Day 3 of taking myself to Creative Camp.

I’m a creative director who wants to create more for play, not just for pay.

So for the next 30 days, I’m taking myself on 30 tiny, irresistible creative adventures. And you’re invited to join me.

Today’s randomly generated prompt is:

Build.
Nature.
Share.

Immediately, I think of a creative take on “build”: build up.

And Rule #4 says: Look for the YES AND!

So the way I interpret the prompt is…

Build something in nature…
To share…
That might also build someone up…

The first thing that comes to mind is a painted rock. Alice has a kit. And I remember a little rainbow rock friend from my grandparents’ basement way back when.

One side said: “Turn me over.”

The other side said: “Thank you.”

And this silly little rock brought me hours…years, really… of endless delight.

So that’s that.

I’m going to build a lil’ rainbow rock reprise to build someone up.

I go to find the items.

Paint. Pebbles. GOOGLY EYES!!!

Then I get to painting.

And this is fun.

Light. Easy. Sitting outside. Enjoying nature. It feels so much like camp I can practically taste the s’mores. (Or is that the wildfire smoke? 😅)

Then comes the really fun part:

Taking my little rock creation friend to share.

I tuck him into my basket like Little Creative Red Riding Hood and hop aboard my bike to leave my Rainbro down by the river…

The night is incredible.

I feel happy. Buzzing. Awestruck by everything around me.

Is it Creative Camp?
Is it me?
Is it the night?

Who cares.

I challenge myself to take the prompt of “building others up” with me on the lowercase-j journey.

Because Creative Camp is about pushing through resistance and fear into flow. And sometimes I forget that I’m literally dressed like Rainbow Bright and then wonder why people are looking at me funny when I’m out in public?!

I remember I AM dressed for the job I want. Creative Camp Director. And I assume the position.

I wave. I smile. I smile at everyone who crosses my wobbly rainbow path.

And that feels like another piece of Creative Camp: recognizing that one of the ways I am creative is how I dress and outfit myself.

Not for fashion, for joy! Whimsy! Fun!

It took me into my 40s to embrace dressing for novelty instead of vanity (one of many bits of advice I’d RKA-splain to my younger self if I had the chance).

So I leave my Rainbro down by the river (in a place I know he will be found) and then I’m off!

What a delightful adventure.

I come home with the sun setting behind me, smelling a little like the smoke of nearby campfires. Tired. Sweaty. Sticky with bug spray. And full of joy. Joy full.

And that’s Day 3: a painted rock, a cargo bike, a rainbow outfit, and a reminder that…

Creativity is not only what I make. It’s how I move through the world.

Wow. Thanks for being here. I’m one happy camper.

Welcome to camp.