Stupid Horse

I know I usually try to be ridiculously upbeat but there comes a time when life beats you down, pure and simple. When that happens, your writing and everything else in your life suffer. That’s just the way it goes.

I know, I’ve been struggling the past while. I’ve been questioning my own decisions to take on more and more. I’ve had trouble getting words on the page and editing done. In other words, I’ve been in a bit of a funk.

This is where people will often say, when you fall, you have to get back on the horse and try again.

But what if you don’t want to get back on the horse, right away? What if you want to give that horse a good swift kick in the rear-end and leave it tied to a tree for a while to think about what it’s done? Damn horse should know who is boss and not bother knocking you to the ground by walking under a low-hanging branch, right? Maybe a little time alone without feed and water will teach it a timely lesson.

I’m realizing that it is okay to put the horse back in its place.

Instead of getting right back on, this time, I left the horse alone. Sure, I did some of the small bits of work that still had to be done, but I left the big stuff in temporary limbo. I gave myself permission to step away and relax for a few days.

Last night, I was able to finally untie the horse and climb back on. When I started writing, it was fun again. It wasn’t the chore it has been for the past couple weeks.

That was a relief. If you have been there, you know what I mean.

And how do I know that I’ll be back on for a while? Well, I don’t for sure, but I did all the writing after a VERY long day of work which was highlighted by a nagging headache when I was finally home. Despite those things, I was still able to sit down and write almost 1500 words. In fact, I could probably have written a LOT more, but I paced myself and took a little time to go for a walk. Something I have also been neglecting.

So, yes, I am feeling better. I am moving forward and I have climbed back on. Hopefully, I’ve gotten a bit smarter in the process.

I have no idea if the horse has figured out who is boss though.