Put your creative stake in the ground

Make a gift to all of us

A surprise at the beach

It was Thanksgiving weekend and a balmy day in Northern California. Autumn blue skies reigned with amazing visibility. A close friend and my canine companion in tow, I set out for my favorite coastline.

It was an ideal beach day—people and dogs playing, kids digging in the sand, ubiquitous picnics, somebody building a fire. We set out on a seemingly endless walk along the shore on the firm sand, created by the low tide.

Surprise treasure

Along the way, a sculpture woven out of driftwood and kelp set away from the water and protected from the surf caught our attention. As we walked up to the structure and then stood in front of it, we noticed a further surprise: a mermaid sculpted out of the sand, holding a seaweed spear with scales carved into her tail, and wearing a shell necklace.

We marveled that someone had taken the time to create this space—a marker that offered an unexpected gift; it had transformed this stretch of beach and invited people to pause, engage, and appreciate. It sparked a conversation between us as well as created opportunities for conversations with fellow beachgoers.

This find made us so happy. We started talking about the importance of having the opportunity and time to make something together—something beautiful, playful, or fun that’s accessible to everyone. Continuing as grown ups what we did as kids—build forts, sand castles, make things–-without concern for time or profit—totally carefree.

With their bounty of free building materials, beaches, forests, and open spaces in nature invite such spontaneous outbursts of creativity. But there are also plenty of opportunities for “guerilla art” in urban settings, too.

Urban Oases

For example, the Little Libraries, lovingly-built repositories for free books, you see along sidewalks in some urban neighborhoods or the re-invention of speaker’s corners, like the "Grandma Stand", which recently popped up in New York City, where grandma’s take turns answering questions from passersby.

Especially in later life, many people often feel invisible and disconnected from the world. But when creative spaces like these invite spontaneous engagement, whether through art, music, or shared communal activities, it reinforces the sense that our existence matters. The simple act of holding space for another person, whether physically or emotionally, helps break down social isolation.

Inviting interaction

How can we all set aside time to create space for others? Imagine if the practice of generously offering time and space became part of everyday life. There would be much less social isolation, lack of purpose, and divisiveness. Afterall, who could resist a mermaid resting in the sand or asking a question of someone with much more life experience? So, don’t stifle your creative urges; take a risk, experiment, and act as if nobody’s looking. Chances are, it will inspire others to follow your lead.