Tethered in Creativity.

Creativity and ingenuity - thinking of new ways to do things. Creativity/Ingenuity is one of my strengths in the VIA Survey of Signature Strengths.  (I could spend several blog posts on this awesome strength survey.  If you take it, let's chat :) or if you have any questions on how to do so, let me know!

I recall when I turned in my driver's license, I recognized that this would be one of many opportunities to utilize my creativity. Indeed as Henri Matisse says:  Creativity takes Courage.   Each day would bring situations on finding a creative way to accomplish a task.  I could choose how I looked at the situation and choose to find a way.   There isn't the thought of 'that won't work' rather, 'let's find a way to make it work'.   Fast forward twenty plus years :) its just a way -- a good way --of life.  Today after some really long work days, I had the day off!  Time to get creative on what I wanted to accomplish.  On the training plan for the 1/2 marathon coming up was 7 miles today.  It was too cold to run outside.  Our threshold is about 20 degrees.  Plan B - Look at other options.  I could go to the rec center and run on the treadmill.  Transportation options. I checked in with Steve on his schedule for the day.  He could take me to the Rec Center before a meeting and pick me up just at the right time to get in the 7 mile run on the treadmill.  Perfect!  Options to be able to use the treadmill.  I hadn't been to the Rec Center's treadmills before and was pretty sure they wouldn't be marked with braille!  I walked to the front desk - paid and then asked if someone could assist me to the treadmill and get it started for me.  An amazing, helpful woman helped me.  We found just the right treadmill with space for Cricket to sleep cheer me on :). The way the treadmills were faced she was lying behind me.   Options to keep her positioned.   I used my gatorade bottle as her tie down which worked great.  Next time I will use a weight which would work even better.   A friend showed up and ran on the treadmill next to me!  Awesome and good thing as I hadn't learned where the stop button was situated on the machine! Great seven mile run! I ran feeling so grateful for a healthy body that was letting me run!  I will easily return to the Rec Center. Grateful for a little creativity and yes, some courage that helped me get there today.  Cricket did a great job finding her way out. We did it!  Funny note - her only distraction was stopping at a dog bed that is tucked near the stairs at this gym.  A fellow guide dog team frequents this gym daily and has his own special place for his bed!  

You can't use up creativity, the more you use, the more you have.  Maya Angelou