souldare

This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. (1 Corinthians 13:4 Phillips)

Sometimes writing sentences or filling a page with words seems daunting, even impossible. I complicate the process. I believe I have to come upon some deep revelation through my writing every single time. This doesn’t happen in real life. In real life, the aha moments are gleaned from the regular writing practice.

When I’ve run out of sentences, I have to return to a simpler way of processing words.

I need to write a list.

Lists are doable. Listing is away of listening. Lists lend themselves to topics. Write a gratitude list. List your fears. List your excuses. List those things that inspire you. Have fun! List something unexpected. List something mundane, like your groceries. List the distractions that keep you from creating or writing or relaxing. Often naming these things dispels them, and frees us up for the work that we intend to accomplish.

Sometimes an unexpected word will appear on the list. That  word that catches your attention may be the spark of inspiration. One word may jog your memory, or release a hope or intention your forgot, or help you to recall ways to be kind to yourself.

Your prompt for today:

Write a list about a topic of your choice.

If you rather not write anything today, why not try playing with paint. I really like this idea that I learned awhile ago. All you need is paper (printer paper, construction paper, scrap paper, an old envelope, any paper will do) and cheap acrylic craft paint. (You could use expensive paint, but that’s up to you 🙂

Choose one color, or two. Place a couple dime sized blobs of paint on the center of the paper. Fold the paper in half, smooshing the paint together. Open the paper. Voila! Funky shapes. You can use these papers for collage or a background to write your musings on. (I usually let the paint dry first, but I guess you could etch some scribbles into the wet paint with a pencil or any mark making tool you have nearby.) Experiment, have fun. This kind of play often loosens up my creative muscles and leads to the freedom to get back to writing or making art or even cleaning my house. When I give myself a break, it motivates me to get back to the “work.”

If you’re looking for more artsy inspiration, check out Jennibellie’s you tube channel or DaisyYellow’s tutorials. Both are very colorful and accomplished mixed-media artists, who make me smile and grant permission to play. I like to imagine that they believe at least six impossible things before breakfast each day.