Keeping Our Writing Feet On The Ground
What image comes to mind when you think of “balance”?
For me, it’s standing bare foot on warm earth or sand, toes gently curling into the ground, arms outstretched to steady myself. It’s physical balance, but also connection back down to things that are real, physical, tangible. It’s rooting myself back to the present moment. It’s that sense of release we get when we’re present, grounded, here.
But what do I mean when I talk about keeping our writing feet on the ground?
Just that writing can help to keep us present, grounded, here.
Carving out the space to write - not for other people, not to promote our business, or to explain a big idea, or make connections but just for ourselves - well that can help us keep our feet on the ground.
Because with that kind of writing there’s:
- No right or wrong: in structure, style, grammar and writing rules, just the words that want to be written
- No right or wrong: in the content, in the feelings, thoughts, memories or dreams that we’re writing
- No past or future: just you, here, now. Pen moving over paper.
- No need for analysis and abstraction: you can focus right down on to the the present moment. This place, this fragment of time. This rock of the boat, the buzz of the engine, this warm mug of tea, this smell of cooked bacon… That’s all.
- No need to explain or justify: it’s just your words on the page, and the way your face changes as you write them: the wicked glint in your eye, a smile of remembered delight, a sudden flood of tears.
It’s easy to get lost in the swirl of ideas, information, thoughts, actions, and emotions that run through each day. (Heck, never mind day: that run through each hour!) Easy to lose our way and easy to lose our sense of balance.
Writing - personal writing in your own writing space - is a simple way to reconnect back to the present moment. To feel and to write the way you feel now, never mind the whys and wherefores. To let some stuff go and just… be.
To feel our toes uncurl, notice the warmth of the sand, feel our weight shift and settle. To know we’re grounded, present, here. And to stand up tall again.
Photo credit: Miguel Ariel Contreras Drake-McLaughlin
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You’ve really got me thinkiing here Joanna … I’m curious how my writing would be if I metaphorically wrote from the bottom of me feet rather than just out the top of my head
I met a lovely lady this week who writes with her fountain pen every day, just to remind herself that life is not meant to be rushed. To hear you both is inspiring and a call to action. Just me, here, now (actually later). Pen moving over paper. Can’t wait.
Even though most of my ‘planning’ gets done these days on the computer I really love nothing more than putting pen to paper - thats when I feel closest to my thoughts. Hmmm in keeping with making plans to have more fun I shall ensure I do that with pen in hand, thanks Joanna.
OH Joanna
This was just the reminder I needed. I spend so much time in front of the keyboard.
What a lovely way to reground myself.
Thanks heaps for the reminder!
Hello everyone, sorry it’s taken me a while to get back to you.
I love your enthusiasm for writing by hand and the physical sensation of that. I love to scribble too but I haven’t ever learned to write slowly enough for it to be beautiful, calming (or legible!)
I’m fascinated by Leah’s great question. You’re right, our words change when we write from different parts of our body - top of the head, seat of the pants, tip of our toes, straight from the heart.
You might just see this theme coming back round in a future post!
Joanna