I have been thinking about this blog for months. The idea was first conceived when I read a quote from Michael Foucault. He said, "...we have to create ourselves as a work of art." I believed him and I started to question what it might mean to follow his advice. I decided to commit myself to the creative process for one year.
In preparation, I have been reading what other people have to say about creativity, mostly writers I respect, people like Anne Lamont and Natalie Goldberg. I even started a self-directed course to cultivate creativity based on the book The Artist's Way. I began to feel as if I was in training to prepare myself for the creative life. January 1, 2011 was the date I set to begin my adventure.
I woke up yesterday wheezing and sniffling: a sinus infection. I tried to ignore the tiredness, the run-down feeling that signals a depleted immune system, but my stuffed up nasal passages screamed for attention. The voice of my muse was drowned out by sounds of sneezing and nose blowing. All I wanted to do was lay on the couch and watch television. Surely my muse would not approve.
I got up this morning, still sick, but determined to create. I did a little free-writing to clear out the cobwebs and then sat, looking ahead, the day spread out before me like a clean blanket at a picnic. More than anything I wanted to stretch out on that blanket and rest. Suddenly it occurred to me: perhaps it was my muse speaking, telling me to rest. Creativity requires vitality and energy. Perhaps that is the first lesson any artist needs to learn: take care of yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment