A jest differs from a joke. The latter aims to cause laughter at no one’s expense. The former, however, almost always mocks a person or event. A court jester seemingly holds a perilous position; he is meant to jeer at the court and its behaviors without causing offense. It seems that a jester, like an acrobat, requires a firm sense of balance, as well as intuition about which way the wind blows and how delicate the wire is upon which he or she stands.
Writing Life
Creative Life Truths: No One’s Born with Creativity
We sometimes view people as their end results, believing they’re born with innate creativity or genius. Take Mozart as an example. We think of him as a musical prodigy. However, someone encouraged him to take a seat at the piano for the first time. Some person urged him to embrace the talent entrusted to him. We think he possessed innate creativity, and maybe he did, but someone helped him release it.
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Alphabet Adventure: I is for Ingenious
For some reason, ingenious makes me think of Pinky and the Brain, perhaps because the two mice are the direct opposite of the word. Brain believes himself ingenious, but Brain’s brain (Ha!) overcomplicates things. All his plans to rule the world come to naught and not always because of Pinky’s tendency to be all thumbs or to forget instructions. (Poor Pinky.)
Creative Life Truths: Everyone is Creative
This creative life truth probably stands as one of my favorites. Reason: I’ve been arguing the case that everyone is creative for years. I vividly recall saying something along that line to my college roommate. A few years later, I made the statement to my youngest brother, an engineer.
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Alphabet Adventure: H is for Hell’s Bells
Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, I worked as an activities assistant at an assisted living center. I led exercise; called bingo; sang songs from the 1920s; chit-chatted with the residents; served food and drinks; and, most important of all, upheld peace, law, and order.
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Creative Life Truths: Inspiration is a Myth
A couple of days ago, someone asked me what I do to get inspired. I found the question a bit puzzling. “Get inspired”? It sounds as though inspiration comes on tap or can be pulled out of the ether. [Read more…] about Creative Life Truths: Inspiration is a Myth