My joking answer to this question is that I leave a bowl of milk

"My joking answer to this question is that I leave a bowl of milk out on the back porch every night for the Idea Fairy. In the morning, the milk is gone and there's a brand-new shiny idea by the bowl." These words from Sarah Zettel carry with them both lighthearted humor and a deep, timeless truth about the nature of creativity and inspiration. Zettel’s whimsical notion of the Idea Fairy brings to mind the ancient wisdom that ideas, like gifts from the divine, come when we least expect them, and often from sources beyond our control. The idea of leaving a bowl of milk for a fairy suggests the mysterious nature of creativity—it is not always something that can be summoned at will, but often arrives on its own, as if by magic.

In the ancient world, the muses—those goddesses of the arts—were believed to bestow their inspiration upon those who were worthy. Like the Idea Fairy in Zettel’s tale, the muses were both mysterious and elusive, appearing when least expected and offering divine guidance to artists, poets, and philosophers. Homer, the great poet, did not claim to be the sole creator of his epics; he sought the muse to guide him in his work, invoking the gods to help him craft tales of immense depth and beauty. Just as Homer waited for the divine spark to guide his pen, so too do many of us wait for that sudden moment of insight, that spark of inspiration that leads to new creations.

Yet, this mysterious arrival of inspiration is not a call for idleness, but a reminder that creativity is a dance between the mind and the unseen world. The philosopher Aristotle taught that great ideas do not come from mere fantasy, but from a deep engagement with the world around us. He believed that the mind must be trained, that one must observe, reflect, and be open to the patterns and truths that lie hidden beneath the surface of ordinary life. Similarly, Zettel’s playful reference to the milk left out for the fairy symbolizes this very truth: the act of preparing oneself, of creating a space for inspiration to arrive, is an essential part of the creative process. Just as an artist prepares their canvas or a poet sharpens their mind, we too must make room for creativity to enter our lives.

There is also a lesson of patience in Zettel’s words. Just as the milk is left out, and the fairy’s visit is not guaranteed, so too does the creative process require time, trust, and patience. Leonardo da Vinci, in his relentless pursuit of perfection, would spend years sketching, reworking, and refining his creations. The Mona Lisa was not painted in a moment of sudden inspiration, but after years of exploration, of waiting for the right moment to bring the masterpiece into being. The creative process often demands that we wait, that we give time for our ideas to form and mature, just as Zettel imagines the fairy arriving when the moment is right. Greatness is not created overnight; it is nurtured over time, through reflection, practice, and openness to the unknown.

Zettel’s humor also speaks to an essential aspect of creativity: playfulness. Just as the Idea Fairy appears when the mind is light and receptive, so too do many of the greatest creative achievements come not through rigid planning, but through joyful exploration. The philosopher Heraclitus once said, "You cannot step into the same river twice." The creative process, like the river, is in constant flow—changing, evolving, and moving in unexpected directions. Like Zettel’s fairy, inspiration arrives when we are free to embrace the unknown and unpredictable. The act of leaving out milk, of inviting the possibility of magic, is a reminder to approach the world with a sense of wonder, of curiosity, and of willingness to be surprised.

The lesson we learn from Zettel’s quote is a simple yet profound one: creativity is not a mechanical process that can be forced into existence; it is an organic, mysterious force that often comes when we are open, prepared, and patient. It is a gift, like the fairy’s visit, that cannot always be summoned at will, but can only be received when we have created the conditions for it to appear. We must make room in our lives for inspiration, just as we must make room in our hearts and minds for the muse or the fairy to visit.

In practical terms, this means that we should cultivate space for creativity to flourish. Like Zettel’s milk, which serves as an offering to the unseen, we must offer our time, our attention, and our openness to the creative process. Make time each day to reflect, to let your mind wander, and to invite those moments of inspiration. Do not be discouraged if ideas do not arrive immediately, for like the fairy, they come when the time is right. Trust the process, and know that creativity is born not in moments of pressure, but in moments of patience, playfulness, and openness. By embracing these qualities, you too can leave out your milk, and wait for your own shiny ideas to appear.