In Residence

To Do or Not to Do? How about both?

          I arrived at a villa in the central mountains in Costa Rica four days ago, for a two-week writer’s residency. I settled in easily and have now been here long enough to be enjoying some routines, while also reveling in having no schedule other than dinner with the other writers and an early morning online yoga class each day. 

          I am writing. I am dipping into various genres that are new to me. Experimenting, if you will. I have some fun travel stories to tell. But do I have a knack for writing humor? I think it is hard to do it well. I am interested in the personal essay, not opinion pieces, but pieces that pull from my own experiences to either make a point, or more likely, get my readers thinking. I do this here, on this blog, in short form. I am curious about writing longer pieces of this nature. 

          Will I also tackle the short story? I would write short-short fiction, or perhaps even flash fiction. This draws me as well. Perhaps I will choose one situation from my life and use it as a way into a personal essay AND a travel essay AND a short-short story.  One situation, told in three different ways. What fun!

          My resilience in the face of loss and personal challenge lies both in my ability to do and to not do.  I am spending a lot of time just being, in this beautiful setting.  And a lot of time thinking and writing.  I feel quite privileged to be here, away from home responsibilities and able to spend two weeks in this way.

          Today’s Prompt: What do you do to recharge?  Do you spend some time just “being” every day?  Do you carve out moments to be with your thoughts, with no music or screens or roads or any other distractions? Do you meditate? Do you spend time in nature?  Are you including enough of this time in your daily life?