Creativity Lessons From Bill Watterson, Author Of Calvin And Hobbes

e loved Calvin and Hobbes, Adi got introduced to the books quite early and we would read them together. The characters of Calvin and Hobbes are such that they can make you laugh, think, cry, and everything in between. It reveals a lot about the creator of Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson.

I have always admired Bill Watterson's writing style and the way he weaves together humor and profound thoughts. I think there are a lot of life lessons that can be learned from Calvin and Hobbes.

The quotes are taken from Watterson's speech given at Kenyon College on May 20, 1990

1) Children are not our unfulfilled dreams-  Children need to have their dreams and fantasies, they need enough time to explore and learn about the world before parents/teachers decide what their kids should do. Parents and teachers are mere guides, not the dream-weavers for their children.

You may be surprised to find how quickly daily routine and the demands of “just getting by” absorb your waking hours. You may be surprised to find how quickly you start to see your politics and religion become matters of habit rather than thought and inquiry. You may be surprised to find how quickly you start to see your life in terms of other people’s expectations rather than issues.

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2) Learning happens in a playful state of mind- 

When we are stressed, our brains are in a fight-or-flight mode and it is difficult to learn new things or be creative. However, when we are in a playful state of mind, our brains are more open to new ideas and learning.

A playful mind is inquisitive, and learning is fun. If you indulge your natural curiosity and retain a sense of fun in a new experience, I think you’ll find it functions as a sort of shock absorber for the bumpy road ahead.- Bill Watterson

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3) Creativity cannot be turned on in language classes/art classes-  In schools when you are not able to produce writing in 30 minutes, you are assessed on that performance alone. However, in the real world, creativity doesn't work like that. Some of the best ideas come when you are not trying to force them.

At school, new ideas are thrust at you every day. Out in the world, you’ll have to find the inner motivation to search for new ideas on your own. With any luck at all, you’ll never need to take an idea and squeeze a punchline out of it, but as bright, creative people, you’ll be called upon to generate ideas and solutions all your lives. Letting your mind play is the best way to solve problems.

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4) Don't let society judge you - a lot of the time we are judged by society for our choices, whether it is the way we dress, the food we eat, or the way we think. 

Ambition is only understood if it’s to rise to the top of some imaginary ladder of success. Someone who takes an undemanding job because it affords him the time to pursue other interests and activities is considered a flake. A person who abandons a career to stay home and raise children is considered not to be living up to his potential — as if a job title and salary are the sole measures of human worth.

5) Creativity comes by exploring -  not by following the well-trodden path. So go out there and create your path!

We’re not taught how to recreate constructively. We need to do more than find diversions; we need to restore and expand ourselves. Our idea of relaxing is all too often to plop down in front of the television set and let its pandering idiocy liquefy our brains. Shutting off the thought process is not rejuvenating; the mind is like a car battery — it recharges by running.

6) Creativity is about enjoying the process- not just the final product. 

The final product is not the only reason to do something. The joy is in the doing. The challenge is in the overcoming. The satisfaction is in the struggle. If you don’t enjoy those things, then no matter how successful you become, you’re going to wake up one day and ask yourself, “Is this all there is?”

The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive. At that time, we turn around and say, yes, this is obviously where I was going all along. It’s a good idea to try to enjoy the scenery on the detours because you’ll probably take a few.