Muse and Mischief

The holiday weekend really gave me a re-set that is a noticeable change. The past month was a rough one for a number of reasons. My day job grew incredibly stressful over the majority of November with a lot of working lunches and after hours work. 

On top of that was the anniversary of my Dad’s death and the general malaise the underlies the holiday season with both my parents being gone. All in all it was quite the perfect storm and my Muse took a step back. Whether it was to give me space to get through it or avoiding confrontation I can’t be too sure, but I like to think it was to help me get through the chaos. 

While I got a lot of ideas last month I really didn’t have the motivation to do any substantial work on my current projects. As my mind seeks to dive into pessimistic waters, I do have to take stock in the fact that I did get some writing done. I wrote two short stories under 3k words and solved some story problems for my WIP in my head. 

This week though, I feel different. After the initial unwillingness to leave the warm comfort of my bed and favorite blanket begins to fade there is an overwhelming optimism waiting for me. This morning was the first time this week that I really took notice of it. 

I was getting my son’s breakfast and lunch ready for the day when a thought rang in my head with a vibration that I feel every now and then. It was one of those times where the truth of a thought or feeling is just undeniable.

I was so happy to just be here, doing what on any other day would be the most mundane of regular activities. I paused and gave myself grace to just live in that moment. The expanse of possibility felt infinite and the best way I can describe it is waking up from an amazing dream. The world became alive and the whispers of my Muse filled my senses with a drive to dive back into my WIP. 

I just felt so lucky to have the opportunity that the day offered. Honestly, for me and I would imagine a lot of other writers, that is a feeling that I hope to imbue into my work, whether that be written or visual. It fuels the throes of creation when I am at my keyboard or easel. 

To be honest, my zeal for creating was tempered last month with the launch of my first book. While I am incredibly grateful to have sold 9 books, I had hoped there would be a greater response. Of the books I have sold I have seen little to no feedback whether directly or posted reviews. It was very humbling. I think every artist has that hope when they put their creation out into the world that it will have a large impact. 

But this week my zeal is renewed and honestly, I think all I needed was a solid four days without thinking about my day job or what I should be doing creatively. I just enjoyed that time with my family and friends. Sometimes that is just what we need to recharge our batteries to seize the day again. 

I am very thankful for the re-set because I feel amazing and so thankful. There are so many different ways to add a bit of renewal to our life. How do you recharge your batteries or cleanse the palate from the day-to-day grind?