Doldrums

I’ve been suffering a serious lack of creativity lately.  Well….maybe it’s not a lack of creativity per se, more like general blahness and ennui (shut up, that’s totally a thing) that lends itself to a lack of creativity, along with a heaping side of no motivation and general bitchiness.  Every now and then I go through this weird phase where I’m just going through the motions.  I go to work, I come home, I hang out with Zac and Nick, I cook dinner, I do laundry, I go to bed…lather, rinse, repeat. I do these things because it’s simply what needs to be done, but I do it without excitement, without enthusiasm, without joy. 

I’ve gone through these phases my entire life.  Sure, the phases look different during different points in my life (I think I spent the majority of my teens in this phase, and accessorized it with black hair dye and a soundtrack of The Cure), but the end results are always the same, and I’ve always chose to deal with it the same way, by just waiting for it to pass, and it’s dawned on me that this is totally ridiculous!  Why just “wait and hope it gets better”?  Why not MAKE it better?

So, I’m conducting an experiment.  I, the perpetually pessimistic person (whee…alliteration!), am going to try and be positive.  I’m going to go through my day just assuming that it’s going to be a good day.  I’m going to take joy in playing with my kid and hanging out with my husband.  I’m going to find/do one thing every day that inspires me, creatively.  I’m going to write, about anything and everything.  I’m going to take time to work on my photography, because it makes me genuinely happy.  I’m going to get the fun back into my life.

Now, this doesn’t mean that I’m going to turn into one of those creepy, unnaturally happy people.  That’s just not who I am.  If you tell me that a crazed midget dressed like Sponge Bob set your dog on fire, I’m not going to tell you to look at it as a wonderful opportunity to get to know and understand the plight of the Midget Sponge Bob Lifestyle Community.  I’m going to tell you to go kick the shit out of a midget, because that is who I am.  However, after getting you a drink (because really, who wouldn’t need a drink after a crazy midget incident), and listening to your story, and offering you as much compassion as I can muster….I’m totally going to help you find the hilarity of the situation.

How do you get the fun back in your life?  What do you do when you’re in a creative no man’s land?

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