An Interview with Charles Morrison

Charles Morrison has been writing letters daily for the last 10 years. We don’t want to spoil the amazing story of how this act has become an important part of his life, but trust us, this is definitely a talk not to be missed. When not writing letters, Charles teaches a myriad of topics at Antioch University-Seattle, Devry University, and Cornish College of the Arts, including world history and philosophy, Buddhism and foundations of meditation, critical thinking, and leadership. Grab tickets for his talk on September 13 right here! 

CMS: How do you define creativity and apply it in your career?

CM: When I was five years old, I decided to ride a bike.  I lived on a small hill farm in northern Missouri, and the only bikes around were two 26” bikes in the garage my brothers left behind when they went to the Navy in WWII.  They had flat tires and spider webs growing in the spokes, but that did not deter me.  The problem was ‘how’ to ride a bike when my head only reached the top of the seat.  At the time my father worked at a munitions factory and was allowed to bring home used wooden ammunition boxes.  We used them for firewood in our stove.  So I started carrying some of those boxes to the top of the gravel driveway and built a ‘platform’.  Then I leaned one of the bikes against the platform, climbed onto the platform, threw my leg over the seat (my feet were nowhere near the peddles), and pushed off.

So now I’m coasting at a rousing four mph down a pasture and having the greatest time ever.  About two-thirds of the way down, I realize that there’s a barbed wire fence coming up and I have no way to stop the bike.  About two seconds later I came up with a plan, leaped off the bike, fell onto the grass and rolled a few feet as my bike crashed into the fence.  I immediately pushed the bike up the hill and had another adventure:

CREATIVITY?

1. I was passionate about doing something.
2. I went beyond what seemed possible.
3. I used my imagination to create a ‘platform’ upon which to make the impossible possible. 
4. I took an enormous risk without knowing what the outcome would be.
5. I made quick and decisive decisions to avert disaster.
6. I experienced an enormous burst of excitement and birthed a personal confidence in one blow.

As a teacher, writer, husband, father, and friend—that first bike ride provides a model for creative living.

CMS: Where do you find your best creative inspiration?

CM: For the past 40 years or so I have constantly exposed myself to some of the greatest creative geniuses that have ever lived, both from the West and East: writers, philosophers, artists, dancers, leaders, composers, architects, mothers, fathers, children, and more.  When I hang out every day with genius—it rubs off.  Also, I spend a lot of time outside and am constantly nourished by the elements.  The simplest blade of grass, looked at carefully, abounds in wisdom.

CMS: What’s the one creative advice or tip you wish you’d known as a young person?

CM: Find ways to simply be ‘present’ in your life, moment by moment.  Seek always for the way to ‘see things as they are’.

CMS: Who would you like to hear speak at CreativeMornings?

Richard White, Chairman of the Theatre Department, Cornish College

CMS: What fact about you would surprise people?

CM: For the past 40 years, I have only taken cold showers, summer and winter—totally cold.

CMS: What are you proudest of in your life?

CM: A 35-year marriage to the same woman, a marriage that continually inspires me, nourishes my passions and my creativity, lets me know when I’m being a total fool, and has been willing to put up with a crazy man who “always does things by extremes.”