A few weeks ago, I had a great idea for a new blog post. I was lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep, and listening to the high-pitched snores of my chihuahua and the deeper, steady breathing of my husband.

The sad truth is I'm not a good sleeper. It takes me a while to nod off into dreamland, and I toss and turn at night, waking up occasionally, so this is an all too common occurrence. On this particular night, I thought up a post, cool title and a rough outline of what I wanted to say. But I was too tired and lazy to get up and scribble it down on a notepad or turn on the computer and jot down my ideas, so I lost it.

Now I'm sure this missing blog post is no tremendous loss to the world or gap in the literary annals of greatness. It was just some thoughts I had late at night, not an undiscovered Shakespeare folio or the next Harry Potter series. But still, it was important enough to pop into my mind at that moment and I should have given that idea the respect and time it deserved. Perhaps it could have inspired someone or given them a little bit of insight into a current situation they face, but now we'll never know.

So my point to you is this . . . keep a pen beside your bed. And while this might be more of a metaphor than a literal pen and pad on your nightstand, I want you to be open to creativity and the ideas that pop into your mind.

Now granted, we all know every idea is not immediately worthy of merit or accolades, but perhaps there is a kernel of an idea percolating in your brain that has great potential. Maybe a small way to be more efficient at work or a solution to a nagging problem you know someone else has. Don't be so quick to dismiss it, is all I ask.

Run it past a few trusted friends and advisors. Perhaps hash it out over a cup of tea with a mentor. Share it with your significant other and get their input.

But whatever you do, for heaven's sake don't run it past a committee! The easiest way to water down greatness and transform a gem of an idea into a collaboration of confusion is to allow too many people to have input.

Treasure your ideas. Nourish your creativity. Write down these little insights and go back through them later to see if there is something worth pursuing. Don't be like me and let them flow through your fingers like water, because you might later come to regret the loss of something truly valuable. And hey, let me know if you find something good and want to chat about it!