My daughter was telling me about a book she and a friend found at the bus shelter today: “It was beautiful, it had gold writing on the cover...it doesn’t look like the kind of book someone would just have left.” They didn’t pick it up, thinking someone must have forgotten it and would surely return … Continue reading An Unexpected Gift
Creativity
Relaxation is an Art Form
My first thought on seeing my daughter relaxing on my parents dining table was, 'Get off, we don't lie on the table!' Luckily, I'm now much more able to check my immediate thoughts before I voice them. I stopped and took in the view: Stuffed animal as a pillow, favourite soft toy to snuggle, a … Continue reading Relaxation is an Art Form
You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take
This quote is attributed to hockey star Wayne Gretzky. The only ice hockey match I've ever seen was in Mighty Ducks the movie, but the man had a serious point that applies way beyond sport. I've only every had one story published before: a first person narrative which was published anonymously in an online magazine. … Continue reading You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take
Go With The Flow
The elusiveness of creativity For a while I’ve been studying creativity. In particular I’ve been trying to understand what makes it ebb and flow as it does. In the first lockdown, Spring sun shining, novelty abounding, family life felt creative. We did science experiments, made treasure maps, climbed trees, built dens, fashioned a zipwire out … Continue reading Go With The Flow
Busy Bee
She buzzed around the wildflowers, stripes of yellow and blackCollecting the pollen and nectar, like her comrades, taking it backTo the hive with an aura of frantic, each bee intent on filling their storesTo satisfy their resplendent queen, see their kin through the winter once moreBut this bee had a spark of idea, growing deep … Continue reading Busy Bee
Lacking direction? Try the death bed exercise
I’m feeling a bit unsettled at the moment. As life becomes increasingly normal, many of the aspirations and possibilities which lit me up during the first lockdown period are disappearing, and I can’t quite explain it. It's almost like the break in the norm gave rise to a feeling that anything was possible, and with … Continue reading Lacking direction? Try the death bed exercise
Runaway
Ash checked his watch. He estimated he had five minutes until the next curfew patrol. He turned his attention back to the wall. A train rumbled on the bridge overhead, drowning out the sound of the spray cans as he worked. His consciousness sank into the flow of the paint as the cans danced in … Continue reading Runaway
Senryu #1
I’m wordy by nature. I talk a lot, I write a lot, if there’s a word limit I always go over it...I like words! But in a bid to move out of my comfort zone I’ve tried a bit of micropoetry this week, inspired by David @theskepticskaddish. I’ll leave the explanations there...though it’s hard!
Rinse and Repeat
I stare upon my nemesis, the mountainous pile of clothes So begins another day of the drudgery I loathe A never ending cycle of rinse, and dry and fold I try to approach it with optimism, but it very soon gets old The soundtrack to my life is water, spin and hum The ear grating … Continue reading Rinse and Repeat
Does staying in your comfort zone stifle growth and creativity?
More on getting comfortable with being uncomfortable... In our first lockdown here in the UK there was a surge of creativity. Hilarious memes and videos, new ways of working, new ways of schooling, new ways of living together. My household was no different. I’d never considered myself to be creative, it was a nice idea … Continue reading Does staying in your comfort zone stifle growth and creativity?
Rae Cod’s Writing 