I recently went to a minor league baseball game. I noticed that the person waiting to go next would stand near the ball pen and warm up for his turn at bat. What the batter was doing learning to swing with the rhythm of the pitcher. He took the proper stance, brought the bat to his shoulder, and swung with the pitch. He was already practiced at swinging the bat and hitting the ball. The missing piece was knowing the rhythm of the opposing pitcher. By taking as many swings as possible before stepping up to the base, he made his skill of swinging work with the rhythm of the pitcher.
What a great life lesson that is for me. I know a lot of things. Classes on the technical aspects of writing have given me the skills to write poems, stories or blog posts. What is missing is the rhythm of writing. Life comes with different waves. Like a new pitcher coming up to the mound, taking time to see what the rhythm of the day is going to be like will make my at bat stand a better chance of being a successful swing. Accepting that my life doesn’t come at the pace I am comfortable with takes the guilt of not writing at a certain time away. How fast things are pitched at me is not in my control, but taking time to stop and watch how fast they are coming will help me make better connections.
What do I hope this new found knowledge will mean for this blog, and writing in general?
This lovely blog has been sitting here, waiting for me to pay attention to it since Valentine’s. My commitment to it was lost in the belief that if I didn’t write at a certain time I couldn’t get it done. I allowed the lack of rhythm to interfere with the thing I love the most, writing. Many writers say to write at the same time every day, as it disciplines your mind to be ready for writing. If that works for you, go for it. What it does for me is put writing at my pace, not at life’s. If I don’t write at 5 a.m., it doesn’t happen all day is a planning to fail. If I over sleep, no writing. Then I feel guilty, then I get discouraged because I failed, so then I don’t write.
Sound familiar? What in your life needs to be allowed to go with the rhythm of the day? You have all the skills, they just need the ball to be pitched so you can take your swing.
Now I am going to let go of the expectation that schedules will always be at the same speed and go with the rhythm of the day. With each new day I will see how fast things are coming at me, and swing at that pace. The batter didn’t refuse to go up to bat because he didn’t feel comfortable with the pace of the pitch. He practiced his swing to move with it.
I have my “bat” in hand, ready for my turn at the plate. Will every swing be a home run? No. Some will be a line drive; a foul ball; or a complete strike out. That’s okay, as long as I know I am doing everything possible to be ready when the time comes to take the swing. Sometimes it will be a home run! You know what happens then? Rest? Oh no, RUN. When the bat hits the ball, the real work starts. That’s a blog for another day.
Welcome, or welcome back. Hot dogs anyone?
