The Bleak Midwinter

 

1. Feb. 3 Group 2 - February can be a bleak month. How do you overcome periods of lethargy and re-energize yourself creatively and otherwise? 

 If there was ever a bleaker February, I don’t remember it. It isn’t lethargy I have to overcome; it’s rage. So in order to avoid the topic that brings that on, I’ll just go with the last part of the question; how I re-energize myself creatively and otherwise. The best way, of course, is to take a long, wonderful vacation. I’m thinking lying on a beach with a tropical drink:

Or maybe a little swimming, a little snoozing, and a lot of beach reading. 

But that isn’t always possible, so here are some mini-vacation ways that I energize myself. 

 Art—A good play, opera, symphony, art museum, or gallery. 

I didn’t mention moves or TV series because although they might be satisfying, part of the energy boost is getting out! So it might also be going to a craft fair. The trick is to immerse myself in the experience. Really look at the art, really listen to the music, really get engaged with the theater. 

 Outdoors—a hike, a bike ride, a bird-watching expedition, a drive to someplace beautiful that I’ve never been, an excursion to a flower conservatory,
or a neighborhood garden walk.

Again, the renewal comes from paying close attention. Look at the tree trunks, look at the tiny flowers on the hike, stop and find out what kind of succulent that is in the garden. 

 Food—cooking it and eating it. I love to cook, especially for a group. I like to sample new recipes, combine things so they look beautiful on the plate, and prepare them carefully so they taste exquisite. But I also love to eat out. There’s a particular restaurant here in LA that always has a new twist on the dishes they serve. The menu changes often and it’s always an adventure. It seemed like a passing fad, but a lot of people used to post their meals on social media. I always enjoy looking at the photos. I think the visual aspect of cooking is almost as important as the taste.

Drink—I don’t mean slugging back a so-so glass of wine. I mean ordering a cocktail that is inspired, or paying a little extra for a bottle of wine that is a gorgeous color, has a wonderful scent (oh, excuse me, nose), and tastes divine. But it doesn’t have to be alcohol. I have a friend who brings over exotic teas, and I love sampling them. A well-made cappuccino is satisfying, and it isn’t just the caffeine that’s restorative, but the smell and taste. 

 Reading—I read so much for work (editing, blurbing, editing my own work, reading because I promised I would, book clubs), that sometimes I forget to read my favorite authors or a book that sounds intriguing. When I’m feeling gutted creatively, I can really get renewed by reading a well-written book. Or sometimes it doesn’t even have to be well-written if it has characters I can engage with or a plot that intrigues me. I do have to admit, though, that if it has more than a couple of grammatical errors, I don’t find it satisfying. 

 Conversation—a good, in-depth conversation with one or more friends where there is laughter and good will can be just what I need to renew my creative spirit. (and good food and drink during the conversation does hurt either).

I’m looking forward to many of these conversations in five weeks when Left Coast Crime kicks off in Denver!