We know that moments of creativity create ripple effects in the world. We'd love to hear about yours. Take a moment to reflect, and then share a story about how creativity has made a change for you in your life. Big, small, and anything and everything in between. It is ALL welcome.

Use this Padlet page to explore and read other people's stories too! You might choose to write or talk about The January Challenge - or any of the (64 Million) ways creativity shows up in the world.

As part of the final January Challenge I put together a Whatsapp group of family and friends. This was our entry for the 'Chain of Hope' prompt. It was the most uplifting experience all taking part together. Some did all the days, some did none, most did somewhere in between. But it deepened my connection with people and brought me a lot of joy in cold and mizzly January. Especially this chain of warm candles...

I was inside my house, slowly going mad with nothing to do all day. I had looked forward to showing all my friends the house - no one was allowed to visit.

No one to talk to all day, having no colleagues anymore to have online meetings with. And none of my day fillers were allowed (go to the cinema, do my laps at the pool, have lunch in town). I was near breaking point.

Then my friend Ciska suggested I join this group. "But I can't draw, let alone paint, I can only write", I said. I protested loudly and was very sceptical."Try it for a week," she said, "and if you still hate it, you can leave the group".

So, six years later, I am so grateful for her for having "made" me join this group. I have learned so much about myself. That drawing and painting are basically about observing things closely, and that one does improve all the time.

I look closer now, do things I never did, and with all the friendly and encouraging comments here both my confidence and ability grew.

Amazed about the results, after that first January I decided to make a photo book of all the pictures I had posted here.

I stayed on for the weekly challenge, and next year's January. Repeat... there are now 9 books.

I am currently adding things to photo book 10, to be printed in a few weeks.

Thanks so much to Ciska for dragging me here kicking and screaming, to 64 Million Artists for all the beautiful, varied prompts, and to myself for not giving up. Well done, girl!

Having been told at an early age that I had 2 left feet, that I could join the choir only if I mimed, that art was not my strong point and I should not choose it as a subject in school I thought for years that creativity was not for me but then with retirement my life changed.

I discovered lots of classes to keep the old folk off the streets and joined anything that took my fancy. Crucially I learned how to play again.

Impact arts ran a 6 month course. I joined. My stuff joined an exhibition in the community space in Kelvingrove ART Gallery and I later SOLD work in the HAC in Irvine.

I joined a ballet class for over 50s and loved it. I was part of an intergenerational performance with Barrowland Ballet in the Tramway and at Beacon Arts.

My confidence soared.

I auditioned in a workshop run by Candoco, got the part and TOURED with them in the Uk and in Paris.

I joined Tricky Hat's 'Flames' and performed with them in Glasgow several times and also in Wick.

I made wonderful new friends and discovered that by pleasing myself I did have something to offer.

Nobody has asked me to sing yet though... There is still time. 😁

It didn’t save me.

Do you remember thinking it would?

Not the big gestures.

Not the grants, the readings, the polite applause.

I mean the smaller things.

The sentence that let me stay.

The notebook that didn’t ask questions.

Creativity came like weather.

Uninvited.

Persistent.

It said: keep your hands busy.

It said: listen closer.

It said: don’t explain this yet.

I used it to survive rooms.

To leave conversations without leaving my body.

To tell the truth sideways.

I never called it healing.

I called it making.

Some days it was just breath with a job.

Some days it was the only witness who didn’t interrupt.

You want change?

Fine.

It changed who I answer to.

It changed how long I stay.

It changed what I no longer apologise for.

That’s the story.

You can have it.

I have had what some refer to as a 'portfolio business' with irons in many fires for many years When I'm asked what I do, I always say I'm a 'Creative Catalyst for Change' empowering women to be the change we want to see in our world. What a fabulous synchronicity that I complete 31 days of challenges on a day where we reflect on using Creativity for Change.

These days, I'm largely retired as a coach/actor/performer/trainer/writer and now laser-focused on my writing. After co-authoring two non-fiction books, I'm currently querying my first women's fiction romantasy novel with agents and publishers (it's complete at 85,000 words)*.

