by Dr. Eric Shapira

Creativity is the spark that ignites the fuel of our internal combustion thought processes to give us energy, ideas, passion, artistic license and continued youth. Since studying and working in the field of gerontology, I have noticed that the people who act the youngest and look the youngest are the ones who are able to continue doing creative things. I am talking about painting, sculpting, writing, acting, dancing, playing music, singing, performing comedy, and any other form of self-expression.

Norman Cousins, who wrote Anatomy of an Illness many years ago, observed the elders he knew, such as the great cellist Pablo Casals. Casals had severe arthritis that was crippling and disfiguring. But every morning he would rise and play the piano before breakfast. Cousins defined the continued zest for life by alluding to the energy that Casals had after playing the piano or the cello, expressing his inner passion. Many great artists, like Picasso and Vladimir Horowitz, continued their passions into their 80s or 90s.

Painting and other creative pursuits keep seniors young. © Simone Van Den Berg | Dreamstime.com.

I think that the passion created by the inner spark I speak of is always there, in all of us. It’s our inner child, and we need to keep it focused and in the forefront of our minds. Whenever we feel the forces of nature interfering with our moods, causing depression, we need to call upon our intrinsic sense of child and nurture it by being creative.

There are no boundaries to creativity. We can create anything we can imagine; human potential is infinite and indefinable, for the most part. Most all of us are capable of personal growth and the achievement of higher states of consciousness, especially by identifying our inner strengths.

Aging is a natural phenomenon. It will happen whether we like or not. So in light of this physiologic wonder, it is inherent for all of us to get in touch with those things that make us happy, those activities that nurture our inner child. When we pursue these creative activities, we bring pleasure to ourselves and to others, as they appreciate what we do and get inspired to follow suit.

One may ask, “What is it that gives us these ideas to be creative?”   I think just being able to appreciate the things around us that life has to offer — food, clean water, joy and peace — can bring us comfort in the face of loneliness, illness, despair, depression, financial concerns, or stress of any kind. If we can hone in on our assets — our “gifts” — and give them away either through our creativity or our generosity in helping others, we will find happiness, and creativity will follow.

I like to tell my clients to live life to the fullest; live with no regrets and as if there were no tomorrows, only today. Try it, you’ll like it. Be creative and be alive.

Dr. Eric Shapira is a clinical gerontologist with Aging Mentor Services. He holds a master’s degree in clinical gerontology and  a master’s in health administration. Shapira can be reached at agingmentorservices.com or 650-728-5827.