The other day I read a post at Broadside expressing frustration at the number of posts out there where we complain about having writer’s block. I am guilty of it myself on numerous occasions.
This is not one of those posts. I do not have writer’s block, as I proved to myself yesterday by writing a post about books, a Hub about multi-tasking, and a guest post for The Idiot Speaketh. Today, I’ve already written two rather long-winded e-mails (sorry A.Hab). 
No, I currently have a disease that is the complete opposite of writer’s block, which I am calling Butterflies in the Head.
Each butterfly represents an idea, a thought, a word, an image, a story. If I focus too long on one, however, it flits away and another one moves into view. I cannot capture their fleeting beauty.
So today I thought that I might share some butterflies, with the hope that, by putting them on the page I might clarify my focus and find the most magical one of all. Please bear with me as my mind flies with the butterflies, and then comment below on the topic you would like to see me pursue more deeply.
- Unless you live in a cave with no access to the internet (which means you wouldn’t be blogging) you heard about the passing of Steve Jobs, and most likely have seen the quote I’ve posted below that speaks volumes to my current life journey. I wonder, however, what my intuition is saying, as sometimes it is muffled by the sound of butterfly wings.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs
- This morning, as I was writing my Morning Pages, Sarah bounced into my bed with her “journal” and asked me to read what she wrote about her dreams. Recently she has really embraced reading and writing, and that excites me. In Bird by Bird Anne Lamott suggests that writer’s should write a book as a gift. Perhaps I need to start a project as a gift to my daughter.
- Of course, a long time ago I had intended to turn this blog into a book as a gift for Sarah. Should I do that? The concept of that sounds overwhelming.
- Am I selling my soul trying to write for gain on HubPages? Or am I wasting my time?
- How do I create the career I want?
- Even though I am all for freedom of speech, there is a line that can be crossed when someone starts spouting vitriol and libel. We all know what I am referring to. Yet, WordPress will not ban this person from this site. Why do we allow haters and those with the loudest voices to continue to control society in the name of freedom?
- I think I need to revisit The Story Teller and The Moon Calls to expand them somehow.
- Puppets, Nathan wants a show with puppets!
Okay, that’s enough. My butterfly list can go on forever. Yet I still can’t seem to focus. Perhaps I will be able to as I let this post sink in. Thanks for being patient with my babbling butterflies.
I will now leave you with this lovely song I found by an artist called Blossomhead. Enjoy:
Oct 06, 2011 @ 10:54:31
It’s a pleasant curse, to be so curious and interested and creative. But it’s true. it’s very difficult to keep focusing and re-focusing on what is THE most important thing to do next. I try to accomplish 3-5 things a day and that feels like a lot to me…some of them are incremental so “doing” something about them doesn’t feel like making progress. But it is.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 11:02:48
3-5 things a day. I can do that. It’s good to know that I am not alone in struggling with this pleasant curse.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 11:34:50
I’ve never given such a positive and pretty metaphor to that state of mind, but I definitely prefer it …. beautiful things flitting about in my brain. I constantly wonder about how I develop the career I want – it’s a massive butterfly in my mind, slow and bumping into the same wall in frustration. Occasionally, it floats happily around. But I think I’d be most interested in you writing about writing a book as a gift.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:36:45
That career butterfly is so slow moving and sometimes annoying. Sometimes I think it is actually a luna moth that comes out at night to keep me awake with its graceful flight through my brain. Maybe the one that visited me in the past in the real world, somehow got into my head. I have a post about the Luna moth, but I can’t find it.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 11:51:48
Seems you have hit onto what has been slowing my writing down as well. Though I am not sure how “manly” it is to have butterflies floating around. Might ruin my macho image. Oh wait, I don’t have one.
A suggestion. If you cannot decide which is most important you you, or which to go with, the do the proverbial dart throw. Or even a real one. Print out this page, close your eyes, spin about and point. And go with the one your finger lands on. As silly as this may sound, it will give you direction and purpose, and quiet the butterflies for a while. After devoting some time to whatever you pick, you may find you change your mind, and that it is not what you truly want to do. But guess what, that’s one butterfly let free 
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:18:19
If you want, you could change the butterflies to bumble bees, but I think they make too much noise. I will try to set at least one butterfly free.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:00:16
I agree with Rose- a book as a gift is an excellent idea! If writing for Sarah, I’d plan a post a week that is devoted to memories of her when she was younger, stories from her now, and things from your life that relate directly to her- so not the whole blog as a book, but selected ‘Sarah themed’ posts that become, over time, a lovely tribute to this phase of her life. Then I would sprinkle it liberally with her poetry, pictures and stories. It is not a project to rush- maybe for her college graduation? Birth of her first child? It warms my heart just to think of it! -Sue
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:17:39
Sue! Where have you been. I’ve missed you. I hadn’t been thinking of this kind of thing, but I love the idea. I was thinking more of trying to write a fiction story for her. Maybe I’ll do both. More butterflies, but brightly colored ones.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:12:58
I know that butterfly feeling but I think by writing this post you have probably settled them .Couldn’t get to the music though
Oct 06, 2011 @ 12:16:32
Oh, poo. I’ll see if there is something wrong with the link. Still have butterflies, but some of them are coming to rest on flowers.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 15:03:26
Feel free to let your Butterflies run wild anytime….. We understand totally
Oct 06, 2011 @ 15:17:17
As you can see Mark, I didn’t mention all the butterflies that are flapping around there. I ignored the ugly ones for this post.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 16:14:05
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs
Follow YOUR heart. Look deep. The answers lie within.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 17:55:45
Ok, so you caught me asking for input. Ultimately I will listen to my heart, but it is always helpful to know if anyone is interested.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 18:05:22
If you follow your heart . . . YOUR audience will be interested. Others may fade away . . . but that’s OK.
