Writing/retreating
On when to write and when to be still
There are definitely days and seasons in which there is a lot going on the world and the idea of writing seems miserably and impossibly out of reach.
And, to be sure, it is okay to rest at those times. It is always necessary to rest fully and well.
But, there is also a case to be made for those being the times during which it is all the more important to write, if for no other reason than to capture the full current of thoughts flowing through our minds, even if those thoughts are jumbled or messy or imperfect or simply a lot. And, just behind that is another case to be made for it also being important to put your work out into the world when things are difficult, because that is when your voice is probably most needed.
But, again, it’s also always okay to rest, retreat and not write when that’s what you most need, too. But, be clear with yourself that both things can be true: just as we must rest when overwhelmed, it is also true that when the world is chaotic and feels broken is when smart and clear voices are needed the most.
