By this third full week of January it’s just about time for my annual re-setting of those freshly minted New Year’s resolutions full of good writing intentions — the ones, that is, that don’t seem to be gaining quite the purchase in the soil of my daily routine I’d wanted them to.
In fact I’m reminded again of why I swore off old-style resolutions years ago. Gritting teeth and screwing courage may see me through a tough temporary patch but they aren’t long-term strategies that endure. Just try holding a clenched fist for two minutes; okay, try one. It’s exhausting. And there’s not much you can get done with a clenched fist. One of my favorite quotes is from Aldolfo Perez Esquival, recipient of the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize: “We cannot sow seeds with clenched fists. To sow we must open our hands.” While he was talking about social justice and not writing, I am struck by his image of a fist clenched so tightly that the hand is useless for productive labor. As a habitual fist-clencher, this image has power for me.
So instead of trying to force myself into writing habits that I’ve heard work for other people, my goal this week is to ask myself questions that help open to discovery: what does work, today, in my particular circumstance? How can I move from “fitting my writing in” to giving it a place of honor in my day? And what seeds can I sow to nourish my developing discipline?
This is a fantastic image. Best of luck unclenching your fists, and your writing!