The year is winding down. Christmas is upon us, and New Year is right around the corner.
This has been a year of challenges and opportunities. To live and work, we all must be creative and patient.
The following year promises only one thing: more challenges to be embraced and more chances to be creative in solving those challenges.
So, for the next two weeks, refill your creative tank. Don’t go into 2024 depleted; restock the creative engine. Then, you’ll be able to think outside the box when something new comes up and you are forced to tackle it.
Here are a few things you can do to recharge before 1/1/2024, 12:01 am, comes knocking:
Read a classic book
There is a ton of fiction out there. Some of it is good, some not so good. So, instead of spending countless hours searching for a new fiction story to read, go to the classics. Check out:
- Treasure Island
- The Count of Monte Cristo
- Peter Pan
- The Scarlet Pimpernel
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
These books are fun to read, creative, and immersive and have stood the test of time.
Watch a Classic Film
Again, a ton of new movies are out, and some are good; some could have been developed a little more before release. That being said, there are over 100 years of films out there you most likely haven’t explored. Use the AFI top 100 films Ever Made list to find a few you can watch, enjoy, and journey with the characters as they overcome obstacles. Here are a few I like if you need help starting out:
- To Kill a Mockingbird
- 1917
- Shawshank Redemption
- Ground Hogs Day
- The Lives of Others
Listen to Great Music
Music is broad, wide-ranging, and always exciting. It lifts our moods, fills our spirits, and stirs our imaginations. Try out some classical music when you want to relax. Listen to skilled singer-songwriters when you need a pick-up. Or go back to the music you loved as a kid and revisit bands that impacted you back then. You’ll find memories awakened and emotions kindled you might have thought were long dead.
Here are some places to start:
- Mozart’s Violin Concerts
- Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits
- Inxs- Kick
- Anything by Beethoven
Nothing helps enliven and boost moods better than a great story, a well-told film, and some expertly crafted music.
So, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and fill those creative tanks!
See you the first week of January! We’re taking next week off!
Best,
Chris Dalton
