The Power of Flow

Earlier this week I was working on an assignment for a class I'm taking, and when I looked up at the clock, I saw that it has been over two hours since I had last looked. I had been in "flow"--the state of being so involved in what you are doing that you are aware of nothing else--and it was wonderful. And I realized that while flow is the most satisfying state for me to be in regardless of what I'm doing (and particularly when I'm writing), it had been a long time since I had slipped into that level of consciousness.

And why is that? Why do I get into flow so very infrequently? For one thing, it's because I have so many commitments to family, job and schooling that I am constantly telling myself  "I'll study this chapter for 20 minutes before I have to go pick up H. from his activity" or "I'll work on this poem for 40 minutes until I absolutely have to get dinner started," etc. I am so overscheduled that I can't wean myself from the clock, and awareness of the clock is the enemy of flow. To get into flow, you have to have enough time in a single stretch that time is not an issue, and I never have that anymore.

So what am I going to do about this? Well, I can't quit my job or my classes, or put my kids up for adoption. But what I can do is, instead of attempting to study every subject and work on poetry and refine lesson plans a little bit every day, try to do fewer things per day for longer periods. This is totally against my nature. I grew up practicing the piano every day without fail and believing that everything has to be done daily to be mastered. I have always studied for every class I've been taking every single day of the week. This strategy has always worked for me too.

But now I'm going to try to do activities for longer periods of time, but fewer times per week. I have to believe in flow 100% to do this; I have to believe that I will get more deeply into each project so that it will be more effective than doing it daily for shorter spurts of time. Do I believe this? In theory, I do; but since I've always been such a proponent of daily practice for everything of any value, I'm scared.

So I'll let you know how it goes.

Yay for Judy!

My talented friend and poet Judy Halebsky has a poem on Verse Daily today. Have a look at it, and if you like it (which you will!), be sure to sign up for my poetry book giveaway, as one of the books I'm offering features Judy's work.

Birthday Buddies

What do the cartoon cat Garfield and I have in common, besides the fact that our last names begin with the letter "G"? (Or is Garfield his first name?) Well, anyway, we both have the same birthday (and we both love lasagne). (But I'm older...do I look it?)

If you want to know which fictional character shares your birthday, Flavorwire has compiled a list for every day of the year. Check it out. You might get lucky, like my grandmother, who opens her presents on the same day as Indiana Jones. Or maybe your birthday coincides with Captain Marvel's or Sherlock Holmes' or Dr. House's. Or Billy Pilgrim's or Kermit the Frog's. (Too bad most of these references seem to be from pop culture rather than literature, but maybe somebody will put together another more intellectual list, Billy Pilgrim notwithstanding...)

If you share a day with someone interesting, feel free to post below.

Guest Blogger & Giveaway Host: Mari L'Esperance

I'm happy today to have a guest blogger, poet Mari L'Esperance. Mari joins us as part of the Big Poetry Giveaway. Welcome, Mari!

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Jessica has generously agreed to let me "borrow" her blog to announce my participation in the NaPoMo poetry giveaway. I'm giving away a copy of my book The Darkened Temple, which was awarded a Prairie Schooner Book Prize and published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2008. Along with my book, I'm giving away a brand-new, hardcover copy of Yusef Komunyakaa's The Chameleon Couch (2011 Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

If you're interested, please let me know in the comments section and be sure to include your email address and/or blog URL. On May 1 I'll do a random drawing of all interested parties and notify the winner by email. Thanks so much and happy reading! —Mari L'Esperance (www.marilesperance.com)

Happy Easter (Late)

from http://cheezburger.com/4709099264