I’m sitting in this chair. It’s the one thing I do daily, because I’ve given up on the idea that I’m going to write a poem or compose an article or draw a picture each and every day. Instead, I come and sit in this chair.
I might have a few ideas, but I really don’t know what I’m going to do until I get here, in this chair, where I’m surrounded by books and paper and pens and where I have access to my computer and sketch pads.
I find this less imposing and more productive than trying to plan out every minute of my day. Simply showing up and sitting here, in this chair, and sticking around seems to be enough. It’s a relaxed discipline. I play some music and let things come to me. I don’t force the issue.
It’s like sitting still and allowing a skittish dog to approach me and sniff my hand before it decides to let me scratch behind its ears. Far better than chasing the thing around the room.
Already today I have written two poems, two pieces for my newsletter, and posted a few items to Facebook and Twitter, and now I’m writing this. Knowing me, if I had set out to do those things, I would have felt restless and constrained. Instead, I am here, in this chair, feeling peaceful and fulfilled. I’m ready to sign off, stand up, head out, and spend the rest of the evening with my family and some friends.
No guilt. No regrets. I can live my life because I know I kept my daily appointment to come and sit, right here, in this chair.
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Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite authors. She lives in Minnesota now, as I do, and I heard her speak a few years ago. “I ask myself to write two pages a day,” she says. Not, “I must produce two pages” or “two perfect pages” or “this is my job.” But “I ask myself . . .”
Your chair invites you just as politely as she asks herself to write. Nice chair! Jane
Thanks for sharing that, Jane. I love it.
very grounding!