Years ago I took a course in creativity. One message from the course that stayed with me is that if you want to be creative, you have to try something new. Doing the same-old-same-old day after day won't nurture your creativity.
This message hit home yesterday as I embarked on making a number of Egyptian foods. Friends and family members are heading to Egypt; and to celebrate their travels as well as some significant life events, I decided to host an Egyptian brunch.
I enjoyed researching Egyptian foods and chose a number of those foods to make. That choice found me shopping for items I've rarely to never bought before. I also engaged in ways of preparing food that was somewhat different than my mainstay. Fortunately my husband is an adventurous eater so he was willing to try everything.
Rather than have all foods that were uncommon for my guests, I decided on serving appetizers that give them a chance to try small pieces of Egyptian/Middle Eastern foods such as Kafta, hummus, tabouleh, pita, falafel, and tzatziki. Then for the main meal, I went with a number of common American foods such as spinach-feta quiche, home fries, green salad, fruit salad, and scrambled eggs with the addition of Egypt's national dish, koshary. Finally for dessert I'll serve birthday chocolate cake, vanilla ice cream, and the Egyptian dessert, Om Ali, which is like a bread pudding.
I decorated the table with a number of Egyptian-themed decorations to set the mood. When we meet, I'll look forward to discussing the upcoming trip, trying the foods, and in some ways leaving our day-to-day life to imagine a life far from our's in Egypt.
With creativity and imagination, we have the opportunity to explore so many varying aspects of life. We may also use this creativity and imagination to bring people together, reimagine the way we live life, and explore new avenues.
While traditions definitely connect us and enliven us in special ways, inventing new ways to live also connects us and enlivens us. It isn't one way or the other, but a positive match of tradition and new that brings life meaning.
Too many of our worst worldwide leaders are stuck in old ways without imagination or creativity--they are truly dead-end folks who have not nurtured their minds and sought to lead positive, life affirming, warm, wonderful cultures. Instead their narrow-minded ways lead to violence, destruction, harm, and hurt instead. We have to rid the world of these demeaning, destructive despots, and instead choose positive leaders in areas great and small that lead us forward with a positive combination of tradition and new. We can do that.