The Dripping Faucet
I am sure every one of us has experienced a dripping faucet at one time in our lives. At first you are only slightly aware of it, occasionally thinking to yourself that you are going to have to do “something” about that “soon.” Time marches on, days pass and weeks turn into months. During the daytime the dripping of the faucet is hardly noticed as the sounds of everyday living silence the tiny drip, drip, drip in the background. You are aware that the drip is still there, but it seems so easy to ignore as you move through your days addressing the more pressing tasks at hand.
The dripping faucet at night is quite a different situation. When the house is still, bereft of conversation, activity and the rest of life’s soundtrack, it is much more difficult to ignore the incessant dripping of the faucet. As you lie there in the dark the sound of each drop becomes louder and louder eventually reaching the crescendo of a kettledrum roll.
Creative ideas are a lot like a dripping faucet. They should not be ignored. As young children we all have a desire to create – to be artistic – to sing – to dance. As children we are able to do so with abandon. But as we grow we unfortunately lose that abandon and become swallowed up by the expectations of “grown-up” life. The responsibilities of adulthood consume us. We no longer listen to our creative voice, our “drippy faucet.”
Creativity still remains within each of us. It lingers there in the background waiting to be heard once again. Ignored for the most part during daylight hours it speaks more insistently under the cover of night. A mind too busy to fall asleep is often filled with what was not accomplished during the day, but there in the background are tiny notions of what you would like to do, as well. Those ideas are the seeds of creativity. They are your “dripping faucet.” Listen to it. It’s telling you to allow yourself time again to do something creative - to write, finger paint, sing or “dance like nobody’s watching.” * Pencil in some play time. By allowing your creative side to emerge again you will become a happier, healthier and certainly more well-rounded individual. Fix the faucet by letting your creativity flow.
*1987 “Come from the Heart” composed by Susanna Clark and Richard Leigh - which includes the following lyrics:
“You’ve got to sing like you don’t need the money
Love like you’ll never get hurt
You’ve got to dance like nobody’s watchin’
It’s gotta come from the heart if you want it to work.”
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