Had some ideas for an entertaining blog entry last night, but when I sat down to write this morning, it all came out flat.
So far this morning I’ve stumbled down to the kitchen, stood blinking in the darkness wondering where I was and what I was doing, grabbed two cups and some milk, made coffee, put sausages on to cook, showered, dressed, coached Boy1 through getting dressed, talked about a book with him, fed two boys both sausages and cereal, taken them to school, talked to Boy2’s teacher, nodded and smiled at lots of parents and children, listened to a news story about Bernie Madoff and his victims followed by a wildly inapproprate tale of a 3rd grade snack Ponzi scheme (way to trivialize, NPR), had a couple of lectures about my various shortcomings (some internal, some external), discussed plans for the day, talked about strategies for keeping Boy1 out of Big Trouble, made more coffee, made herbal tea and, in the midst of that tried to sit down and write.
I know it’s not much in comparison to some people’s mornings but I list this as an illustration to myself that I actually had have quite a lot running through this little brain of mine this morning. Maybe I should get off it’s back and stop berating it for not immediately being able to jump back into that funny place it was in last night after it had had some theta waves from repetitive household duties, and a whole day to reflect on things.
[Hmm. I heard an article on the radio about a study that showed how few things our brains can be asked to hold before we start to exhibit signs of stress, which affects memory and other functions. Here‘s an article, although not the one I was thinking of.]
I know that one day (if I’m spared, as the wee old ladies used to say) I’ll be able to wake up and grab a pen and start writing straight away, and no-one will demand anything of me. I know that I’ll be able to stay up all night writing if the mood takes me to start at 11 PM (which it often does) with no need to drag myself out of bed at 7 and cook sausages. And this will suit my writing self very nicely.
But, considering all the things that will have to change in my life to get me to that point, I’m not in much of a rush to get there.
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So, when do you feel most creative? And does it fit in with your current lifestyle?
Well, I had a similar experience. Today, i thought of writing something interesting, but in the evening when I started writing there wasn’t that enthusiasm, so i ended up writng a draft instead for editing it later on.
About the time, i feel most creative when I read a Editorial or do some Maths for a few hrs., thus whenever my concentration is good.
Maths, that’s interesting. As a kid I never would have thought of maths as a creative thing, but it really is.
And I find the same thing when I knit: it gets one level of concentration going, but lets the creative mind wander.
Having a draft, or notes, ready for when you do have the urge is a very useful thing, I find. Wanting to write and trying to come up with an idea at the same time is deadly.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.