Friday, February 24, 2012

Emptiness Friday Five



In an intriguing question for Lent, Sally writes: I have been pondering this Friday Five over and over in my mind, but I am coming up with nothing, so I am wondering; what do you do when you feel empty of all creativity and unable to make/do anything? This is a completely open question, the only rule is name 5 things that fill/ inspire you.

Let's see:

I go for a long walk, usually with my camera.

I write a blog post about emptiness in one of its many guises!

I read poetry, especially Mary Oliver poetry.

I start on what I anticipate will be the boring and tedious part of a research or writing project, thinking that I might as well at least get it out of the way.

I sit around and dwell in the emptiness.

My own personal bonus point:  What I do NOT do is clean house!




Image: Cedar Key FL, Christmas 2010.  When I thought about images for emptiness, this one leapt to mind.

10 comments:

  1. I almost mentioned Mary Oliver poetry but just left it at reading...

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  2. and I thank you for the very emptiest picture of empty I've seen in a long time! Inspiring in itself!

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  3. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite inspirations, too. And I don't clean house either! I may organize my little craft corner, but won't touch the pile of laundry that needs doing!

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  4. love Mary Oliver, love the picture!

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  5. I should have added your photography/writing to my link list in my FF. I also DO NOT do housework or laundry or taxes (that is my task today).

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  6. What good ideas. I wish I'd had you as my spiritual director when I was trying to write my master's thesis years ago and never did--I so liked the way you described how YOU finished it up there. Thanks. Glad you don't clean!

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  7. what a wonderful reminder - Mary Oliver speaks to me so many times when other sources are dead and uninspiring. And that photo was perfect.

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  8. I have a little phrase: "Anything is better than nothing." So when I feel empty, I think of all the stuff I *should* do (the dishes, the grading, the writing) and all the stuff I *could* do (practice some music, go for a long walk in the woods, go buy something sweet to eat) and just pick whatever seems to pull me.

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  9. I wonder if Mary Oliver knows how many women (and yes, some men) she inspires and in how many ways. She is so often the only spiritual reading I can tolerate. And this is a wonderful photo. An inspiration itself.

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