Have you heard that fish don’t know what water is?
That sounds so weird but think about it: it surrounds them and they don’t have the thinking capacity to question it. It just is.
To me, our busy lives are our “water”. When we don’t know we’re “swimming’ in our busy-ness, we can lose sight of where we’re really heading. So it was for me when I started getting ready to publish this first book. Suddenly the focus switched from my inward world about characters and storylines to engaging with the outside world via blogs and social media.
So I listened when my head said I needed a rest from blogging. I’d exhausted both my initial ideas and my energy levels. I dropped it from 5 days a week to 3. That helped. Then I came to the decision that I needed a complete break. It was a little exciting to surrender to the wisdom of my head. When giving something up brings relief, you know you’ve made the right choice!
I’ve still been busy with novel-focussed tasks while I’ve been away, but I’ve allowed my mind to ramble, too. Improving the garden and catching up on those dreaded chores (that always seem insurmountable until you can’t bear them any more and then you do them in a day) has allowed me the space to think about fresh content, to seek out a clarity of direction, and to improve my understanding of my purpose. And become happier with my house and garden!
We all know rest is crucial. How we can get it when it seems elusive can be a challenge. But it works. Finding what works for our own situation and the way our mind works is paramount. Setting aside an entire day, a regular time on certain days, or finding small moments here and there can clear the circuits of our brain, can help us surface from the ongoing “water” that surrounds us, can re-energise our day.
So now I’m ready to recommence the blogs. Here they come, 2 days a week. I hope you enjoy them!
Joni Page 