A Childhood Lesson in Creativity
When I was in primary school, one of the absolute highlights of the annual calendar was the flower arrangement competition. Yes, the flower arrangement competition.
Everybody participated—boys and girls, young and old. Whatever your inclination or interest, once a year, you got to arrange blooms according to a theme in an event not too dissimilar from an Ikebana convention, but set against the backdrop of a small-town South African summer.
All three Groenewald siblings were, of course, both obliged and encouraged to take part, becoming eager little flower arrangers who awaited the transformation of the school hall into a floral wonderland with great anticipation. But our participation was not without its complications. You see, dear reader, my mother was (and still is) not a mainstream mom.
Esther in Paris
While other moms diligently drove their kids to the local florist or fancy supermarket to buy pristine bunches of fresh-cut roses or elegant lilies in crystal vases, my mother turned to her kitchen, the streets of our neighbourhood, or the fruit and vegetable section of the grocery store for supplies. Where others had lilies, we had lemons from the backyard tree. Where some had peonies, we had broccoli, cauliflower, and garden weeds, with which to recreate a Jurassic Park-themed arrangement.
The Art of Reimagining the Ordinary
Whether we wanted to or not, we were taught that the ultimate creative act is the ability to re-envision and redesign the ordinary, even the mundane, into something entirely transformed and beautiful. And this lesson applies not only to vegetables but also to our relationships, our organisations, our neighbourhoods, and our lives.
My mother’s approach to life has always been to turn to the ordinary, seeing it both as a source of the richest participation and as a space for deep and meaningful change. And so, this reflection is, in some way, a homage to her and the gift that I now recognise this lesson to be.
What Ordinary Thing Can You Reimagine Today?
These days, when the world feels heavy and I feel overwhelmed by the state of affairs, this lesson prompts me to ask myself:
What ordinary thing can I reimagine today?
How might I make magic out of the small, recurring acts in my life?
How might I honour the simple moments as the most profound?
What ordinary act of responsibility and service might impact someone else’s life today?
Your extraordinary chance for change is most likely not locked up somewhere profound. It could be hiding in plain sight in your calendar, scheduled for tomorrow morning at 08h30. But it might just need you to show up to your version of my school hall flower arrangement competition with a bunch of weeds and some broccoli—ready to make magic out of the beautiful ordinary.
Reflection Questions for You
Here are some questions we've designed to support your deeper thinking:
In which areas of your life do you feel like the leader of your life? Where are you experiencing a loss of self-leadership or control? What has been the impact of this on you?
What are the recurring micro-acts of your daily life? Try to make a list of actions, engagements, conversations, relationships, meetings and tasks that best describe a full day in your life. Be as detailed as possible.
Which of these do you love? Why?
Which do you dread? Why?
In which relationships do you feel in-sync? What does that bring to you?
In which relationships do you feel out of sync? What is the impact on you?
What are you to do?
What are your sources of small, quality conversations?
What are your sources of connection and belonging:
at home,
in your neighbourhood,
in your country,
and at work?
How might you view your acts of redesign and retrying as self-leadership and not self judgement?
What magic do you want to create in your life by transforming something ordinary and recurring?
How might you begin?
Embracing the Magic of the Everyday
Transformation doesn’t always require grand gestures; sometimes, it’s about reimagining what’s already in front of us. Whether in leadership, creativity, or daily life, the power to reshape and rediscover meaning is always within reach.
At Anew, we believe in the potential of small, intentional actions to create lasting impact. If this reflection resonates with you, explore more about self-leadership and transformation through our School of Facilitation, where we support individuals and teams in bringing greater purpose and creativity into their daily work and lives.
~ Marike Groenewald