Nurturing the Inner Writer
Today was a bad day. None of the details matter. Actually, 2007 has so far had its share of stresses. And I'm six days into the year. The furnace broke. Family stuff. All of it just the stresses and ups and downs of life. I have two deadlines. I've had a cold (breathing through my nose . . . oh, I remember those days and want them back). Blah, blah, f***ing blah.
I have a new release. THE POKER DIARIES for teens . . . I adore the book. But you know, sometimes it's difficult as a writer to celebrate the shiny new bound book when manuscripts beckon.
However, I sat back today and thought . . . there is not enough nurturing of the artist in me. I walk, I listen to my iPod, I see a brilliant practictioner of acupuncture. I pray. I meditate. But I am really inspired by stress-free moments of art. Seeing a play, attending an art gallery opening, going into the mountains. And it's hard to fit it the nurturing things. And very often, VERY often, as a mother of four, nurturing me gets moved, by necessity, to the bottom of my own list.
I realize I need more aimless time. Less scheduled. More cups of tea and less water bottles grabbed on the run.
So how do you nurture, not just yourself, your body, but your inner mind? What do you do to recharge--especially as we recover from the frantic holiday season?
Peace,
E
I have a new release. THE POKER DIARIES for teens . . . I adore the book. But you know, sometimes it's difficult as a writer to celebrate the shiny new bound book when manuscripts beckon.
However, I sat back today and thought . . . there is not enough nurturing of the artist in me. I walk, I listen to my iPod, I see a brilliant practictioner of acupuncture. I pray. I meditate. But I am really inspired by stress-free moments of art. Seeing a play, attending an art gallery opening, going into the mountains. And it's hard to fit it the nurturing things. And very often, VERY often, as a mother of four, nurturing me gets moved, by necessity, to the bottom of my own list.
I realize I need more aimless time. Less scheduled. More cups of tea and less water bottles grabbed on the run.
So how do you nurture, not just yourself, your body, but your inner mind? What do you do to recharge--especially as we recover from the frantic holiday season?
Peace,
E
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:11 PM
11 Comments:
If I can, I take myself off to the movies. We have a cinema which is in walking distance in our village, and it has all the latest movies. And I'll often go in the morning or early afternoon. I can be the only person there, or it may be full.
The other morning I went to see The Queen (most amazing film, best I've seen in a long time) at 10.30 in the morning and it was packed.
I should add that where we live (a beautiful part of NZ) the population tends to be more mature in years than average!
I lie in bed for an hour, not sleeping or meditating or reading. Just unwinding. It's hard though, because I'm not very used to going without mental stimulation. I've a terrible habit of reading (fiction usually, or newspapers) while eating.
I'm trying to watch more movies, but my schedule makes it difficult.
Hi Sara:
I adore the movies, but don't get to go that often--four kids puts a crimp in things. But when I do, I like the escape.
E
May:
I am much the same--I know just aimless time--unwinding--would be so good for me, but it is hard to find the quiet and time to do that--and like you, my mind doesn't often cooperate.
E
One of the boons of my job is I only work till noon on Wednesdays. That's my afternoon for me, though the last couple of months it's been doctors and nutritionists and stuff but we're finally getting back to normal. Anyway, that's when I get my haircut and that's my time and money I don't feel bad spending on myself.
And being single i get two free weekends a month. Lots of times I just stay home and write and watch stuff I want on TV and get up and sit out back and watch the birds in the morning, or the evening =)
Amie:
Sounds very nice. I bird-watch too . . . very relaxing. I have a beautiful view from my office.
E
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I like to work up a sweat hitting things really hard. Tennis balls, drums, infomercial hosts...
There's something very therapeutic, I think, about just whaling away on something nobody cares if you break.
Or bird watching. :)
Jude:
A sweaty male beating up on things. What a lovely picture I have in my mind. :-) LOL!
E
LOL JUDE!!!!!!!
I love it. Better than yard work.
I have been reading a great book about creative living and restoring the creative spirit called The Artist's Way. It talks about making an "artist date" to fill the fountain inside each of us. You have to set aside one to two hours a week to do something for your inner artist. The trick is that no one can go with you on your artist date. You can do whatever you want, whether that be taking a long bubble bath, taking in a movie, or walking through a museam.
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