The other day my husband said to me, “I’m impressed at your
commitment to getting up so early every day.
I hate doing it.”
I thanked him and tamped down his compliment (why am I still
doing this?!?!?), explaining that I’m no hero.
I enjoy the quiet, and I find it best at 5 am. I get up early so I can write.
During the week I sit down with my journal, the computer,
and a cup of coffee, and I don’t move for two hours. It’s really two different things, his 5 am and
mine. He gets up early so he can exercise before work an hour away. Everything about that sounds just awful to
me.
I love that writing is the first thing each day, except when
I get up to write and have nothing to write about. My dreams don’t always leave me with deep
thoughts, the internet doesn’t always inspire with topics of
interest, and nothing has happened yet that I care to talk about. There are five blog posts in my drafts folder
and I’m bored with all of them. The
subjects that popped into my head yesterday as I grocery shopped, folded
laundry, talked with my kids? All
gone. I’ve not yet made a habit of
writing everything down.
Still, I get up early and write. It’s not great writing. It might not even be good writing.
I write anyway, hoping that something will shake the
thoughts loose. So far this morning, the
following is what brewed in my mind:
Why some moms have Pinterest boards devoted to smashing down
other moms.
A blog post by a parent responding to other parents who only have boys OR girls and talk about having it so much better than parents who only have the other gender, or parents who have both. How I hate when people make comments like “That’s why I’m so glad I don’t have {insert opposite gender here}.” Don’t people realize that they sound rude? And trifling?
The upcoming holidays and annoyance at “I’m done with my Christmas shopping!!” posts on Facebook.
Deserted cabins being overrun by forest animals.
No one talks about bandits anymore.
Facebook birthday wishes.
It’s one of the simplest nice gestures out there. Do people notice if you miss wishing them a hbd?
I love coffee. I should cut back. Forever for the rest of my life.
I’m still confused about perimenopause, both what it is and
how to say it. I pronounce it “periomenopause.” That's not right.
One of my children’s heads is going to spin right off onto
the floor. I can almost see the hormones
whizzing through the air and plinking off the walls. How many days does this vacation last?
Like I said, it’s not great writing. It’s not even good writing. But it’s mine,
and it’s what 5 am brings sometimes.
*******
I like your thoughts. I think that even just writing those down can be good. You might turn some of them into gems. At least you have a seed of an idea.
ReplyDeleteI have no drafts. It's Monday night where I am, and I've got zilch.
I know exactly where you are, Alison. Most of the time, I've got zilch.
DeleteLove this. I do not carve out time to write, and I am so impressed that you do. It is a sacrifice, but also a gift. xo
ReplyDeleteI just started this year, Anna. It's a constant mind-resetting process. :)
DeleteAh, yes. Sometimes I have a million thoughts and no time to write, sometimes I have time to write and not a single coherent thought.
ReplyDeleteYes! Why IS that? The universe does not want me to make my living by writing. :)
DeleteWriting down whatever thoughts you have is still writing. I tell my students all the time - if you can't think of anything to write, write about how you can't think of anything to write and you may be amazed at what happens.
ReplyDeleteI don't set a specific time to write - some would say that's wrong. I don't care. Everyone is different. You gotta do what works for you. And that whole 5AM thing? Yeah, I don't like anything about it, even for writing. Even for quiet time. Yeah, I got nothing. Good for you to stay committed to it. Do something productive for me, huh?
Thank you for this, Lisa. I need a little encouragement like this once in a while. Or always.
DeleteI'll be productive for you if you catch some more zzz's for me, okay?
I love random thoughts. IMO, Adam Levine's hotness is seriously overshadowed by his doucheyness.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leigh Ann. Random thoughts are my specialty these days. And
DeleteNOOOO!!!!
Not you, too!?!?
:)
You're so right. Regardless, it's yours. Your time, your writing. All yours. Sometimes that's more than enough. Love, love, love, love, love.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you get this! Thanks, Sarah!! xo
DeleteI'll totally talk about bandits with you.
ReplyDeleteYou know. Only if you want.
No pressure.
All RIGHT!!!!!
DeleteBandits Club COMMENCING!!!!
I had a dog named Bandit. Could I talk about him?
ReplyDeleteAnd I do not notice those who do NOT wish me hbd, only the ones who do. :)
Talk away about your Bandit. I'm sure he was one of the rare lovely kind.
DeleteSO right about the non-birthday wishers. I don't notice them either.
It's GREAT writing, Andrea...I just can't freakin' believe you do it at 5am!!!!
ReplyDeleteYep - it's my time! For now. You know now that I've put this out there, I'll probably start waking up at 9 am or something.
DeleteAnd Thank you!! :)
DeleteI'm so glad that you have found a time that is yours. You always manage to find something interesting to share. Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your world.
ReplyDeleteI also love the quiet of early mornings. Even when I'm not inspired, I relish the solitude and simply having the time available to me.
Thanks, Tammy!
DeleteI like how you said having the time available. It's exactly how I see it. :)
Hormones plinking off the walls. That just made my day. But no more coffee? No, thank you. Now OR forever.
ReplyDeleteOh, I won't ever give it up for good. But I should always cut back.
DeleteI used to get up early to write. But then I started staying up way too late to write and watch TV with my husband so getting up early became hitting the snooze button. (A couple of times.) I did love the quiet of the morning, though.
ReplyDeleteI used to stay up too late watching TV or hanging out with my husband, too, but then we stopped staying up when I started getting up early. I miss TV.
Delete