Tripping In The Abstract

What is it about writing that at times makes it so therapeutic and soothing to the soul and then at other times it can be extremely frustrating and draining? I am not referring to the kind of writing that you are forced to do like a performance evaluation or a technical manual for your job or maybe a term paper at school; what I am talking about is writing because you just feel like writing. You don’t have to have an agenda, all that you need is the desire to be creative, or maybe you are irritated at someone or something and you need to open the pressure valve to let the aggravation drain out. Or maybe you are curious to see where the words will take you, to find out where the journey ends up. This type of writing is of course the most intoxicating to experience, it is what keeps you coming back to open the tap in your mind and let the thoughts flow spontaneously. When you free the images and emotions that are waiting to be released and you make it to the completed conclusion, it can be a euphoric moment, providing a mental stimulus that relaxes the body and relieves the psyche.

On the other hand, whenever the muses refuse to show themselves and the brainwaves are flatlining, the experience can be horribly discouraging. In a way, it is comparable to painstakingly sprucing up for the Spring Dance only to find that no one else shows up. You are ready to reveal your moves, but there is no music or partners to enjoy. Sometimes the slump morphs into a dry spell and then develops into an intellectual stranglehold. There are no mental triumphs or unexpected epiphanies or blissful rewards, only silent annoyance. Writers Block sometimes has the endurance of a marathon runner, it just continues to move away, keeping your inspiration outside of your minds reach.

So, back to the original question; why do we keep returning? To me it is simply to find validation in my existence. When I write I am declaring, “Hey world, I am still here and this is what I have to say!” It does not matter whether or not anyone else will ever read what I write. The fact that I am creating something uniquely mine is incentive enough to keep me going. If what I write actually communicates to someone else or even inspires them a little bit, then that is a delightful bonus that encourages me continue writing and celebrating my existence.