Creator in Chief

What originally began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday has now morphed into a party for all the guys who have held the highest office in the land.

But before you run out to get a great deal on bed linen, let’s take some time out to honor a president who would definitely be part of the Mind’s Elbow tribe…

That is, if he were actually around breathing oxygen today.

Yes, I am talking about Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ike took up painting in his 50’s after being inspired by the artistic dabblings of Winston Churchill.

In fact, he wrote to Churchill in 1950, stating —

 “I have a lot of fun since I took it up, in my somewhat miserable way, your hobby of painting. I have had no instruction, have no talent, and certainly no justification for covering nice, white canvas with the kind of daubs that seem constantly to spring from my brushes. Nevertheless, I like it tremendously, and in fact, have produced two or three things that I like enough to keep.”

Well, there you go.

Take it from Ike —

Create just for the joy of it, worry not about the outcome.

Heck, you might even produce a keeper or two.

By the way, he once confided to a reporter that he had more time to paint when he was president than he did as a private citizen because his day was better organized.

Okay, we can go two ways with that info —

Either getting organized means having more time for creative endeavors, or…

that whole “U.S. President” gig is basically a cakewalk.

By the way, Ike’s favorite painting spot?

A magical Harry Potterish place, in fact —

The cupboard under the White House stairs.

PROMPT: It’s a great day to be like Ike. Find an enchanting location to dabble in your art of choice. Or start planning your campaign for the nation’s top spot — that way you’ll have much more time for creating in 2017.