"It's only three pages"
/I've been a bit off-schedule the past few days. Typically, I like to do my writing practice in the morning but as life goes, it just doesn't always happen like that.
This morning was interrupted by another trip to the emergency vet, sunrise edition. Kitty is okay, and I've learned so much about cats and UTIs over the past few weeks.
[Side-note: Like before, I'd say my practices are still working their magic because I was able to remain calm amidst schedule snafus, feline stress, and unexpected expenses. Here's to doing things that are good for you regularly, like yoga and writing.]
Thankfully, I got home in time to be able to see all my Saturday clients, one being a new client I had to reschedule a few weeks ago when kitty’s urinary issue first happened. The day was full of breakthroughs for several clients and deep relaxation for all. I left with my heart full that I get to do this work.
In an effort to maintain my 2022 Writing Challenge promise to myself, I decided to open up 750words.com to type my daily word count and see what blog wanted to get written today. To my surprise, I paused when something just didn't feel right. Since I immediately left for the vet this morning and then moved onto work right after, I didn't do any of my normal writing practice which also includes writing my morning pages.
Morning pages are a prescribed exercise from The Artist's Way and consist of 3 pages written by hand. Ideally done in the morning and daily. I've maintained a pretty steady practice of writing morning pages for who knows how long now, so it felt odd to me to have not emptied my head into my journal.
So I decided that before I type some words and make it a blog, I'd be a rebel and write morning pages in the evening.
I looked down at my journal and said, "It's only three pages."
Then I began.
It was surprisingly insightful to be writing at the end of my day as opposed to my normal morning routine. I got to reflect on my day, make notes of what I'd improve in future sessions, and even brainstormed a much needed end of the day routine that I don't really have currently.
I would have never had those insights if I hadn't have fallen back on a daily habit that is so ingrained in my being.
There's a few lessons here:
When you have a habit that is fully installed, the usual cues for that habit can work even out of context. Or rather, when you have habits bundled (writing in my journal and typing my blog post in 750 words), they can reinforce each other.
Setting the bar at a reasonable level can be enough to get you to do the thing. In my case, it worked to my advantage that I recently switched to a smaller journal so the three pages I write now doesn't take me as long as it did in the last journal I wrote in. That's why "It's only three pages" felt very doable.
Trying habits or regular activities at different time (or place) can produce new insights. Sure, we are creatures of habit and like certainty and routine, but there's excitement in doing things differently.
I suppose that's one of the advantages of doing a project like this 2022 Writing Challenge. It's not going to be the same everyday. Some posts, like yesterday's, are going to be short. Others, like this one, will ramble on. Some of them will be good. Some will be "meh." It’s all practice.
As long as I keep my promise, I'm happy. So far I'm 78 posts in. Even just typing that makes me so thrilled. Not a day missed yet. Wonder what I'll write tomorrow?
