"Hi, my name is Jason, and it's been forty-eight hours since I last composed."
(all in unison) "Hi, Jason."
Due to a rather strange couple of days at school, I haven't written note one of music since Sunday afternoon, and here it is, Tuesday night. I could probably go tonight without composing and pick it up again tomorrow except for The Itch. It's The Itch that tells me that being creative is what I'm supposed to do in life, because that Itch is only going to get worse and worse until I actually do something creative: write part of a story or novel, compose some new music, or even throw down some plans for a creative project. Sometimes it's just a nagging feeling in the back of my head; other times, it's a grouchiness and anger that won't go away until I've got my creative fix.
I think all of us have things in our life that, if we don't get them often enough, give us The Itch. For some people, sadly, it's things like drugs or alcohol or caffeine. (Okay, yes, I'm in the caffeine camp as well as the creative camp.) For others, it's painting, or playing with the dog, or mowing the lawn. If it's something destructive and harmful, then The Itch must be fought and overcome or it's liable to do you in. If it's not something harmful, then that Itch is the sign that whatever you're craving, whatever your mind and soul are so desperately wanting to do -- that's what you're supposed to be doing with your life. Paying attention for The Itch can go a long way toward helping you find the focus you need in your life.
Do you know what causes your Itch? If so, congratulations -- take some time tonight to go Scratch that Itch and get something meaningful done. If you don't know what causes your Itch, then pay attention as you go throughout your days and weeks. Look for and listen for it, and when you notice it, see what it's calling you to do. It may not lead you all the way to your Purpose in life, but it will at least point you in the general direction.
Now, in some non-post-related news:
A couple years ago, I talked to the 5th graders at school about the novel I've written, The Coming of the Heroes. The teacher wanted me to approach the talk in terms of the writing and publishing processes, and being creative overall. It was a lot of fun and I think the kids really enjoyed it; no clue if they got anything out of it, but it was still fun.
Well, that same teacher has asked me to talk to her kids again this year, so I'm in the process of putting together a talk that will hopefully inspire them to write and help them realize all the steps in the process. The fact that I'll be leading these same kids through National Novel Writing Month in November -- and that this talk will hopefully help them -- is just icing on the cake. I'll let you know how it goes.
Also, Stever Robbins' book Get-It-Done Guy's 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More
was released to the public today. It's available on Amazon (see the link above) as well as on Kindle
, so hop on over and check it out. I've heard my copy's in the mail, and I hope to get it read and review it in the next week or two. I've sampled some of the chapters and bites of it, and from what I've seen, it looks like a book well worth the time. Now, enough stalling -- off to create!
No comments:
Post a Comment