Friday, April 27, 2012

Chewable Bites

Technically I had two hours. By the time I ordered a drink, got my computer hooked up to the wifi, and chatted with the barista and other coffee shop patrons, I was down to one hour.

First things first: my own blog. Then other blogs. My time was quickly dwindling. I had 30 minutes left before the student worship service started. I didn't have to be there. I wanted to be there. I also wanted to write.

So I closed the internet (more accurately: gave up the fight. Katie: 0, wifi: 1) and wrote for 30 minutes. It was only a hundred words before the clock read go time. I contemplated staying longer but couldn't bring myself to do it.

Neither could I bring myself to leave the characters at the coffee shop.

This is my life right now. I have five jobs. I've made five writing-related commitments to other people. Even though some are paid and some are volunteer, they are all very important to  me. I am grateful for every single one of them. I want to do all of them well.

Likewise, I have made a commitment to you, my faithful blog readers.

There are a lot of words being produces from these fingers and tendinitis-elbow.

There are a lot of great thoughts running through this mush-like brain. There is not a lot of time (or a lot of words) to put them here.

How could I capture a blog post, a novel idea, and two freelance assignments in two hours?

I couldn't. So was the time even worth it? Maybe I should have just stayed home.

But I didn't. I made progress. I didn't construct this post but I did accomplish something. Small increments of time mean small, chewable bites of life. Like of like planning your life no further ahead than three months.

It's not easy. It's not fun. It's not voluntary.

If I can find 30 minutes to write this blog post, you can find 30 minutes to... play with your child, sing to the Lord, call your long-lost roommate, walk your dog.

It's not nearly enough but worth every second.

<>< Katie

2 comments:

StorytellERdoc said...

Yeah Katie!

I think this post was better than anything you could have constructed given ten hours to write! Well done and your message is loud and clear.

I hope this finds you well, friend!
Jim

Amber said...

I love calls from my long lost roommate ;)