Spark of Inspiration

In the writing world there are often questions / articles on WHERE to generate ideas? Certain Blogs offer weekly writing prompts to generate story ideas.

For me, I was born with imagination and a sense of humor. I can see a leaf falling from a tree and it gives me a funny thought. I can see a pair of worn out boots, and I have an idea of where those boots might have been.

This made me think. Are people born with imagination or is it taught? For me, I think it must have been 50/50. Half born with imagination and half taught by my mother. As children my mother always made us observe and think about things we saw. Well, children have scattery brains, my mother would reel us in, make us see, hear and observe things. Give us her opinion on what we were seeing. Laughing, brain wash her opinions into us. I think it’s actually called, “teaching your kids.”

Recently, while visiting Ireland, I sat down for a scone and pot of tea. I smiled, remembered how my mother insisted we watch British shows on PBS. In each show, there was always a scene where they put the kettle on. THEN, the actors could sit with their tea and have a conversation about the mystery, home life, whatever the show was about. My mother LOVED this.

So, here’s to putting the kettle on. Slowing down to observe people, look out the window, see nature, hear the birds chirping and to being inspired with new and adventurous story ideas.

Were you born with imagination or taught to imagine? What do you think?