The in-between time
What we need to recognize for our creativity
It was the 4th of July this past weekend in the US (our 250th in fact!) and my family spent some time at the lake. I packed my computer, business books, fun books, and my notebook and planner. After the festivities were over and the lake-goers cleared out, the quiet settled in. It was glorious.
Since announcing my snail mail letter club (The Lotus Letters), I have been exited to get all the pieces together, order product, decide the envelopes, etc. I’m SO excited! But at the lake this time, I found myself relishing the quiet. Of course, there were lake noises: boats driving by, music playing, kids playing (my own included), birds chirping, and chipmunks chattering. I found all these sounds soothing (for the most part, lol).
I didn’t even open my computer over the week. I didn’t read much in my non-fiction books. I barely even worked in my planner. And I decided early on this was ok. It was more than ok, it was what I needed it to be.
However, I DID finish my fun book and started another! I listened to inspirational podcasts. I sat in the sun. I played with the kids. I sat in my own silence, felt the wind on my face, sipped my coffee and listened to sounds of nature.
I call this the in-between time.
The time between having created something and preparing to begin the next thing. The important moment to reflect and appreciate. The liminal space between the doorway that fills you, grows you, and energizes you for the next room you are about to enter.
This time comes in many different forms for each person. I’ve been learning to recognize my in-between times so I don’t miss out on what that time has to offer me. So I don’t push myself into working on something that could have waited for the better version of me to complete it. So I don’t burn myself out when I could have taken the hint to slow down and re-charge. The in-between times, the white spaces, the liminal spaces… whatever works for you to call it—they are imperative to our creative beings.
How do you re-charge when you recognize those in-between times in your life? I’d love to hear in the comments or reply to this letter in your inbox.
~ Morgan
P.S. If you are interested in joining my mail club for this first send-out, the deadline cuts off July 17th! (If you join after the 17th, it will automatically place you in the system for the next month’s send-out. ALSO worth noting, whatever month you join in, you will still receive letter issue 01. I’ve designed this first collection of letters (12) within the theme Journey of Becoming. I can’t wait to send the first letters out, I hope you join this journey with me!!