In the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, much is uncertain. I find myself with multiple plans stalled out, on hold, or foggy. A family member was just flown to a state hospital after a heart attack, and his distraught wife is not permitted to see him. With so much stress and fear, how is one to think of one's dreams, creations, or writing?
The last thing we need right now is a should. A thought or plan is not helpful if it leaves the taste in your mouth that you are not good enough, not doing enough, or not coping well. The critic takes every opportunity to make you feel disappointed with yourself. And then, digging out from that pit feels like tremendous, back-breaking, exhausting work.
There is another way. It is called rest. It relaxes the brain, letting you recover from all that is going on around you.
And rest is available when you tap your inner resources.
So I ask you to stop making demands on yourself, and whisper something kind about the human you are.
Sure, there's a Codger in your head demanding that you "accomplish something." But if you will soften that demand, your heart and mood will lift. You may even be drawn to write something for pleasure. Or to talk about what's happening, seeing the fascinating story in it. Or to put down a poem that expresses a fresh grief.
Life isn't what we expected in 2020. So give yourself permission to do nothing, kindly, for as long as you need to. And then, when your hand reaches for the pen, notice that a word, experience, or story is waiting for you.
I've prepared a restful, low-pressure, writing class. It's short, creative, and supportive, and incorporates physical stretching and self-care in between writing exercises. The class is a small fraction of the usual cost. Wildfire Writing via Zoom, at Clark College, Tuesdays at 2 pm. Class starts May 19.
No expectations right now, just the chance to sit together and be kind to our inner Dream Kid.
