I love stand up comedy. Not for the laughter. I like to laugh, but that’s not what keeps me watching Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Regan, and Sarah Silverman over and over again. I watch for the stories. To watch a great stand up comedian is to watch a master storyteller at work.

Most of us probably think that a comedian’s life must be incredibly interesting for them to have all these hilarious stories, but I’m not sure if that’s actually the case. I don’t think a comedian’s life is any more interesting than the average person. The difference is, the comedian allows her life to inform her work. The comedian knows that hiding within the mundane interactions of everyday life is the inspiration needed to create art and move people.

Picture this: you're on an airplane, sitting in coach. The first class curtain hasn't been closed yet, and you see a man in a suit giving the flight attendant a hard time about having to turn off his Blackberry before take off.  Where the average person sees just another passenger being rude to a flight attendant, the comedian sees an opportunity for a joke about people who fly first class. When the restaurant manager sitting behind the comedian sees how well the flight attendant handles the situation, she sees an opportunity to teach her staff a lesson in dealing with troublesome tables. The retired widow at the back of the plane sees an opportunity to encourage the young flight attendant on a job well done, and even write a letter to the head of the airline endorsing this flight attendants excellent service.

We each live hundreds of stories every day. Within each of these stories is an opportunity to create art that encourages, inspires and brings joy to others. We just need to open our eyes and look at our circumstances from the right perspective.

Take a cue from the stand up comedian today and search for the creative potential in the seemingly mundane moments. You just might find some.