Work that inspiration

Photo: imminent surf by johnnyalive

This week's Sunday Scribblings prompt is inspiration.

Inspiration is a natural part of the creative equation. However powerful it is, its actual time on our creative clocks is minuscule and fleeting.

Work hard until inspiration decides to show up. I am convinced it is a busy creature, or perhaps a lazy one, who drops by only for minutes. We must enjoy our tea in the Sahara with it as richly as we can when it visits our tables; moments after staring longingly into its deep eyes, as we search for answers to our infinite questions, it will be off to the next thirsty artist on its never-ending list.

Inspiration's gift is like a surfer's dream wave. Train for it. Work on your art in preparation for it every day. Stand on the shoreline, your toes playing with warm sand between them, until you catch a glimpse of it on the horizon. Then sprint to grab your board and dive to meet it. Swim towards it, eyes and heart open. Catch its crest as you rise to standing. Ride it as long as you can, and as you approach the beach, get ready to drop your board as you arrive on land. Grab a pen and paper. Find a soft spot under a shading palm and scribble as fast as you can, recording the flow of ideas for abundant production later.

Inspiration doesn't make creating any easier. It is a catalyst, and it doesn't replace the required sweat. But if inspiration is too predisposed or popular to pay you a call, move ahead. After all, its appearance is as rare as an endangered burrowing parrot of Argentina, not as common as the feral pigeon of many urban centers.

Make friends with steady, consistent work in the meantime.

For more takes on inspiration, click here.

Comments

[Paris Parfait]

Very wise words! Inspiration is definitely a catalyst for hard work!

[Becca]

How true! Inspiration is only the beginning~it's what you do with it that counts. Great post!

[Nicole]

love the analogy. your words make me want to head to the ocean and catch a wave... but, i won't be surprised if the water is calm that day.

[Rebekah]

enjoyed reading your post! take care:)

[Bohemian mom]

Awesome post!
I've never been to the ocean and now I feel (almost) as if I have.
Inspiring....indeed!

[Mardougrrl]

"Inspiration doesn't make creating any easier." You know, I honestly never thought of it that way, and you are SO right. This post is, well, very inspirational. :)

[gautami]

I agree so much with the words...Inspiration is a catalyst...

[waspgoddess]

This is just glorious. Reading these words made me feel so... so, I don't know how to explain it, but there was something almost profound there. Wonderful.

[jason evans]

Beautiful post. I agree we should ride that wave as far as it will take us.

BTW, "Tea in the Sahara" is a great song!

[Tori]

I love your quote, "Make friends with steady, consistent work in the meantime".
I am going to hang this above my keyboard.
Thank you.
I love how you personify inspiration!

[john]

I have read above matter is providing very good message.

I think this type Inspiration very polite: "Catch its crest as you rise to standing. Ride it as long as you can, and as you approach the beach, get ready to drop your board as you arrive on land. Grab a pen and paper. But if inspiration is too predisposed or popular to pay you a call, move ahead."

I have similar site............
www.liveforthepossibilities.com

[KG]

Everyone —

Thanks so much for visiting, reading and sharing what you got out of this!

ALL of YOU are INSPIRING to me.