Weekend Musings #028
Tidbits including: optimization & creativity are at odds, I don't love Jane Eyre, I can't decide on a paint color for my future home office, and social media's been poisoning my creativity.
It’s been a few weeks since I hit post on one of these! Truth be told, the vast majority of my free time has been spent either working on my novel or reading a book on my summer reading list. However, I’ve had a few ideas for essay topics percolating on the back burners of my mind, so (in theory) those should start trickling into your inbox over the next several weeks.
Lots of tidbits on my mind, so it’s another bullet point edition of the Weekend Musings!
I really believe optimization and the creative process are at odds with each other. I’ll probably be writing a full length essay on this in the future, because I have *thoughts*, but for now, I’ll just say this. You cannot optimize the creative process. There is no way to do it. The only way to even get close to something that resembles optimization in the creative process is to ignore the temptation to optimize every aspect of life and lean into the inspirations that the routine of ordinary life provides.
I’m about a quarter of the way through my first-ever read of Jane Eyre, and I’m not really feeling it. Ava Frecker commented on my note about it that you’re either a Pride & Prejudice lover or a Jane Eyre lover, and I think that’s my problem. I am an Austen girlie through and through, and nothing will ever change that. Now, I can (and do) appreciate certain aspects of the writing found in Jane Eyre, and it’s definitely more engaging than dry from that point of view, but the plot? It’s a hard pass from me.
“Begin as you mean to go on” is the phrase I’ve been carrying with me every weekday morning for the last few weeks, and dare I say it’s transformed mornings for me? I have no idea where I picked this phrase up (I certainly did not invent it), but it’s helped me lay some good habits. It’s also helped me create better rhythms later in my days, too. Here’s to praying, hydrating, exercising, and saying “no” to laziness right off the bat so I can say “yes” to having actual restful time later!
We have a closing window on our house… which means I’m seriously looking at paint colors for various rooms! ICYMI: we are in the process of building a home:) I currently have my heart set on a butter yellow laundry room. Doesn’t that sound so dreamy and cheerful? On the other hand, I have no idea what I’m going to paint my office. Maybe sage green? Blush pink? Some type of yellow or gold? I keep coming back to sage green but I’m not 100% sold. Blue is out of the question because we already want to paint other rooms blue, and I don’t want to go heavy on blue. Yesterday I posted a note with the color options I’m currently considering.
I deleted the Substack and Instagram apps off my phone a couple of weeks ago, and it’s shocking to see how much my screen time has decreased since then. This isn’t the first time I’ve deleted the Instagram app this year (and actually, the amount of time I’ve not had it on my phone outweighs having it on my phone this calendar year by a LOT), but I’d had it on my phone for a few weeks in a row and it was literally draining me. Tbh? So was the Substack app. Which saddens me because I love Substack! But scrolling always catches up with you at some point.
It’s also shocking how the less I am on social media, the less ideas I’ve had for writing essays. I’ve noticed it decreasing the more time I spend away from Instagram in particular, and it feels unsettling to me. How much of my writing has been influenced by Instagram? More than I realized, apparently. And tbh I don’t really love that. Where is my creativity?? Does it exist anymore?? (yes it does, I just have to be patient and let it bounce back with time & intentional “boredom”1)
On that mildly existential note, let’s move on…
What I’m Loving
I’m telling you, cherry clafoutis is the ultimate summer dessert. It’s simple, it’s easy, it’s light, it’s fruity. Minimal prep, maximum delight. This recipe will be on repeat in my kitchen until fall rolls around!
At long last I’ve finally started watching All Creatures Great and Small, and I think it’s safe to say that I’m hooked! This show is seriously so sweet. I have been absolutely loving basically everything about it. I have no complaints. The characters are wonderfully real. The shots of the Yorkshire Dales are gorgeous. It’s deep enough that it doesn’t feel fluffy, but light enough that it doesn’t feel heavy. Truly hits a sweet spot for me. I think I’ll have to add the books to my reading list!
My toddler just finished up her first set of swim lessons, and ngl I did not expect to enjoy taking her SO much. Homegirl loves the pool (and water in general), so I enrolled her in lessons, having water safety on my mind. And we both learned some water safety stuff, but honestly? It was so much fun!! She had a great time, I had a great time, and she definitely caught on to a fair amount. Will definitely be enrolling her in another round of lessons at some point this year.
What I’m Reading
I’m changing this section up a bit for the foreseeable future. May go back to the original format of three reads, but right now I’m going to list the books and essays I’ve been reading.
Books:
The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis, by Jason M. Baxter. Three chapters in, and I already feel like I understand Lewis’s writing—especially his fiction—on a far greater level than I did before.
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. My notes are above.
The Sewing Machine, by Natalie Fergie. This is a light, interesting novel that follows three POVs over the span of a century, focused around the Singer sewing machine that was passed down through a family.
Essays & Articles:
Lane Scott’s essay on dating advice—if you’re single, do yourself a favor & read it!
Lauren Montgomery shared some really good thoughts on the tradwife label (and identities in general).
New music by Mozart has just been discovered! And among them, seven pieces for *gasp* flute and harp. As a flutist, I am wildly excited over this. I love that all these years later, we’re still discovering music written by this prolific man.
Not an essay, but this poem by Shawn Smucker is an utterly good read.
Also not an essay, but Pope Leo XIV just gave an address to a group of writers, and his words are truly inspirational. If you’re a writer or an aspiring writer, please read!
I say that as if I don’t have a toddler running around SMH
I will say, the first quarter of Jane Eyre is, well, a bit of a drag. It does pick up and get way more interesting ... but despite liking JE, I'm also thoroughly an Austen girlie.
Also, your comment on recognizing that most of your creative inspiration (at least when it comes to essays) comes from social media is very interesting! I'm eager to hear more, should you write about it. For better or worse, social media encourages everyone to share their thoughts, thoughts, thoughts. I, too, find myself sharing less the more I walk away from social media. And while I love hearing the thoughts of so many people on this site, it's not dissimilar to reading the news: We weren't meant to read it all, to take it all in.
Caitlin Bean had a great article a couple of months ago on the article she didn't end up writing -- the one that was born of time in prayer that she realized was not meant to be shared. We all need to find more time for quiet reflection with the Lord (yes, even in the 30 seconds between making a kid's lunch and being pulled into doing the laundry). Only there will the Lord guide our own hearts toward what we need to write and share and what is just meant to be pondered in the quiet.
I also find myself sometimes having fewer ideas for essays when I am away from Substack, but I don’t think it’s necessarily an indicator of poor creativity (though it could be.) For me it’s often a lack of “dialogue” with other people whose interests I share or who say something that sparks a conversation, etc.