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Creativity is the wheezing, hacking remnant of bygone days where art and culture section of the newspaper was not celebrity gossip, or concert reviews on Brittany Spears.

We are stomping out creativity in so many aspects of our lives. Politically we are not supporting our arts and culture programs from the elementary school level, to the professional level. Arts and culture are the last item on any government's to do list - and in a era of war and economic uncertainty it barely even registers on the political radar screen.

We are killing creativity in our homes, by allowing ourselves to be lulled by technology, fancy gadgets and toys that do the playing for you. Crayons and coloring books are replaced with online games that involve pointing and clicking. Reading to our children is replaced with television time before bed. We are so wrapped up in work, in maintaining our lifestyle that we repress our creativity and bemoan the past when we felt fullfilled. What happened to making our children clothes, home made food and hand crafted gifts? Where are the days when we sat down and wrote a heart felt letter? They seem like a whisper in the winds of change.

We are taking the role of creativity for granted. Creativity isn't just beautiful art, or poetry, or prose. It's purpose is not soley to entertain. Creativity teaches us that making mistakes is inevitable, from coloring outside of the lines, to missing a music note. It teaches us that mistakes are okay, and that practice and perserverence are required to succeed. Creativity teaches us to problem solve, to invent, and to compromise. These are important life skills, and important building blocks to a balanced and meaninful life.

Creativity needs to be renewed and revitalized in our society. In a world where we are so closely connected by technology, there is no reason we cannot come together and encourage and share the diversity of our varying gifts and talents. It is time to put down the remote, put away the talking dolly, and stop filling our 'to do' lists with meaningless, mundane tasks. It is time to smell the crayons, revel in finger paint, and feel the music of our soul.

If creativity dies, so does our humanity. Are you prepared to let that happen?

Learn more about this author, Jessica Callele.
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