Have you ever tried to figure out how to do something you’ve never done before?  Ever had to use something you have as a tool because you didn’t have the exact tool you needed?

I found myself in exactly that situation the other day.

One of our church’s computers died.  I was going to take it to the electronics transfer station, but wanted to make sure no one could get at the data.  Since the computer was dead, I couldn’t wipe it electronically.  I had to take it out and destroy it.

This was a seriously old desktop computer.  I figured I’d have to remove the cover (somehow) and then slide it out.  It should be easy, right?  NOT.  Or at least partly not.

I had no problem removing the side cover.  Now what?  I find the hard drive, and think I might be able to slip it out after maybe removing a few screws.  Nope.  Now I see this plastic clip holding everything in place.  I disconnect that, and it still doesn’t budge.  Now I’m trying to remove the rest of the cover, but I don’t have the right screwdriver.  It’s the one that looks like a little circle, except there are actually tiny ridges if you have right tool.  And I clearly don’t.

Now I’m googling all over the place to see if I can find a diagram.  Most is a rabbit trail.  No picture and unhelpful written instructions.  Finally I find a diagram, and get the hard drive out.  Now I can’t get it apart.  I can’t get inside to really make it unusable.  Now what?

When finesse won’t work, it’s time for blunt force.  I take it to the garage and let loose with my log splitter.  It’s about as heavy as a sledge hammer, and has a pointed edge that does the splitting.  That does a number on the hard drive.  I don’t think anyone will be using it anytime soon.

Was that the best way to solve my problem?  Probably not.  I don’t think anyone will be making a how-to YouTube video using my technique any time soon.  But it did solve the problem.  And that’s a form of creativity.  Creativity born out of necessity.

If you’ve ever done something even vaguely like this, that’s creativity at work.  You don’t have to compose a symphony, paint a masterpiece, or write the great American novel.  Instead you can

• Figure out how to do something you’ve never done before
• Solve a problem a different way
• Take a different path from everyone else

Creativity is something we’re all born with.  But sometimes we forget how to use it.  You can purposely cultivate creativity through practice.  Perhaps you don’t want to take a wood splitter to your hard drive on a regular basis.  But you can play.  Experiment.  Turn something around.  Get a new view.

Once you see what exercising your creativity does, you’ll likely want to do more.  What’s even better?  Using your creativity to help others.  Enhance their lives.  Like

Inventors – light bulb, airplane

Communicators – sign language

Creativity is not always art.  It is the act of creating something new.  Or in a new way.  You have it.  What are you going to do with it?  Leave a comment.