MAGIC LESSONS WITH ELIZABETH GILBERT

 

“To yell at your creativity, saying, “YOU MUST EARN MONEY FOR ME!” is sort of like yelling at a cat. It has no idea what you’re talking about, and all you’re doing is scaring it away, because you’re making really loud noises and your face looks weird when you do that.” - Elizabeth Gilbert

 

Ann-Marie Espinoza turned me on to Elizabeth Gilbert’s new podcast ‘Magic Lessons' recently, and guys… it’s seriously the best.

 

It's just so spot on. I imagine it’s what it might be like to have a wise older sister. Her advice is so gentle but also so inspiring, empowering and the right kind of a kick in the pants to go exercise the creative part of your brain. I think I’ve listened to every episode twice now, I just can’t get enough, so I’m pretty stoked that her book "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" is coming out next month. How have I not preordered it already? Oh wait, I think I did.

 

And while I wait for that one, I’m excited to read “Eat, Pray, Love” which I just picked it up from the library today. That request feature on the Seattle Public Library app is also kind of the best. It’s been a little while since I’ve been this excited to read a book. Not since the Wildwood Series over the winter - those were a fun read! …but I digress. 

 

So between the advice of a mentor, my dad and the Magic Lessons podcast, I’ve decided to dust off the keyboard and try writing again. Just for me. Because I feel like there are things that I need to get out of my head and onto Notepad, or paper, either way. And this is a start, a step in the right direction.

 

This is where I feel most bloggers apologize and say they’re going to write more often, post once a week, or something of that nature. But I don’t want to apologize or make any promises. I’ve needed a season away, it was a needed break. But as I’m slowly learning how to take care of myself, I’m realizing that I need to find that creative outlet again. Let that part of myself come alive again. And so my wanting to write again is for entirely selfish reasons, I’m just writing for me. Some of it I may publish on here and some may just live quietly in my notebook, that remains to be seen. Some stories just need to be written, but that doesn’t mean they need to be published and shared with the world - another point from Magic Lessons.

 

Frankly, I’m tired of yelling at the cat, trying to force something that isn’t working. I think that’s why for the longest time blogging felt flat, uninspired. All the inspiration was gone, scared away from all the pressure and expectations. When we first started this blog, I was totally burnt out on my day job and looking for an out. But that was too much pressure to put on the creative process, and I killed it. I feel like I ended up loosing some of the authenticity, loosing the point of blogging and loosing my spark.

 

So I'm done writing for everyone else. For making things in the hope of getting a lot of likes, attracting enough attention. Because that’s not the point, it can be cool for sure, but it’s not the point. 

 

Which makes me ask myself, what's the point? Why write? Why blog? And perhaps the answer to that question is subject to change. But for now, the answer is to provide some needed structure and an outlet for my creativity, to share things that I’m excited about, to connect with like minded people, and hopefully to build a community. 

 

Well, see you soon?