How’s the New Year going?
January can be a cozy post-holiday slow down, but it can also bring the post-holiday blues. Winter with festive lights, parties, and presents? Yes. Winter with none of those things? A little less appealing.
Being from Missouri, the first three months of the year usually pair with ice storms that keep us bundled up inside for days. I like to lean into January hibernation, but life doesn’t always cooperate.
As the festivities calm down, your calendar may or may not be ramping up, growing fuller steadily with the longer days. Looking ahead at the year, you might be facing a tall stack of unknowns: deployments, PCS moves, command changes, graduations. The questions might far outnumber the answers, with no end in sight.
How are you carrying these unknowns right now?
Consider the past day or week. When your heart starts to race, yearning to know what you just can’t know about the year ahead, what do you do? To where, whom or what do you go to?
Every military-affiliated person will deal with uncertainty in one way or another — whether they recognize it or not is never a given.
I’d like to offer one way to frame the uncertainty and chaos to add to your toolkit: creativity in motion.
I’m not in the habit of quoting Steve Jobs, but he once referred to creativity as connecting and synthesizing diverse experiences to create something new. This always stuck with me, and it turns out there’s science to back it up.
Referring to a 2018 neuroscience research project, Roger Beaty, an associate professor of psychology at Penn State University, found that creating connections between memories does indeed facilitate creative thinking: “What’s really relevant … is the organization of memory, how a person’s brain catalogs disparate concepts and experiences in order to facilitate making connections. It’s an ability that varies between individuals.” He adds that creative people tend to be more open to new experiences and seeing things from different perspectives.
If new, diverse experiences can create new fodder for creativity, then those in the military community could be well-positioned for creative thinking. Novel experiences paired with opportunities to forge a sense of community with people from different backgrounds, worldviews and experiences have potential to deliver truly innovative thought.
These experiences, of course, are often coupled with challenges, stresses and obstacles. It’s why the phrase “Bloom where you’re planted” is a true military life cliche. Facing the unknowns and obstacles of military life and thriving requires fortitude and intention. As you well know, it doesn’t just happen.
But perhaps that is a gift in itself, as it helps to keep us from operating on autopilot in the areas of life that truly matter the most. Whether hiking in Hawaii, turkey hunting at Fort Lost in the Woods or taking a beach day a couple hours drive from Fort Liberty; whether throwing something together for dinner, dashing off to morning PT with your new unit or applying for yet another job; every day of this life brings new experiences.
As you bundle up to extend your winter hibernation a little longer or start venturing outside with the ever-longer days, consider this:
What if this year will reveal your best creativity yet?
It could be a new team communication system, a painting, a poem, a meal plan, a workout, a family tradition, a photography show, a business, a training, a story.
There are plenty of chances to find creative inspiration amidst the chaos. And in fact, perhaps the chaos itself is the inspiration. If you’ve got unknowns ahead — even better. New experiences, new creative opportunities.
And the possibilities just might be endless.
Editor's note: As part of CityView's commitment to filling gaps by providing reporting and information for the Fort Liberty community, our HomeFront initiative features two columnists who will write regularly about issues military families face.
Aria Spears is a writer, communications professional and civic leadership enthusiast. With a master's degree in nonprofit and civic leadership, Aria can be found exploring cities, persuading people to join local civic boards and sharing her book The Community Mapping Journal. When it comes to active-duty military family life, she believes that joy makes us strong.
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