
More and more often I find that life gets in my way when I want to sit down to write. These last few weeks since the spring semester ended (I am a full time professor at the university as well), have been like a squall of activity. With dinners out and shopping with friends, to family visits and planning our vacation, I haven’t spent much time writing. I’m teaching my first online class this summer and the learning curve has been steep, though I am enjoying the experience. And even though he’s “retired,” I convinced Jim to help me design and piece together a new stone path from our driveway to our walkout basement steps. Then I had him till the ground for a butterfly garden, which may or may not be completed anytime soon. So when do I write? Lately, not often. And sometimes I get frustrated by life’s distractions.
Then I stop to think about how fortunate I am. I have friends and family to spend time with who enrich my life every single day. I have a job I love that gives me time off every summer, and a husband who is active and committed to projects about which he cares deeply. And that same husband sometimes finds it fun to work on home projects that I keep cooking up for him. So am I still frustrated about my general busyness? Sure. But I am also grateful. Because when I do sit down to write, I have a range of experiences to draw from for ideas. And for someone who writes creative non-fiction, that's essential material to have.
When I feel frustrated, I remember what Stephen King said in his book, On Writing:
“Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.”
3 comments:
List of projects? The first day of my retirement I go on that trip to Europe.
I'm one of those who constantly puts other chores and stuff before my writing...but then I binge write to make up for it. Life is a blessing and I try to enjoy every bit of it.
I think the crucial point here is your comment, "Then I stop to think about how fortunate I am...." I often feel the same way and I find that thought energizing. Thanks for the post
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