Thanks so much, and thank you for leaving such a thoughtful reply. I have to agree with you, true geniuses really do think in a constant flow of amazingness. It’s not switched on or off. I feel the same about my creativity – that is always there, its just that inspiration comes In spurts for me. But then, it’s not like it disappears when I’m not having a proper light bulb moment, I can still have ideas and be inspired by life around me. I LOVE TED talks too. I have the app on my phone and iPad and I think they are just fantastic!. Thank you so much for visiting. 🙂

I don’t like the notion of abdicating our own inspiration, success or failure, either. My brain doesn’t work that way and the presence of a “genius” (daemon or muse, whatever label you want to put on it), doesn’t really fit my personal experience. I know I’m not a genius, but my best thoughts are often louder and clearer than others. They usually come when I’m already writing, when I’m focused and creatively stimulated. They’re not flashes of insight. They’re not gifts from an external presence. They’re not flying words that pass through me (thankfully, that sounds frightening). They’re connections within my mind. Tangential thoughts that link and form something greater than the sum of their parts. Maybe that’s why I see creativity as derivative.

All that said, I really enjoyed the “TED Talk.” In fact, I’ve enjoyed all of the TED Talks I’ve watched. They are, truly, a gift to the world.

all over – even in my quietest moments…

ok wow, what an awful thing to happen to you. I am so so glad you remembered your son. Our brains are a truly wonderous thing, with psychology as a background it amazes me that we can do things like that. I can’t believe what you had to fight through and re learn. Your a hero. What a lovely thing to say, 🙂 🙂 🙂 I am stunned into silence, and that rarely happens! I am glad you think people like my blog it really really means the world to me 😀

About a year and a half ago I fell in my home due to either a migraine or a back spasm, no one knows for certain. But I hit my head three times on the way down. So now retrograde amnesia of everything before the accident other than my son and like just common things, although I had to learn to write, eat, speak again, and short term memory problems. I sleep to long and I won’t remember things. Or if I don’t have contact with someone I now know for a time I wont’ remember them. Doesn’t help with the 24/7 migraines. 🙂 By the way, people love your blog. I see other people reblog your things and rave about you. I agree with them.

Well then I am honoured you commented ??? thank you so much.

I tend to get ideas at inconvenient times too like when I am doing something else!! But I also get that panic feeling too.

Amnesia… Do you mind me asking why?

Couldn’t agree more about not attributing blame elsewhere. I like your point about Einstein too. When do you usually get your Big Bang ideas then Geoff ? When you are inspired?

I’ve had a quick scan of your post – interesting. I think I agree. It’s more that Elizabeth Gilbert lumped it into one or that’s how I saw it anyway, so I didn’t give much thought to the differences between them. But now you highlight it I think its a fantastic distinction. I guess my question to you is – when those random meets of inspiration do happen – what does it feel like?