Down Time

The days have been unseasonably muggy in the Rogue Valley for a week now, and I have felt sluggish, like being under water too long.

I had words to edit and write today, and galleys and books to read, but all I really felt like doing was sleeping. I did that for a couple of hours when my eyes wouldn't focus, then stay open during the reading. I slept soundly, awoke peacefully, and returned to the writing. But nothing came.

Earlier in my life, I would have toughed it out, staying in the chair, staring, writing words and sentences I knew were bad before they landed, grinding my teeth and urging the right words to come.

Instead, I put the writing away and went downtown to watch the new Woody Allen film, Midnight in Paris. It felt great to spend ninety minutes in Paris, and even better to know that I had listened to my body telling me, Hey, take a break! I listened, as I don't always do, and now I look forward to what tomorrow may bring. Mostly, though, I'm grateful for this quiet, subdued, Neptunian day. I'm thankful I tuned in.

May you hear and heed your inner guidance, too.