding new and different life experiences, I have to acknowledge it’s not easy for everyone. Depending on where you live and your background, it can be harder to have that kind of experimentation in your life. If you’re trying to make a living, and you struggle with financial stability, you may not have much free time for new activities.

Similarly, if you live in an area where there isn’t much going on, or there isn’t investment in creative experiences, it may not be easy for you to change things up and expose yourself to new encounters.

Even in my area, there was a real concern that the Village was going to be sold and converted into industrial buildings. It took great effort to save it and reignite the creative activities there.

But I think that even if your circumstances aren’t ideal, you can still try to make the most of your environment. A new experience doesn’t always have to be fancy. It could be as simple as maybe taking a different route for a walk, or heading to the library instead of looking up an instant answer on your phone. You can pick up a book or watch a movie online without looking at the reviews first, and just see if you like it! Or you can order something you haven’t tried before at a diner.

These are things that don’t take lots of money, but they still bring you in a direction you wouldn’t normally choose. That opens up the potential for new experiences and new ways of dong things.

You can even find new experiences online. If you can’t go to real-world activities, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. There are online groups and communities around many different subjects and interests, from spirituality to Solarpunk, so give them a try if you feel comfortable with them.

Even if you don’t like what you tried, just doing something different gives you an experience, and that brings you closer to what you actually enjoy. So get out there and experiment! 😀