Throughout the 25+ years since I became a solopreneur, I've created or been part of projects that empower, motivate and inspire women (and some men!) to create the physical and spiritual reality we wish to inhabit.

I'm bringng my decades of experience to Redbridge Drama Centre on 9 March 2026 as part of the International Womens Week festival.

Elder Faerie Queen Wiselda (created by me and who features in many of my creative projects) is delivering an immersive interactive experience as she delivers her 'keynote speech' and more. She invites us to come away surprised, empowered and motivated to 'Give to Gain' (#IWD2026) with visions and ideas on how to be a creative catalyst for change in our local and global communities.

I've loved being part of the January Challenges for several years. Thank you for unlocking our Creativity for Change.

With all good wishes for the future

Stephanie Barrows

(*A wild older woman joins a Tuscan legacy retreat, rekindles a long-lost romance and, with like-minded women, creates magic by harnessing the power of dancing to the beat of our heartfelt dreams).

I did this painting yesterday, ' Picking Mangoes 🥭, something I use to do a lot when I was younger with my cousins. It was the happiest, playful, fun time of my life.

Thank u all so much

31st January 2026

Dear 64 Million Artists friends

What a journey this has been! I now accept that I am creative and can get through January.

⭐️I remind myself all the time that the creative part of me is important.

⭐️I wear a plain silver ring, the first thing I made in a jewellery making class. A daily reminder and prompt

⭐️After re-learning to knit a number of years ago I now always have something in the needles and am doing my first 'chart knit'.

⭐️I bought a new sewing machine and have made curtains, bags, skirts - more to come!

⭐️Twelve years ago my partner bought me a camera. Photography has been a revelation and thanks to a great teacher and a supportive Camera Club I have been thrilled by some of the photos I've taken. I now use my pictures to make cards.

⭐️I loved writing stories at school but hated poetry. Because of the January Challenge I've embraced poems at last! And I now know what a Haiku is!

⭐️I've made things with beads, buttons, old clock parts, glitter (environmentally friendly of course) and yarn.

⭐️I weave, make jewellery, bake, garden, doodle.

⭐️I have been properly challenged and have challenged myself. Maybe the January Challenge is ending but a new creative phoenix will rise from its ashes.

So THANK YOU my 64MA friends!

It's been a blast and it is no exaggeration to say that I am changed because of all of you.

Karen x

'Creativity for Change'

I have come to the end of the challenge for this month and I have really enjoyed it. I haven't done all of the prompts but that's ok. I feel that the ones I did, have had a positive influence on me and have reignited my creative side again. Thank you @64millionartists

Appear within a dreamscape

Instinctually

Instinctually

Creativity changes

Broken reflections

Broken reflections

Invite better connections

Hope resonates strength

Hope resonates strength

Empowering feathers for flight

Patience in waiting

Patience in waiting

Crafting narratives of peace

Blizzards of feelings

.

Creativity

The greatest tool ever seen

To process what's been

It’s making sense of the world. It’s reflecting on my life and the people in it. It’s thinking about my emotions and what makes me feel them. It’s appreciating what I have but recognising what I’m working for.

It’s quietening the noise in my head

I first joined in 2020, and how little did we suspect what was just around the corner. As we went into lockdown, my Dad slipped away, and the tools of creativity I’d acquired most certainly helped me carve space for grief. And over the years I dipped in and out. My Mum slipped away too. Plus a beloved friend and 2 moggies. And yet still the joy and reflection of this group did their bit to let my imagination work some of it out.

I’ve learned to craft a haiku, to collage, to assemble, to film, to snap. Most of all I’ve found a calling of sorts: making radio. And I’m certain this group helped unlock that. Just gotta write that novel now.

On the group I added some early posts from way back when and a couple of highlights along the way, and a Blakeian snap from Friday.

Adding a link to my radio show here now! January’s show was a celebration of my Cosmos of Bowie. 💖

🙏🙏🙏 64 Million Artists and to all of you. I’ll keep creating.

🤓🤡💥❤️‍🔥💥🤡🤓