Embracing the Pause When the Well Runs Dry
“I am thankful for my struggle because, without it, I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength.” - Alex Elle
I’m sitting in my office, at my desk, laptop open, fingers resting on the keys, wondering what the hell to write about.
Odd, right? But as a writer, this happens sometimes. The well dries up and you’re at a loss. There’s no shame in this, except when you have a deadline–personal or otherwise. It’s still a natural part of the process we must embrace.
By the time you read this, I’ll be three weeks into my recovery. On February 18th, I had surgery on my right elbow to repair two tendon tears. You can read more about that here.
I considered waiting to write this month’s post until after surgery to share the story, but I knew I wouldn’t be up to it. So, to hit my monthly goal, I’m writing this post a week before the big day.
Don’t worry, I’ll provide insight into the surgery by April unless some amazing idea strikes.
It feels strange when there are no ideas to grasp, even though there’s always a bunch vying for attention at the most inappropriate times.
In a meeting when I should be taking notes about our upcoming hiring campaign and I’m playing around with dialogue in my head. When my co-worker is asking my advice for handling an upset vendor and I’m journaling a writing prompt I just thought of.
Creativity strikes when she wants to and all I can do–all any of us can do–is try to capture the moment when it arrives in whatever way possible.
I know my mind is quiet with ideas right now because it’s focused on preparing for this surgery and upcoming recovery. This will be my first surgery, first time going under anesthesia, and first time having to sit still while the wound heals.
No wonder my ideas are stagnant; it’s too busy considering THAT notion.
Mind you, I don’t plan to simply sit in bed, watch TV, and read books. Yes, that will take up a good chunk of the time, but I have things I want to accomplish during this recovery. It’s giving me time I don’t otherwise have and I don’t plan on wasting it.
Will I move slower? Yes. Will that bother me? Maybe.
As an Aries, I am someone who goes, goes, goes, and is often in the thick of some project or another. Even as I aim to live a slower, more intentional life, my need to always have something in the works is a natural part of who I am.
This recovery will force me to slow down even more, to the point where I will only have one functional arm for a bit. That, in and of itself, will open a whole new world for me.
Mentally, this break will be an indelible time for introspection. I’ve already been journaling a ton leading up to this surgery; jotting down thoughts about how I can use this time to my advantage while also letting my body let the pain–which it has felt for the last 18+ months–go.
But it’s important to remember that this isn’t a vacation. It may seem ideal to be off from work for 12 weeks, but I’ll be struggling a good portion of that time, adjusting to the lack of mobility I’ll have with my arm.
Grace will be needed more than ever because I know myself. I’ll get frustrated that I’m not doing as much as I can in a single day, given the time. I’ll need to constantly remind myself that this time is primarily for pain recovery. All the extra stuff I’m doing or plan on doing is gravy.
All this to say is that it’s going to be an interesting 12 weeks. I’m weirdly excited about the experience, despite the learning curve I’ll have to go through. All I know is that I want this pain gone, and I look forward to the day when I can wake up in the morning again without it.
Until next time, I hope this (short) message serves as a friendly reminder that sometimes ideas and thoughts dry up and it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’ll never have another idea again; it simply means you’re meant to accept the present, relax, and wait for the spark. If it doesn’t come, coax it. Try a prompt or just start writing. You never know what will come out.
Have you ever had times of your life when your brain just went, “Nope,” and if so, how did you handle it? If you’re a writer or creative person in general, does it feel strange when the well seems dry? How do you fill it back up?
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Despite the uncertainty of certain social media platforms, I'm still on Instagram. I’ve recently added Bluesky, though I’m not on it much. At least, not yet.
Thank you so much for sharing! 💜