SPACE

Happy New Year!

Today I have been thinking about space: space to write, space to read, literal and metaphorical space.

Yesterday I took some time to clean out my “writing room”, a third bedroom in our suburban ranch that houses books, this computer, a few chairs I’ve inherited, and my Reiki supplies.  It felt good to rustle through the desk drawers and chuck things I haven’t looked at in over a year.  It felt even better to find lost stories in the closet, ones I would like to revisit and possibly revise.  Spending an hour cleaning up the room felt right on New Year’s Eve.  It felt like throwing out the old to make space for the new.

My Reiki training has helped me make cleaning spaces a priority.  If I want something new to show up in my life, I need to make space for it.  Clutter in a room can muddle a mind.  Heavier energies can get trapped in piles of “things” that I may not need.  Letting go of stuff is important.

Space is time.

Tomorrow we return the chaos of everyday life.  Back to work and school, sports, meetings, and more gatherings with friends.  It is a tricky time for me because I give more than I’ve got at work.

One of my resolutions for 2018 is to give myself SPACE.  Space to write.  Space to read.  Space to be ME.

This holiday season has been magical as a middle-aged mom because I felt as if I had space to just BE.  I read when I wanted to.  I ate when I was hungry.  I laughed when something was funny.  I said “No” when I just wanted to stay inside and binge watch TV.  I was spontaneous when my son asked me if we could see The Last Jedi for a second time late one afternoon.

Most importantly, I did not worry.

And this made me happy.

Space is necessary for writing.  It takes more than just duct taping your ass to a chair in front of the writing tool of your choice.  Writing requires giving your muse some space amid the text messages, social media, to do lists, and other “important” things that causes your brain to spin.  Imagination requires time to slow and the mind to wander.  Doubt needs to take a hike.

Reading requires space too.  Taking the time to read aloud to my nine-year old before bed is still a sacred time for us.  Allowing my mind to slip into story and see someone else’s characters interact in their plot is still priceless.  It is in that space that I lose time, but it’s worth it as I come out feeling connected to another writer’s world.

I dare say that giving yourself space, allows you to connect more deeply with others.

Best wishes for giving yourself the SPACE to be you in 2018!

JMonell