Ropes and Ghosts and Travel Plans
Week of November 17
Another week, another newsletter! I can’t believe we are over halfway through November already!
Unfortunately, a cold has really knocked me out these past 10 days. I took multiple Covid and Flu tests - all negative - but this cold is stubborn and lingering and has zapped all my energy. So, I spent this week laying around the house, quietly reading & napping. I had picked up some poetry books at the library for ideas on how to format my own poetry book that has sort-of stalled out at the moment, as well as for the simple fact that I love poetry.
One poem, in the front matter of Mary Oliver’s Blue Horses, particularly caught my eye:
What ropes are calling out to you to be broken? What are you waiting on ghosts to do for you?
At some point, I dug out my Nintendo Switch to play some Animal Crossing for the first time in almost a year. There is something about chopping digital wood and watering flower-bytes that is really relaxing 😌
I also wrapped up Week 1 (for the second time) of The Artist’s Way. I’ve been hearing about this book for several years and finally bought it. The book outlines a 12-week self-led program to rediscover your creativity and shut up your super-loud inner critic. Since I have been sick, I gave myself an extra week to finish Week 1’s content. The biggest task so far has been writing Morning Pages: 3 pages first thing each morning of whatever comes to mind. The idea is that you do this to clear the cobwebs so you can be more creative and productive with the rest of your day.
Since I have been ill, I haven’t seen a huge change yet regarding my writing practice (it feels like a miracle I am even writing this post right now), but there is something about committing to a daily activity that comes before anything else - in other words, deciding to put yourself and your creativity first! - that really helps with boundary-setting and self-worth. I start Week 2 today - I will let you know any findings next week.
If anyone wants to do The Artist’s Way program with me, you’re not too late - send me a message!
Finally, I spent some time this week deciding where to travel next! The current plan is to put Trixie, a suitcase (or three), my kayak, and camping equipment in my car and head out on a road trip. I booked 3 nights at a campground in South Carolina and will slowly make my way to the Florida Keys, and then continue my way out to Arizona (maybe?), stopping to see dear friends along the way (definitely). For the first time ever, I am going to skip Thanksgiving and just eat a Publix sub on the beach (while fighting off seagulls, I expect).
I haven’t booked anything else yet other than the campground; instead, I am just going to see where the wind takes me. I have found that the less I plan my trips, the more I can be in the present moment and better follow my joy. The result? Far more relaxing and fulfilling travel! Not having cell signal is also another way to guarantee peace and quiet 😉
This week was pretty uneventful, so stay tuned for next week to hear about my camping adventures.
Life is short, have fun!
Alicia xx