Creative inspiration can come from the most unlikely places. On a recent trip out of town, I was staying the night in a hotel. As I stowed some gear under the bathroom sink, I happened to notice the drain pipe. Now, if you are a plumber, you see drains with a different mind-set than I do. I doubt many plumbers have drain-pipe epiphanies in a hotel bathroom. I did.
Two things about the drain caught my eye. First, it was a much bigger than usual, therefore requiring less cleaning. But the ingenious aspect was, the bottom of the drain trap had a plug. To clean this drain, simply unscrew the plug and let the mess spill into a pan. There is no need to take any pipes apart. If you have ever taken drain pipes apart (plumbers excepted) you know this can ruin your dinner for the next six weeks – a great weight loss device.
Here I found a simple, great and useful idea. Someone had made a better drain pipe. And the principle can be applied to everything we do.
- Train yourself to see. Even the most mundane objects give rise to new ideas.
- Creativity does not necessarily have to be an Einsteinium size concept to be useful.
- When you look at something, examine it. How can it be improved?
- Apply this concept to all the things you see and do.
- Most of all, don’t just look at a rock and see a stone. See what is there when parts of the stone are removed. You may see a beautiful statue.
I studied photography for a year in a college course. Learning to see takes time and experience. Once learned, it cannot be unlearned. Years later I still see pictures everywhere because I’m attuned to looking for pictures everywhere. Good ideas come to those already prepared to receive them, even under the sink.
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OK…This was Hysterical! But also, very good. Great point. Looking at things quite differently now. ;)
Clarisa
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