Meet my best friend and hardest critic

I bet you know who they are...

Photo by Dasha Yukhymyuk on Unsplash

I’m writing the prompts for the Writing, Breathwork and Yoga Workshop I’m hosting with yoga teacher and psychotherapist Claudine van de Vvyer and I realise - oh Amy, you know who really needs to hear these prompts? Yep, me. We probably all do.

Lately, whenever anyone asks me how I am, I wince a little, because I’m so flipping busy all the time, and it does not suit me. Anyone who’s met me knows I love a party, and a good old chinwag, but also, I love doing not very much on my own.

I like being with my own thoughts. Not watching the clock, moving to my own rhythm. When I trust in my inner clock it usually serves me well. I need to do my morning pages, they are an essential tool to my creativity, my well being.

In truth, lately, it’s been almost lunch time till I get to my journal. Some days, like today, I’ve been desperately working away since 6.30am but last Friday I dawdled until 12.45pm. Allowing myself to be distracted by a series pleasant interruptions, as they rolled in one after the other. It dawned on me. I’d unconsciously given myself an Artist’s Date. Thanks, divine universe, I needed that. I believe writing loves me back as much as I love it.

And once I’d left my phone inside the house and came to my garden pod to write, the words came. I’d made space for them. I do not expect them to be brilliant, but they are good enough.

Creativity is so often held up as something that comes from pain and suffering. I have written very raw and moving work as I’ve cathartically moved through different experiences in my life. But given the choice, (and we never are), when the chance to have a play, and enjoy my life, my work, my creativity…why bloody not. It doesn’t have to be a slog.

The writing prompts got done and note to self. "Your creative self needs nourishment. Enjoy the moment, be in it. Accept what it has to show you with grace. Your experiences are the food and drink of your creative self. They are what makes you; your beautiful, flawed self. Follow your own rhythm.”

It doesn’t really matter what time it is. No-one but me is keeping score. I showed up to the page, to the moment and that’s all that matters.

I’ve also got one spot left on my very small group writing tutorial next week. We’re going to be looking at mind-mapping and plotting. Let me know if it calls to you.

We’re fully booked on the Writing, Breathwork and Yoga Workshop on Saturday 21 June at 12.30pm in Hammersmith. It’s going to very special, nourishing and creative. Open to all. You don’t have to be a writer or a yogi, just open to finding some magic on the Summer Solstice and International Yoga Day. If you’re interested in coming to the Autumn Equinox on 20 September please get in touch.

I’d love to see you there.

Amy x