Creative Conversations

By Carol Woolum Roberts

One of the reasons I enjoy getting together with people is to participate in creative conversations.

Each time I gather with one, two or more people, I enjoy it when we start talking about a subject and hear from many different points of view on the subject.

Since the first of the year, I have enjoyed talking to people about a variety of different topics.

A new year often lends itself to conversations about new visions for our life.  Conversations about a vision for the upcoming year, or how people are going to live intentionally have been part of what I am hearing.  Often these conversations involve a word, a phrase and/or a color that helps solidify the vision.

But setting a vision is not for everyone.  Another conversation involved someone giving me a hard time, and putting the blame on me for a vision board exercise he was asked to do in a group of people.  His routine for the new year definitely did not involve creating a vision board. 

Depending on what family members are reading, watching on television, or listening to on podcasts, our weekly family dinner discussions can often be very stimulating.  This last week the conversation focused on extremist religious groups and their view of the end of the world and how their interpretation of scripture forms that view.  This conversation came about by a book a family member recently finished, as well as podcasts by the same author.

Last Monday I hosted five friends who form a creativity group with me.  We did some writing based on some self-affirmations I gave them.  The writing and topics from these cards sparked some very interesting conversations.  One topic was about the word “deserve”.  What are things we truly deserve, and what are things we don’t really deserve was one way our conversation went that day.  I loved hearing everyone’s perspectives on the different topics.

I have enjoyed our interviews this month for our Dreams and Bones podcast and talking to three different pastors about The Creator Connection, and the spiritual side of creativity.  Each person had a different way of expressing what they believe the spiritual side of creativity is, and I enjoyed exploring those thoughts with them.

I am learning the importance of listening while in a conversation.  Really listening.  Not just listening so I know a person is done talking so I can jump in with what I want to say on the topic.  No, listening to really hear what is being said.  And pausing.  And thinking about what has been said.  Having some silence in the room.

Each time I spend time in conversation with others, I am reminded of what wonderful and fascinating people I have in my life.  That is pretty cool!

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Have you had any creative conversations recently?  If so, what did you talk about?

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