I often think about one section of the book about David’s early childhood. David’s parents ruled that all creative ideas from the children were taken very seriously - no matter what they were. They had a workshop in the house, where they would try to figure out how to bring the idea to life as quickly as possible. You know, like farm to table, but with ideas.

Act on fresh ideas.

No room for bullshit to ruin it.

No time to talk yourself out of it.

A similar idea bubbled up in HBO’s wonderful series Painting with John. In one episode, host John Lurie tells a story of his childhood that sounded like it could have come straight from the pages of David Lynch’s life.

He described a scenario where his dad was awaiting an important phone call. John describes recalls the sense that this phone call had power over his dad. He did not like that feeling.

It also happened to be the week that his brother Evan decided that he was Mighty Mouse. His father waited and waited for the phone call. When it finally came…Evan sprinted through the house, picked up the phone, and responded, “No, this is Mighty Mouse!” and slammed the phone down. “But he didn’t get scolded,” said John. “That was everything to me.”

Perhaps David Lynch and John Lurie aren’t the first names that come to mind when you are goating, but maybe their parents were in terms of opening the floodgates of creation.

Both David Lynch and John Lurie are dynamically creative. They paint, they act, they direct, they produce - and they get real weird with it by most societal standards. They have cult followings that seem to ooze out of them with subtle confidence.

I suspect they have very little filter on their creative ideas. There is a clear sense that they both try to create what is in their head, and we have better art for it.

I end this morning with a challenge, mostly to myself, but to anyone reading.

1. Pay attention to your creative ideas this week.

2. Pick one and spend 30 minutes on it as soon as

3. Don’t ask for feedback. Don’t worry whether it is a “good” idea.

4. It’d be cool if you want to share what you made.

Creativity has a bizarre place in my life, and I suspect it in many others. My earliest memories of recognizing creativity were seeing my good friend’s art at about 5. I couldn’t believe what he could do with a pen and paper.

It didn’t make sense in my brain that someone could draw a lifelike horse. In a lot of ways, it still doesn’t. It was a joy to see and experience, but for whatever reason, the very thing that made it wondrous to me was the very thing that triggered the notion that “I can’t do that.”

Throughout my young life, I was given praise here or there as an athlete or perhaps for writing an essay or giving a speech, but I don’t think I ever heard anyone categorize me as creative - which became a sort of silent reinforcement. Of course, because I had already told myself that I wasn’t creative, I never attempted traditionally creative things, so you’re off the hook, third-grade teacher.

Not off the chain, as the kids say, but off the hook.

What if we gave more people the compliment that they are creative?

As I’ve grown older, I’ve gained no more understanding into why I art and thought, “I can’t” instead of “I want to.” What it did instill in me is f a sense that I wanted to help those who could, share that kind of creativity.”

As I have found my way through my 30’s, I have entertained the idea that I am a creative person, and so are you.

How to be Creative and Stay Creative

So now that we are feeling all fluffy and great that we are creative people for a few moments, let’s test it by leaning into a second Pablo quote:

Actually, don’t be that Pablo at all. Let’s try it again:

At the end of the day. Be a good Pablo.

A good Pablo is in constant motion. Make whatever is interesting to you, but don’t sit and wait for the inspiration. Make and make and make and make. One of those random things you create will lead to the “you are creative moment.”

But you will know that it wasn’t in that moment that you were creative; you will know that you have been all along; you will be tomorrow as well.

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