Learning to write well, and growing in my poetry writing mean finding balance between asking for help and trusting my instincts.
Sometimes, I search for water before I have taken the time to know the depth of my own thirst. At those times, my longing outstrips my patience and I make mistakes. It is necessary to gauge both the depth of what I need and what I can hold, before seeking, before opening my mouth to drink.
When I do not trust my instincts, the flood gates burst open. I get in over my head and nearly drown. Tidal waves carry me away from where I really want to go. It becomes a question of survival and adaptation ... grow gills, swim, develop another row of teeth.
It is hard to accept that it may take more years to acquire a sense of wholeness in my writing, more years than I had hoped. But I have learned this: My writing requires learning to live with the tensions of my own evolution, learning to quiet my doubts, and yet to proceed.
It requires trusting myself to know what I need to quench my thirst.
This blog post is a part of my reflections from an online retreat study I followed with The Prayer Bench offered by Janice MacLean. You can find out more about her online retreats at:
http://www.prayerbench.ca
10 comments:
That
Is
Awesome
Oh Carol...this is beautiful and speaks eloquently of your thoughtful approach to life. Enjoy every sip along the way. Most of the creative people I know are always thirsty. I don't believe any master craftsman ever really feels they have drank their fill.
Thank you, Gary. xo
Thanks for feedback, Deborah. Creativity drives me, enriches my life and leaves me always looking for more. The tricky part seems to be trusting myself and my instincts.
Hi Carol,
Enjoyed your post.
Two things:
1 - How apropos to have this posted on a Thirstday
2 - How come you never reply to any of my comments with that 'xo' sign-off that Gary gets?
Neil
I love the metaphor. You need to drink water every day to be healthy. Write, write and write. You have already demonstrated that your determination is working! Jane
Hi Neil. You always make me laugh. Thank you for that, and yes, it is so right to post about water on Thirstday. As for the "xo", well, there are many reasons for not dispensing that to everyone. I hope your writing is going well and that you will win at this year's WFNB competition. All the best, Carol
Thanks, Jane for ever present support and encouragement. I appreciate it very much.
Carol, your writing flows like water!
Gwen, you are kind. Thank you.
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