Ernie Mansfield, longtime OPEN EXCHANGE lister, offers a wide variety of music lessons, including flute, sax, clarinet, piano, guitar, theory, songwriting, and more! Details in our Music category.

In a survey, researchers interviewed children below 9 years old, and adults above 29 years old. They were asked the same multiple-choice questions. Four of the questions were: Are you good at (a) singing; (b) poetry; (c) art; (d) dancing. For the 9-and-younger group, over 90% checked "Yes" for every box! In the 29-and-older group, over 90% checked "No" for every box!

What does this mean? Did everyone who was good at the creative arts "forget" how to be creative after age 29? I doubt it. People don't "forget" how to ride a bicycle, even if they haven't ridden one in 20 years. So, how do we come to "forget" these creative talents.

The answer is, we don't "forget." It is our perception that changes. Over time, negative comments, socialization, embarrassment, and the search to "fit in" starts to eat away the belief in our creative spirit. Beginning in middle school, on up through the search to find a "real job", the self-consciousness creeps in, and we begin to ignore our creative self.

And Spirit is what it is. When we are creative, we are living in our Higher Self - free from anger, worry, panic, boredom, and other negative emotions. Living in the Creative Spirit is a positive place to be!

Many adults come to take music lessons with me after having survived a life-threatening illness. They all say the same thing: when they were ill, they remembered how important music was to them in their lives. They promised themselves that when they recovered they would take the lessons they had put off indefinitely. Suddenly they realized that the only time is NOW.

It is said that the best time to plant an oak tree is 20 years ago, and the next best time is TODAY. There is no better time than the present to re-unite yourself with your creative talents!

©2005 Ernie Mansfield