But I had a lightening bolt moment yesterday on my walk. I realized, or it hit me on the head walking past the soybeans on my left and the field filled with big puddles of water on my right, that I want to actually be a "personal systems disrupter." I want to inspire and motivate people to disrupt their personal systems to find what's beyond their current reality.
Writing Retreat Reflections
I spent two weeks on a solo writing retreat at a farmstead in rural North Dakota Sept 2-16, 2020. These are the reflections from that time.
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Surviving the slump
Today, I have shaken off the miasma of yesterday's slump. I'm shedding a skin composed of demands from external factors, some which are simply the reality of life and a demanding job but some which are self-imposed and easily dropped. That shedding is a process, like peeling an orange. The skin rarely comes off in one long peel, and even when it does, there's pith and seeds to pull away from the sweet fruit before it's ready to be consumed.
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Hitting the first slump
But this morning, I sat down to start another visualization meditation, excited for whatever was going to flood my brain the way yesterday's had. I settled my body and breathed in and out...waiting. And for 5 minutes and 37 seconds nothing happened. I had glimpses of images from yesterday; I got distracted by birds chirping and trucks rattling by. I finally gave up because it felt like I was forcing inspiration, and I know that's not possible.
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The power of the mind
For 12 minutes and 10 seconds, I breathed and let my mind wander to what I most desire. And you know what I saw? I saw myself talking to a sold out crowd of 2,500 people, mostly women but not all. I saw myself wearing a blazer where the sleeves actually were the right length (v. long arms!!!!!) and the cut was just perfect. I saw that my hair looked amazing and my glasses had no smudges on them. And I saw an amazing pair of high heels--I think they were one of my favorite pairs of J. Crew putty colored suede shoes that tie and buckle and have a…
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And so it begins
But as the sun started to set, I could feel a chill moving through the house. And as the waning light moved towards the tops of the fields, I went out for a quick walk down the country road. This cloud indicated what was coming for me tonight.
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tempus fugit*
Three hundred and thirty six hours is long enough to develop a new rhythm but not long enough to form a new habit. And that means I need to be intentional and present and aware of the clock ticking all while attempting to throw time out the window so I can sink deeply and swim freely into my creative "ouch zone," as Quinn's elementary gifted and talented teacher used to say.
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The goodness of people
"'Here Comes The Sun.' The light is showing you the pathway to more glorious journeys for you to encompass, embrace, and encounter, such an amazing opportunity to soul search, and to find the words to where you have come thus far!"
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Here comes the sun
When I applied last fall, I didn't stop to consider the ramifications of being accepted. I forgot to consider how afraid I am of the dark. I thought only of the possibilities. And I didn't believe I would get accepted, if I am being honest. I mean, why would anyone invest in my writing?
