I just returned from the Writing for the Soul Writer’s Conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado. What a motivating, encouraging, and invigorating conference! One of the greatest things I love about this conference is that I walk away refueled in ways that go beyond my writing career.

I attended McNair Wilson’s workshops and continuing classes on Creativity and Brainstorming. He is an author, actor, playwright, and humorist who challenges the status quo like no other. Shortly after I finished an appointment with an editor, I walked into his next session that had already begun.

“Is anyone in here still writing with a ball point pen?” He blurted. “Stop! Grab one of these markers up here — you’ll take better notes.”

A bit confused, I grabbed a marker wondering how I would take a cornucopia of notes in my outline with a thicker tip than my ball point pen. In mid-sentence, my notes went from small blue type font, to a larger teal imprint. At the next break, I went up and asked McNair the purpose of the marker.

“If you do the same thing the same way every time, you will see the same thing. To tap into your creativity, do it differently.”

I shared with him how my very creative daughter does her homework in colors, but I never understood why. To me, her math homework appeared messy and hard to read with the variety of colored markers. Social Studies and Language Arts reports came filled with various colored computer fonts and pictures. Everything comes with color and pictures.

“Of course it is. That is how her mind thinks.” McNair said.

I now understand. My daughter’s creativity flows into everything she does. Unintentionally, I had encouraged her to conform instead of tap into her natural creativity.

I took notes the rest of the conference in my teal-colored marker. When I filled up the page, I continued in the notepad they provided. By the end of the conference, I was determined to get a whole set of colored markers for myself.

When I got home, I showed my daughter my colored notes.

“Where did you get that cool marker?” she asked.

“McNair Wilson gave it to me.” I said. “I’m going to go buy a whole set for myself.”

She smiled.

As parents, it is so easy to encourage our children to conform. Without realizing it, we can zap their imagination and squelch their originality.

I know that isn’t what I desire to do. God has gifted my daughter in ways beyond my imagination. I want to encourage her to live out her God-given inspiration. So, I’m stepping out of my black and white routine and choosing to live in color!

My colored markers are just the beginning …