Chemical Creativity

There was a time when you could smoke a cigarette in a coffee shop. And I would, by the handful. My notebook open, pen poised, black coffee and a smoke. It was how I got the creative juice flowing. In fact, an intake of nicotene increases the synaptic connections in the brain. It's my theory that this random increase helps with creativity, which essentially, is taking unlike things and putting them together. So imagine random synaptic links being created, making unusual connections in your brain. Nicotene and caffeine both increase your alertness which both might be a contributor to creativity as well.

Well, because I prefer to live longer, not shorter, I gave up those two habits almost a decade ago. Has my creativity suffered? I don't think so. I eat better now, exercise more and sleep with more regularity. All these things contribute not just to my general health, but to my mind health. I believe I'm more capable of becoming creative at any time, at will, and am not dependent on the mood and mental swings created by drug dependency (yes caffeine is a drug, friends).

There is no doubt that creativity is a fragile state, which must be flattered, cajoled and pampered. But after having done this for a long time, one learns the tricks of the trade, as it were.