This is from a TED talk I watched recently on creativity: “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”

It got me thinking. Why and how do we lose our creativity as we get older? Why isn’t it encouraged when we’re young?

I think we’re all too afraid of being wrong, doing wrong, and saying the wrong thing.

Creativity is a huge part of my business. I love that facet of the job, but there are some moments when it does feel forced upon me. I have to tell people on the spot where to stand and how to pose, while simultaneously evaluating the lighting, the background, their expression, little details like crooked ties or fly-away hairs AND at the same time field the inevitable questions from the peanut gallery.

Oh yeah, and I’m supposed to be creative.

I don’t want to feel restricted by fear or time or ability anymore.

I can’t promise that my attempts at creativity will be successes, but I can promise I’ll keep trying.