Thinking Outside the Box?

               The expression “thinking outside the box” used to trouble me.  In the field in which I worked, we were bound by an incredible number of regulations – state and federal laws, as well as a number of requirements from fire, health, food service, and other regulatory agencies.  So I spent years believing that it was more important to think creatively inside the box, rather than coming up with ideas that wouldn’t satisfy all those rules.

               Lately, I have realized that thinking outside the box means something different to other folks. For example, the picture below clearly shows someone who thinks outside the corral.  I guess it’s sufficient to get your cart pretty close, rather than actually in, the cart corral.

               Of course, there are those folks who follow the request to put carts into the corral, but I guess – as the following picture illustrates – they are thinking creatively inside the corral.  Let’s just not worry about which side to put them on, just get those puppies in those lines!

Some of the creative thinking I’ve observed of late has really puzzled me.  These folks aren’t just thinking outside the box, they simply aren’t thinking.  You decide – is the road work really over?  Or is it just beginning?

               The creative thinking that really threw me for a loop was the one that thought outside the can. Thanks to my friend and long-time reader, Betty, for sharing this photo of a soup maker who thought we needed a little more adventure and uncertainty in our lives.  Try dipping your grilled cheese in this!

               Hats off to all of you folks who keep us on our toes with your imagination and creative thinking.  But really, let’s keep the right things in the right cans, shall we?