Hello dear friends,
I hope this blog finds you smiling, relaxed, and perhaps holding a warm cup of tea or coffee.
Today’s writing prompt immediately caught my attention because it asks a question that seems simple on the surface, yet unfolds into something deeply personal the more we reflect on it: “How are you creative?”
At first, it feels like the kind of question that demands a quick, clever answer. But creativity is not something that fits neatly into a sentence. It is not just something we do—it is something we live.
This question invites us to pause, look inward, and gently recognize the quiet yet powerful ways creativity flows through our everyday lives.
Rethinking Creativity: Beyond Talent and Titles
When we hear the word creative, many of us instantly picture artists, musicians, writers, or performers.
While these are beautiful and visible expressions of creativity, they represent only a fraction of what creativity truly is.
Creativity lives wherever imagination meets intention—whether in art, problem-solving, relationships, or daily routines.
A teacher reimagining a lesson, a parent turning a simple afternoon into a joyful memory, or someone finding a new way to navigate life’s challenges—all of these are creative acts.
Creativity is not only about producing something tangible; it is about how we think, adapt, and connect with the world around us.
Discovering Creativity in the Ordinary
One of the most empowering realizations I’ve had is that creativity thrives in ordinary moments. It does not require applause or perfection to be meaningful.
Cooking a meal by instinct rather than recipe, decorating a space to reflect your mood, writing a heartfelt note.
Or finding calm in chaos—these moments may seem small, yet they are deeply creative. They carry choice, originality, and care.
Art as My Language of Self-Expression
For me, creativity finds its most authentic voice through art. Art is a powerful means of self-expression—it allows us to communicate emotions and thoughts that words often fail to capture.
I see myself as an observational artist and a dabbler, someone who enjoys exploring without rigid boundaries.
Interestingly, I was never an artist in my younger years. My professional life in banking revolved around numbers, logic, and precision. Creativity had little room to breathe.
But after retirement, when schedules softened and time expanded, I felt drawn toward colors—almost instinctively.
One quiet afternoon, I picked up an old brush, dipped it into blue, and let it wander across the paper. What emerged was not a masterpiece, but it was honest. It was mine.
From that moment on, painting became my therapy, my celebration, and my meditation.
Cartoon Drawing: (Observing Life with Humor)
Cartoon drawing became one of my favorite creative outlets. It is a delightful blend of observation, imagination, and storytelling.
As an observational artist, cartooning encourages me to closely study people, animals, expressions, and anatomy—then reinterpret them with exaggeration and humor.
Cartoons allow me to capture emotions quickly and playfully. They also give me a space to express humor, which I believe is essential to life.
Through my cartoons, I create lighthearted moments and share them with friends through my blog, hoping to bring smiles and a sense of shared joy.
Abstract Drawing: Freedom Without Rules
Abstract drawing offers an entirely different kind of freedom. It does not aim to represent reality—it expresses emotion.
Abstract art gives me permission to create without expectations or pressure. There are no mistakes, only exploration.
Some days, my abstract drawings are bold and energetic; other days, they are soft and reflective.
Colors, lines, and shapes become my emotional vocabulary. When words fall short, abstract drawing helps me understand what I am feeling and who I am becoming.
Combining Styles, Understanding Myself
Though cartoon drawing and abstract drawing appear very different, combining them has helped me develop a personal artistic voice.
Together, they allow me to explore humor and emotion, structure and freedom, observation and intuition.
So, how am I creative?
I am creative in my curiosity, in my willingness to experiment, and in my courage to begin—no matter my age or background.
Creativity, I have learned, is not about perfection or labels. It is about presence, expression, and joy.
My Final Submission
Dear friends, creativity does not belong to a chosen few. It lives quietly within all of us, waiting to be noticed and nurtured.
Whether through art, words, ideas, or everyday actions, creativity helps us understand ourselves and connect with others.
So I invite you—pause for a moment and ask yourself: How are you creative?
You may be surprised by the beauty of the answer.
Until next time, stay curious, stay gentle with yourself, and keep creating 🌿
A Journey of Colors, Curiosity, and Self-Discovery
BE HAPPY… BE ACTIVE… BE FOCUSED… BE ALIVE
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www.retiredkalam.com
Categories: infotainment
Retiredकलम 
very nice
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Thank you so much.
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👍👍👍
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Thank you so much for your visit ,
I am grateful for your support.
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What a truly beautiful reflection, Verma ji. 🌷🤝Your words are not just an answer to a prompt; they are a gentle, powerful invitation to see creativity in its truest, most personal form.
The journey you describe—from the structured world of banking to the boundless realm of color and line—is profoundly inspiring. It reminds us that creativity isn’t a profession we choose in youth, but a voice within us that patiently waits for its moment to speak. Your story dismantles the myth that creativity has an age limit or requires formal training. Instead, you show us it is a language of the soul, learned through curiosity and courage.
Your description of creativity thriving in “ordinary moments” is its own small masterpiece. You have reframed it not as a grand performance, but as a daily practice of intention, care, and connection. This perspective is a gift to anyone who has ever doubted their own creative spirit.
The way you bridge the playful observation of cartooning with the emotional freedom of abstract art is a brilliant metaphor for a life well-lived—one that holds both humor and depth, structure and surrender. It’s clear that through your art, you are not just creating images; you are understanding yourself and sharing that discovery with warmth and generosity.
Thank you, Verma ji, for this heartfelt essay. It is a testament to a life that continues to expand, explore, and express. You remind us all that the most authentic creativity blooms when we finally give ourselves permission to begin.
With great admiration and a smile,
Srikanth
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Thank you so much for this deeply generous and thoughtful response. I’m truly moved by the care with which you read, felt, and reflected on my words.
To know that the journey resonated with you—not just as a story, but as an invitation to trust one’s own creative voice—means more to me than I can easily express.
What you’ve said about creativity waiting patiently is something I hold very close.
If my experience helps even one person feel that it’s never too late, never too small, and never unnecessary to begin,
then the sharing has found its purpose. Your reading honors that intention beautifully.
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Verma ji, a heartfelt gem—your journey from banking precision to playful cartoons and freeing abstracts beautifully shows creativity’s quiet bloom in us all. Inspiring nudge to nurture our own sparks!
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hank you so much for these generous words.
They truly touched me. I’m deeply grateful that my journey resonated with you and that you saw in it a reminder of how quietly, patiently creativity finds its way into our lives. If it inspires even a small nudge to nurture one’s own spark, then the sharing has been worth it.
Your encouragement means more than I can say.
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