I often peruse the books, blogs and articles of different writers and photographers. Although I love reading what they have to write or taking a look at spectacular and interesting images, there are times when I what I'm really interested in finding out is what they have to say about their own successes or failures. To learn what inspires and motivates them. To collect thoughts about the creative process. To gather advice about what one does with a fuzzy and overly-tapped creative portion of the brain......when nothing worth placing on either a computer screen or fine piece of paper rises to the top with enough clarity to pursue. What I consistently find.......and what I already know......is that in order to come up with something interesting enough to share, you must also at least attempt to live a life that is interesting to you. And that it is important to become aware of the ratio of work vs. play that allows and encourages you to produce what is most important to you to produce. This makes sense to me not only as a creative person, but in the rest of my life as well.
There is a quote I refer to often that is attributed to Benjamin Franklin:
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing".
Another favorite from Abraham Lincoln is:
"Whatever you are....be a good one."
What I have personally found is that in order to 'write something worth reading', take a meaningful photograph or make a 'good' attempt at anything, I need some balance in my life and that means getting enough of a few important things:
Enough time spent with close family and friends. Enough opportunities to meet new ones. Enough time spent watching and observing. Enough connecting with the natural world. Enough physical activity. Enough time spent doing things I love simply for the sheer enjoyment of doing them.
These activities and relationships encourage, inspire and restore. They remind me that I am connected to, and part of, something much larger than myself. They allow me to rejuvenate in order to work and think and process and produce.
And so, this is how I spent the past week: I checked out of my regular daily routine and spent time in a small mountain community. I walked into town with Marc for breakfast and a bit of looking around. I hiked along a foaming aqua stream, watched a black bear amble along a high ridge......(a safe but still thrilling distance away) and purposely put my fly rod down in order to gaze at the river flow along the winding path that it took years to create. I tasted new food, toasted good friends and hung out with my dear husband and parents. I found a place on the beach to watch the sun tuck the lake in for the night and then left our window open in order to fall asleep to the sound of a train chugging and whistling along its tracks. I looked forward to waking to the early morning busy-ness of the birds.
And now.....I am renewed.
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
Warmly, Margaret
3 comments:
Nice! I feel a bit renewed just reading this! -- Michele
Beautiful. Such a great reminder of how to restore and tap into that creative flow. It sounds like a heavenly week.
Michele and Mel: Great to hear! It WAS a heavenly week! :) Margaret
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