Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Showing up

Okay, I'm here. Writing. Well, that sounds more like I'm doing it grudgingly, which I'm not. This is something I really want to do, but for some reason it's become a struggle. Again. And, no doubt, it's because I keep waging the battle in my head instead of just sitting down to write. Seriously. I think that's a lot of it. I'm mean, my fingers are moving across the keyboard now, so there's clearly no mechanical failure. Odds are pretty good that if I just show up and do this from time to time, I'll occasionally write something that I actually like, and maybe in the process, figure a few things out.

Much of my writing in the past was done to figure something out. I was in a bad situation and needed to get out, so I wrote. I got out and needed to make some changes so I didn't make the same mistakes again, so I wrote. I was alone and had a lot of time to let my mind go to a place far away to think, so I wrote. There are a lot of other reasons to write, though....to remember, to share, to play with words, to create.

It's interesting, just sitting down here to do this, feeling the slick surface of the keys under my finger tips, hearing their click and thud as I press them down, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. There's a sense of relief, actually, recognizing that I'm doing it. I'm not just thinking about it right now.

So, showing up is a start, and now the trick is to let go of my expectations of where it will take me. Yes, that's it. I need to let that go and just write.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Out here trying to do the same, in my own way.

Unknown said...

Si se puede, Sister!

Katherine E. said...

Wonderful!! I so enjoy reading what you write, Linda. This is good news!!!

jo(e) said...

Good to see you writing again!

What Now? said...

"Letting go" is good advice in so many areas of our lives, isn't it? And yet so hard to follow!

Vickie B. said...

Hello from North Carolina. I think you and I have the same problem. Need a writing buddy? We could challenge each other to write so-many-words-a-day and hold each other accountable (via email). What do YOU think? :) I used to do this years ago with a friend (NOT a writer), and just knowing someone would hold me accountable actually inspired me. I'd send her what I wrote and she'd cheer me on and ask for more! I can only hope she really wanted more. LOL

I have two bloglets --
smidgensofthisandthat.blogspot.com and vickierambles.blogspot.com --

Want a writing buddy?

Have a good evening!

Vickie

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this post, Linda. Funny how it came along just as I was wondering if I'd ever be able to buckle down and write something...