Day 45 of 99 Days

“When people are happy they have a reserve upon which to draw.”

― Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway

In honor of Valentine’s Day I’m writing this post about love. All kinds of love: romantic love, self-love and, most of all, love of life. Why I’m really happy I find writing so easy and enjoyable. I’m practically giddy with words, unable to type fast enough as they flow…

I used to believe in the myth (as I see it now) of the great artist having a tortured soul. Now, I know a lot of them certainly did – Virginia herself being one – but, the more I learn about them the more I wonder if, when they were actually creating, they were happy. This quote certainly seems to suggest it.

For myself, when I was unhappy (being quite angst-ridden until my late twenties) I couldn’t write much and certainly not well. I re-wrote a lot and rarely finished anything. Happiness is a great reserve on which to draw. And, I find, happy writing creates happy readers. It’s no doubt true of musicians/painters/actors et al., too. Which, on Valentine’s Day, or indeed any day, is only a very good thing!

Pic: “All You Need Is Love” cake from yes, you’ve guessed it, Choccy Woccy Do Dah – I do so love that place.