Sometimes, you need to do something drastic.

This is one of those times for me.  When I get into a good groove, where I feel comfortable (and I am a creature who loves comfort) I tend to stop taking risks.  And risk is part of what creativity is all about.

When I get to this point, I start seeking out Helpers.   For me, Helpers are people who will give me a good kick in the ass.   People who inspire me, who challenge me, who make me see something differently.   When I’m all out of motivating myself, my Helpers come in and create the community support I need to keep going.   Bindu Wiles suddenly became one of my Helpers last week, with a big ole kick in the ass to offer.

I stumbled across Bindu’s project on Friday afternoon and signed up instantly.  I mean, instantly.  I didn’t even have time to go over the rant in my head that would usually ensue:

This is nuts! Who has time for this?  I am terrible at commitments, I would drop this thing in three days… Why would I even try to do it?  I like yoga but I suck at it, I’m not very prolific these days and 800 words is a lot.  Every day!   I mean, seriously?!

Nope.  Blame it on the Morning Pages I’ve been doing lately (which is typically done automatic-writing style) but my hands completely bypassed that part of my brain and signed the rest of me up without asking permission.  That internal monologue up there? It happened right after I signed up, but by then it was useless.   My name was on the list and I had committed myself to… well, I’ll let Bindu tell you:

On June 8th, (this coming Tuesday) I’d like you to join me for a community project online I’ve created called 21.5.800.

For 21 days, we’ll be doing 5 days of yoga a week and 800 words of writing per day. WAIT!

Don’t stop reading! Hear me out.

Here’s the deal;

THE WRITING: The writing can be ANYTHING. Memoir, blogs, business plans, essays, fiction, free-writing, letters,……..ANYTHING. The point is to get writing again daily and to have the boundaries and challenge of a daily word count to reach.

THE YOGA: There are several options for you to do the yoga portion of 21.5.800 5 times in 7 days.  Here are the options: 1. Go to a yoga class in your ‘hood. 2. Do a yoga dvd at home. 3. Take a 20-40 minute savasana* (see below) at home on the floor.

(You can read the rest of the post here:  my new project: 21.5.800)

So, does this sound like the kind of extra motivation you could use right now?  Do you like the idea of doing it with a big group of people instead of having to stay motivated all by yourself?     There’s still time to sign up!

Let me know if you decide to do it, and we’ll check in with each other here.  I’ll be posting entries about how the project is going for me starting tomorrow.

Mood Lightning

Listen to the rhythm of the rain that’s a-fallin’…

Here comes the rain again…

I love a rainy night.

Apparently, songwriters everywhere love Stormy Weather.  I’m no exception.  When the sky is overcast and gray in the morning, or when lightning shoots over the neighborhood at night, a voice inside me says, “Yay!”

A gloomy day makes me contemplative, while a full-on lightning storm makes me want to dance around the house.   Often, I just end up staring out a window in awe, humbled by the tangle of destruction and renewal offered up by Mother Nature as a reminder of my relatively teensy spot on the planet.

If the rain hasn’t actually started yet I love to walk around outside, feeling the electricity of the impending storm and, in the Summer, the warm, wet wind that almost makes me believe I’m near a beach despite being landlocked in Atlanta.

Once inside, there’s nothing better than a cup of tea or coffee and a book (either to read or write in) and then, inevitably, a nap.

Why are so many songs are written about rain?  Maybe because, if the weather is bad enough, we have an excuse to call the whole day a wash (ha) and do something we don’t usually give ourselves permission to indulge in. Rain is a great excuse to relax and gaze internally instead of focusing on all of the hustle and bustle of a regular day.  When we slow down and focus on ourselves, some of the words that have wanted to spill out may start to trickle down to the page, finally.

Whether we love it or hate it, are saddened by it or made joyful, the rain tends to inspire.  How many songs can you think of that mention rain in the title alone?  I can think of a dozen easily.  I’m sure there are hundreds if not a thousand.

Next time you find yourself completely depleted and in need of some time to get back in touch with yourself and your writing, look to the sky.  If there are clouds on the horizon that would make a sailor tremble, call in for that mental health day, prepare a mugful, and take it easy.

Blame it on the rain.