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| This figure, sitting on the sidewalk, sparked my imagination. |
To
be frank, I wasn’t sure how my re-entry into blogging was going to go. I have taken a hiatus while I redirected my
personal life.I considered the possibility
that there might be a dearth of topics for me to share with my readers. After all, I am trying to become really,
truly expert at letting go, letting be. Perhaps
I let go of too much. Having said that, however, I am struck with the notion
that, like a computer that has several programs running concurrently in the
background, I am subconsciously gathering material all of the time. I slowly began to realize that, unwittingly, I have
been trolling for material during my entire hiatus. I envision myself having left multiple
windows open on the computer I call my brain. Scores of them have accrued,stacked upon each other. Layered in my mind, laying in wait. Everyday,
posts have shown up ready to go. Pleading to be written.
I, however, chose not to
listen.
Unsuccessfully. I discovered one can only subvert the mind
for so long. It will not be silenced. It requires authenticity. It requires
respect. It demands that we put it to
use applying whatever native gifts with which we have been blessed. When it comes down
to it, the mind is an expression of whatever work the brain does on our
behalf. In a contest between brain and
mind, in my world, MIND would win.
So, while I lost myself in a
pity fest and visited deep, dark places I hope never to see again, I kept on
gathering ideas for posts on my blog.
Some days, I would lay stretched out on my bed, flat on my back, laptop
on my stomach. On those days, I imagined I was one of
the beachcombers that I saw most mornings looking for prized sea glass or
fairy’s toenails or mermaid’s necklaces
or that rare, flat stone just perfect for skipping (the things for which
I have hunted for over 50 years). Rather
than beachcombing, I combed my mind for ideas. I was rewarded with buckets
full. It might be possible that I would
need a small pickup truck to deliver the haul of ideas that I have netted. To my children’s consternation, I took to writing these topics
on little scraps of paper. “Mom, you
have and iPad, and iPhone and a MacBook. You can even dictate the thoughts. Stop the Madness!”
My son added that “ it’s almost
an insult to technology that you would resort to such an antiquated method of
capturing the creative process.”
During my time away from my blog, I was
reminded of one gardening season when I planted an unlabeled envelope of mixed
seeds. It was an act of blind faith
since I had absolutely no idea what might germinate. Even more importantly, I
couldn’t even guess what conditions would most likely lead the seeds to
germinate and prosper. In just the same way, I have little sense of what to do
with the plethora of ideas that have nearly swamped me during the past nine
months. In my mind’s eye, every idea
bears nurturing. Ultimately, I devised a system by setting up quarterly folders.
When an idea struck, I just typed it up and dropped it electronically in the
folder. Sometimes, there was nothing
more than a few key trigger words or a passing thought or a quotation (mine or
one of the greats). Into the quarterly
file they went. To further satisfy the pleading of my techy children, I started
shooting a quick iPhone photograph to preserve the thought at that moment. It remains to be seen whether my musings are
of interest to a single soul. Here is a peek at some random topics....
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| Making a film with my son. |
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| Finally, my ship has come in. |
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| Shouldn’t we all have a Rescue Remedy? |
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| A mosaic wall of tiles designed by children after 9/11. |
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| Subject to interpretation? |
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| Sunflowers growing in a random urban garden. |
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| Whas’sup? |
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| An error made right, warms my heart! |
“Once a master, always a
student.” I woke up thinking that. I couldn’t trace it as a famous quotation,
but I hesitate to claim it as my own because it is so very obvious.
"You tend to get very good at whatever you do over and over again. Think about it very carefully. What is it you choose to be good at? What are you choosing NOT to be good at?”
Be prepared for the posts that will follow. I can only hope you will come aboard for the ride.
"My son added that “ it’s almost an insult to technology that you would resort to such an antiquated method of capturing the creative process.”
ReplyDeleteLOL....THAT was funny !!!
EhDo