Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” It’s a clever phrase, but it also feels a bit daunting. What if I’m not intelligent? What if I’m not particularly creative? These thoughts often sneak up on me when I’m staring at a blank page or piecing together ideas that don’t seem to connect.

The truth is, I don’t know if I’m creative. But I do creative things, and they bring me joy. Writing, brainstorming, painting, making sourdough experiments—these activities don’t always yield masterpieces, but they make me feel alive. They remind me that creativity isn’t about brilliance or genius; it’s about action.

I also don’t know if I’m intelligent in the Einstein sense of the word. But when I engage with creative projects, something clicks. It’s like solving a puzzle: not always elegant, but immensely satisfying when the pieces fall into place. It’s FLOW.

Einstein’s quote suggests that creativity and intelligence are companions, but I like to think that creativity is more like play. It’s messy, unstructured, and sometimes frivolous, but it’s also freeing. It’s about experimenting with ideas and finding joy in the process, regardless of the outcome.

You don’t have to define yourself as creative or intelligent to create. Just start. Have fun. Let your mind wander. Intelligence might catch up later, or it might not. Either way, you’ve found happiness in the act, and isn’t that the point?