I feel much like I do on January 1, after I’ve made at least one very important resolution as the Times Square ball drops. I step into the new morning as though I’m wading into a glassy pond, watching the ripples move across the water’s surface. Where will this new resolve take me? How much will really be different? What can I take with me from the past?
A fresh, new blog. Just as the first two books in the From Sadie’s Sketchbook series are about to launch into the world.
What is this new resolution?
Well, I have to admit. My first blog, The Playful Life, was full of good intentions and very few posts. I wanted to write about my journey of learning how to play. It all began when I realized that though I spent the majority of my time jumping around and being silly with young writers, encouraging them to loosen up and take risks… to play with their art… I didn’t play enough myself. So, I decided I should send myself on an Artist’s Hero’s Journey. And, because I never do anything the easy way, I decided to write and produce a play about the process. You can see the highlights of it here:
Now, if I had just been too busy playing to post on my blog, that would be one thing. But, to tell the truth, that hasn’t been the case. This last year has been stuffed full of busyness. I suppose that’s what happens when you set out to write four books in the span of about a year. But, here’s what I’m discovering. No matter how important whatever you need to do is, coming at the task with a sense of fun, exploration, experimentation, and yes, play, is the only way to truly get it done.
So, here’s my resolution. I WILL play, sometimes just for fun, because that’s where the best ideas come. I will also play for “real,” in my writing, in my work with the Inklings, in my life, and maybe even when I do the laundry. And I’ll let you know how it goes. I hope you’ll try it too, and I hope you’ll let me know how it goes. Because I think the more we can all let loose and play a little, the more joy we’ll spread, the more creative ideas we’ll discover, and the more we’ll be able to make the world a better place.
