11 Amazing Facts From the 16th Century!

I came across this some time ago, and it sparked my thinking. There’s so much we take for granted in the modern day, like how easily we rattle off some phrases like “Raining cats and dogs”, or labeling high-class people as “upper-crust”. But do you know the origins of such phrases.

The following facts surprised me in a delightful way. It also made me think that we take so much for granted today: need a cool drink? Open the  refrigerator; need to cool down? Go to an air-conditioned environment; or even having ceramic or porcelain plates to eat from. But just a few hundred years ago, life was indeed so much tougher without such modern-day conveniences and facilities.

It took some brains and great ideas to provide us these conveniences today, to give us an age of great wealth and abundance, and plenty of ease.

So the next time you take anything for granted, think first about the idea that sparked off its creation.

Here are some facts about life in the 1500’s:

Its Mark Twain’s Birthday today!

Its Mark Twain’s (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910) birthday today! In his honour, I’d like to share one of my favourite quotes from this brilliant, sharp, witty and very creative writer:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

So have a toast in his honour, and fear not that the ideas you create are not being accepted yet. Stay on the path of exploration, discovery and dreaming.
Its more than guts or courage: its about believing in yourself. Because the more you believe in yourself, the more convinced they will be about you and your ideas.

If you’re not creating and leaving a legacy right now… ask yourself, then when?
You have the power to change the world, one step at a time.

All it takes is an idea to start with.
You are just an idea away from being awesome!

Does education tend to kill creativity from young?

World-renowned expert in education and creativity Sir Ken Robinson gave this very illuminating talk about why we need to change the paradigm of education. One very key point made is how education kills the ability to see possibilities out of one idea or concept, due to forcing upon students the desire for conformity. Its like there’s only one answer to any question, and nothing else can be considered. This kills any hopes to see beyond and consider numerous other answers, any of which can provide new insight and directions for new ideas.

I found it very educational (forgive the pun) and it hits the problem right on the head: why many people think they are not creative today.