A Finite Fantasy

I've often fantasized about being in a place in life where I could dedicate the majority of my time to my writing. No responsibilities or relationships distracting me, no need to do chores...It sounds like a dream.

It's a selfish fantasy, of course, but one that I'm certain everyone has had in their own way. And it's not as if I want it to be this way all the time; really, it would only last a few days, perhaps a week at most.

But when I really scrutinize the fantasy, I start to realize that being in an environment like that for extended periods of time would likely do more harm than good. Some deeper digging reveals some truths about myself that I'm not thrilled about, but they are important to acknowledge.

If I was allowed to focus 100% on my writing all the time, I would get a lot of writing done! At first...

But then the reality of my own motivations would creep in and I would likely lose my will to create. Because as frustrating as some of my responsibilities are, they often bring me the balance and inspiration I need to write well.

We are not meant to anything fully and completely for long periods of time. The body and mind crave various stimuli, and working tirelessly in an unchanging environment, no matter how peaceful it may be, will always become grinding after a while.

Maybe someday, I'll do an experiment and see what the statute of limitations is on a personal 'writing retreat.' For now, I must value the time I do have to write, and never take it for granted.

As all time is finite, having any time at all to create is a miracle in and of itself.