Monday crushes
Posted on | August 25, 2009 | 16 Comments
Zoom!
That was just the entire month of August flying by. I cannot believe how quickly it has gone. One week until September. Already there are fallen leaves on the lawn.
I wanted to share a few things I have been crushing on today:
This darling little clock project.
This glorious sketchbook series and this lovely inspiration wall.
And this list of stories. Good to listen to while doing the dishes.
The past week has been a blur of copy-edit days. Every scrap of time spent close to the thesaurus and the delete key. I miss my book. I miss talking to my characters in my head in the shower. I hope they’re waiting. It terrifies me that maybe they have slipped away. A page of events and scenes languishes in the top drawer of my desk. It cracks me up that I professed big plans for this story by the end of the month and here I am at end of the month. And I am not even close.
But there is something to this that I’ve been learning and learning again this summer. Things come and go—and really, you can’t hold on to anything too tightly.
I’m starting to get that it’s okay to just ride the waves. To be greedy with sleep and joy and creativity when they find you—and to sink into work and fast-paced days and tiredness on the days that those things hit hard. Each will return, and leave, and return again. There is something in this of faith, I think.
Whatever today is, tomorrow will be different. Yet there is a thread that loops through the fabric of both with its promise. Continuity somewhere. Balance, eventually.
It’s scary though to feel a surge of creativity, only to have it plundered by more practical things. There are moments where it feels like having a blindfold yanked down over my eyes, and I’m just bumping into things, fingering the shape of each moment with hands as unknowing as the blind eyes of potatoes.
Are you doing the life you want daily?
Hmm.
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16 Responses to “Monday crushes”
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I am Christina Rosalie
Hello. I'm so happy you've stopped by!
I am a multimedia storyteller, digital strategist, idea starter, stalker of wonder, finder of four leaf clovers, MFA graduate student, and mama of boys. My first book,
will be published by SKIRT! Books in September, 2012.
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August 25th, 2009 @ 2:17 am
Am I doing the life I want today? No. Just spent an hour on the home with husband while he works out of town. Reason for the hour conversation–helping him name a safety harness for a hunting tree stand for his job. Uh…none of my ideas worked, his ideas sucked, and my creativity went out the door. BUH-bye. Yes, tomorrow will be different. And next week I am going on vacation where I plan to beg for a couple evenings of solo time on the deck with laptop w r i t i n g.
August 25th, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
Christina,
Absolutely love reading your writing, you capture thoughts and feelings so beautifully into words.
Lately, I’ve been giving up on seeking balance, and trying instead, to live in rhythm.
SusieV
August 25th, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
SusieV–live in rhythm. I like that. It’s a really, really good way to think of things… I’m curious: what does that look like in your life?
August 25th, 2009 @ 8:56 pm
It’s an attempt to let go of the enormous and ideal and perfectionist expectations I’ve often placed on myself….accepting my reality for more of what it is, instead of what I wish it was. Much less pressure and the need to measure up. More living in the moment and seeking serenity in the imperfectness of it all.
August 26th, 2009 @ 1:57 pm
My journal entry from last night and this morning was “F**k Plan B.” I agree with you about riding the waves and going with it, allowing the waves to take me out and show me something new. When I don’t allow myself to stay with what is truly me, that messy creative side, I feel like my hands are tied behind my back — it’s very difficult to maintain balance with your hands tied behind you. So, yes, I’m doing the life I want today and it feels much safer than any back-up plan.
August 26th, 2009 @ 2:14 pm
Hey there~
I have a question for you regarding writing. My 9 year old daughter is so interested in writing. She has written three 100 page books and is starting a 4th one. The first 3 were okay, lots of rambling, the 4th one is getting better. Do you have any suggestions on getting her to be a better writer or is it all about practice? I am not a writer myself, always wanted to be, but it’s just not in me! I was just wondering if you have any recommendations on any ideas or materials that may help her! I have bought a few things. One was a book where it lists one word, but then gives several other words you could use instead to make it more interesting. anyway, just thought I would ask you since you are such an awesome writer, mom, teacher etc!
thanks!
tara
August 26th, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
Tara–an email is en route! That is pretty much my favorite question to answer in the entire world.
And Nina–I love f*ck plan b. I am so in.
August 27th, 2009 @ 9:24 am
Once again, your entry is like reading my own elusive impressions. I’m trying to get to a place where I can be okay with the waves, the ever-changingness of life, but honestly, I’m not there yet. I told my husband last night in bed that I’m not sure how to navigate this autumn without feeling like a failure every day of it. There simply are not enough hours in my day to write (more, always more), read, cook, clean, run errands, spend quality time with the girls, work out, connect with my husband, keep up with correspondence, work on language, socialize, sleep, and feed my soul — all things that seem essential in my mind.
A single friend came over for dinner last night. She is about to start a new job which will give her three hours of free time every morning, a fact she kept grumbling about. “What am I supposed to do all that time?” I was careful not to smack her.
I hope you keep writing along this line of thought as you figure things out (or don’t). This kind of mind companionship buoys me up more than to-do lists or kind, husbandly assurances do.
August 27th, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Three hours in the morning free? Was she serious? Oh my.
And Bethany–it’s reassuring for ME that you feel the same way. Sigh. I guess this is what living a full life looks like?
August 27th, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
Hey Christina,
I have a crush on a poem you had here under “Poems I love” before you changed your website around. It was a beautiful poem, about advice… now I can’t remember exactly what it was about, but we are making a time capsule for my neice this weekend & I wanted to write that poem out for her. Is it somewhere on your website & I just can’t find it now?
Anyway, I loved that “Poems I love” category – I thought that was pretty brilliant.
August 28th, 2009 @ 12:04 am
Carrie–It was by Mary Oliver. I’ll have to put that category back… I liked it too. It kind of just got lost in the site redesign.
August 28th, 2009 @ 5:57 am
Hi Christina,
Thank you for this lovely post. I like what you say about the surge of creativity being plundered by more practical things. That happens to me often. I want to be better at being greedy with joy and creativity. Sleep can wait. I have a toddler and one thing I must remind myself is that I cannot have everything I want at once. It is always a balance for me between duty and self-fulfillment. I hope I can get to a point where I have a fine balance of both.
Teresa
August 28th, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
I loved this post. You put it in to words brilliantly. The practical vs. the creative. This year is the year I am going to work on that thing we call “self.” I need to get a job next year, so I am going to try and be who I want to be, even though I am not sure who that is. I hope to find the waves and ride them well. Thank you for putting the nebulous feelings that are so peripheral into words…center stage!
August 28th, 2009 @ 7:44 pm
Christina, do you know the name of the poem? Having trouble finding it on the net.
Thx
August 28th, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
Carrie–I put it back up–on the left sidebar under POEMS. It’s called “To Begin With Sweet Grass.” Words to live by every day…
August 29th, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Aw, you rock Christina, thank you – the time capsule is today so that poem is going in there!