By Elizabeth Cutright
© 2012 The Daily Creative Writer
Schedules. Time tables. Punch cards. Alarm clocks. Measuring hours and segmenting our days can sometimes feel counterproductive to the creative spirit. “How am I supposed to get anything done when I’ve got so much to do!”. We dream of long stretches of uninterrupted time when we can “finally” sit down and actually write.
Life rarely accommodates those desires. And we’re all probably better off for it. Structure is our foundation. Without it, out creative endeavors cannot rise.
Right now, I’m writing this entry in the lobby of the Dallas Convention center. My feet are a bit achey and my head is spinning after a morning full of interviews and product demonstrations. Traveling for my day job is a heady experience: getting out of town for a few days is always exciting, but all those meet-and-greets can be overwhelming.
Which is why I’ve carved out a moment to drink some much needed coffee and fulfill my commitment to daily writing. It’s not easy or necessarily inspiring to type a blog entry with one finger on my smart phone while the AC obliterates any memory of the 90degree temps that blasted me this morning as I headed out.
When we think of creativity and creative endeavors – like writing – we often get stuck on the idea of freedom: the freedom from structure and responsibilities. The freedom to dream, and play and imagine. But I’ve found that sometimes I do my best writing during tiny pockets of time: 15 minutes before work or during that lull on a plane between taxi-and-takeoff when your electronic devices must be turned off and your seat mate is anxious to make conversation.
Or in the lobby of the Dallas Convention center.
Float
By Elizabeth Cutright
From where I sit,
I can see high rises
standing tall against
a big Texas sky.
From my seat
I can glimpse a park;
trees bordering a
green oasis.
While I wait,
I can hear the rumble
Of voices and footsteps –
A moving exhibition.
Cool air obliterates heat.
Tall ceilings muffle voices.
But I still feel quite unable
To disconnect and float away.
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You are so lucky getting to create something in our little pockets of time. I feel like I need my block of hours to get something going here. That’s why I need to start my daily exercise ASAP!!!
Your poem is so cute! 🙂
Thanks Michele! I didn’t really feel like writing, but in the end I’m glad I did!
I like floating 🙂 Like you describe, with a day job in pharmacy informatics, I long for days at a time at the beach, iced coffee in hand and my lap top or fountain pen and paper to just let go and write write write away…but the reality is I write after running in the morning, on my lunch or coffee break or after my little one goes to bed. It all adds up, it all counts. BUT I still struggle with resistance…a constant battle for me.