Relaxation can cultivate creativity. Yet giving in to the impulse to work in these conditions undermines the point of taking a break. (In other words, here's a rambling personal piece.)
This is Amy‘s dad, one of the grandparents credited with helping her have a relaxing vacation, although I readily admit that her mother and youngest sister did 10-times the work I did with her boys at the shore. I just want her readers to know that amongst all of her relaxing moments at the beach house, Amy also voluntarily cooked dinner for the extended family every night she was with us. This was a real treat, both for the work my wife did not have to do, but also for the fact that Amy is a really good and creative cook. Thanks, Amy/!!
Thank you for this. I am learning that good writers allow themselves to enjoy life for what it is and ease up on trying to "capture everything" in their heads as they go about. Of course, it's always good to be aware of those moments when you come up with a fantastic way to describe a wet, watermelon shade of red, but I think the idea of living life through the eyes of an artist or writer is often misunderstood. We live because we live, and we enjoy because we enjoy, and then we write that down, because when people "force" their minds into this narrow lens which they believe is necessary to view the world through as a writer, life is far less colorful or enjoyable, and to the self aware ones, there's this nagging feeling of unauthenticity and they cringe at themselves. So thank you for this. This post to me, especially the brilliant descriptions of your family-oriented cottage stay, drives home the point that writers must take off their (figurative) glasses sometimes and stop giving themselves headaches in order to "feel" like a writer. I don't know, that's just what I gleaned from it.
This is Amy‘s dad, one of the grandparents credited with helping her have a relaxing vacation, although I readily admit that her mother and youngest sister did 10-times the work I did with her boys at the shore. I just want her readers to know that amongst all of her relaxing moments at the beach house, Amy also voluntarily cooked dinner for the extended family every night she was with us. This was a real treat, both for the work my wife did not have to do, but also for the fact that Amy is a really good and creative cook. Thanks, Amy/!!
So glad you felt refreshed after the beach trip- we all need time to pull back from our own expectations and just allow ourselves to rest.
Aside: I loved “the other Bennet sister”!Redeems a character I always felt sad for!
Such a good post, Amy. In a culture obsessed with productivity and efficiency, this is a needed reminder of the need for rest and play and downtime.
This is funny, and TRUE! Thanks, Amy. :)
Thank you for this. I am learning that good writers allow themselves to enjoy life for what it is and ease up on trying to "capture everything" in their heads as they go about. Of course, it's always good to be aware of those moments when you come up with a fantastic way to describe a wet, watermelon shade of red, but I think the idea of living life through the eyes of an artist or writer is often misunderstood. We live because we live, and we enjoy because we enjoy, and then we write that down, because when people "force" their minds into this narrow lens which they believe is necessary to view the world through as a writer, life is far less colorful or enjoyable, and to the self aware ones, there's this nagging feeling of unauthenticity and they cringe at themselves. So thank you for this. This post to me, especially the brilliant descriptions of your family-oriented cottage stay, drives home the point that writers must take off their (figurative) glasses sometimes and stop giving themselves headaches in order to "feel" like a writer. I don't know, that's just what I gleaned from it.
Cheers,
Ketzia
Brava!
It's always important to take time for one's self.