”We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”
—Joseph Campbell
Life has a tendency to happen to us while we are busy making other plans.
This past week was supposed to be a vacation from my day job and a chance to really get a boost in my creativity – to write, specifically. My goal for the week was to finalize and send off the story I wrote last month, write a brand new short story, edit an old one or two from my pile of hand written manuscripts, get at least one blog post down and do some drawing. As you might have guessed Dear Reader, that did not quite happen. Instead I have spent the week tip-toeing around excruciating pain. You see, on Monday I had an unlucky fall which caused some temporary but debilitating problems with the sciatic nerve on my left side. Now, five days later, I can walk unaided without pain but shifting in my seat or in my bed still brings severe discomfort. So instead of spending the week out and about, writing and being inspired, I’ve been a prisoner in my own body. Despite spending hours upon hours alone in front of the computer or at my desk I haven’t gotten much done at all.
Pain, lack of sleep and boredom make terrible muses, or so it seems.
That said, I have still managed to be somewhat creative: I’m halfway through editing a brief short story and I have done some minor sketching and drawing (like the little guy above – Spike – who might feature in some future endeavors I am planning).
My body is not so subtly telling me I’ve been sitting here too long, though – I shall leave you with some recommendations, and a warm welcome to those of you who just started following my insanity after last weeks post about Neil Gaiman. I am humbled by your appreciation – thank you!
- Read – Ocean At the End of the Lane; Neil Gaiman
- Watch – Mirrormask; Dave McKean & Neil Gaiman
- Listen – My Shit’s Fucked Up; Warren Zevon