Starting from within is the BEST place to start.
Oct 06, 2011 @ 19:19:53
I’m wondering why we artists are viewed in society as ‘selling our soul’ when we want to be paid for at least some of our work? It must be a societal notion because I know you’re not the first one to ask yourself such a thing. I’d be interested in seeing that persued more deeply. Imagine a world where writers are never paid a cent. Now imagine all the work it takes to write well. Something doesn’t add up there. Sigh.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 08:07:46
Interesting question Sparks. I think for me the problem is that the way to make money on Hubs is through advertising. I don’t think I get any money if someone just comes to read and respond to my post. They actually have to click on an ad. I don’t have much control over the types of ads either. I hate advertising, and I rarely click on ads unless it is something I am specifically looking for. While I would love to make money on my writing, I wonder if there is a healthier way.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 15:56:51
I see your point, Lisa. I’m looking for something like that, too. (And working on my spelling!
)
Oct 07, 2011 @ 02:41:09
Now following the “butterflies in your head” lol
Oct 07, 2011 @ 08:00:00
Welcome Aurora. I hope the butterflies in my head continue to interest you.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 13:32:55
I don’t think it would be THAT hard to turn your blog posts into a book for Sara. Just a bit of, select all, copy, and paste.
No problem.
She’ll love it when she’s old enough to appreciate it. Wouldn’t you?
Oct 07, 2011 @ 19:30:00
I know they did something to make the conversion to a book easier (I saw some announcement about that earlier) but when I initially got the idea and started trying it was incredibly challenging. The biggest problem is that a post that looks short on the screen in WordPress, is actually anywhere from 5 -10 pages in a book format. Plus I couldn’t quite figure out the right way to arrange it. I gave up.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 16:34:06
Ha- Ha! PUPPETS! It just makes me remember the puppet birthday post I did for you. I crack myself up…and right away, when seeing you write “Nathan wants puppets” it makes me think of the puppet Beatles & sock puppets! I think I’m going to go revist that post. I need something happy to make me laugh right now.
Miss you! Not guaranteering I’m back on regular basis, but I’ll try.
Sandi
http://www.ahhsome.wordpress.com
Lake Forest, CA
Oct 07, 2011 @ 19:24:42
I’m so glad you are back. I think I might have to explore the puppets just to make you laugh. I’m sorry if you are having a rough time, but I’m glad I could make you giggle.
Lisa
Oct 07, 2011 @ 17:57:11
I think that turning your blog into a book is a sweet idea, and one that is meaningful.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 19:23:55
It is a sweet idea, but at the same time maybe I should focus on new work rather than old. Things to think about.
Oct 07, 2011 @ 19:04:48
I’d love to hear more of your reflections on the Steve Jobs Stanford speech and how you can go about creating the career you want–but then I guess these two are obviously connected. I think that Jobs speech was incredibly powerful. What do you think Jobs meant when he suggested we should “stay hungry?” What does that mean to you?
Great post, Lisa.
Kathy
Oct 07, 2011 @ 19:23:19
I’ll have to actually read the whole speech to answer the question. But I would assume that “stay hungry” means keep dreaming, don’t settle for anything, but keep working towards your goals. I’ll ponder more and perhaps post later.
Lisa
Oct 07, 2011 @ 21:58:05
What a wonderful thought provoking post. I liked your butterfly analogy.. I guess that is the right word. I like to write. I have my butterflies as well. I liked the address of Steve Jobs at the commencement at Stanford. His words were very true. And to think he was not a college/university graduate. Sometimes I think I write online as my way of writing my book. Actually writing a book scares me. But blogging is like talking to my best friend over coffee in my kitchen. Maybe the blogging is what is keeping me hungry. I am just glad you are here and sharing your thoughts with us and being the inspiration that you are.
Oct 08, 2011 @ 07:39:53
Oh, wow! Thanks for those kind words. I know that one thing I struggle with within myself is leaving a mark behind. But if I am helping to inspire you in some way, then that’s good.
I love your image of “blogging is like talking to my best friend over coffee in my kitchen.” You have nailed it perfectly. Join me in a cup of coffee today (although I’ll probably have chai tea instead).
Oct 08, 2011 @ 00:16:38
You do have a lot of butterflies fluttering around you. Personally, I’d take that rather than the deafening silence of stale ideas!
Last year, I actually did write a 45-page story for my older son. The story was fiction, but he was the main character and I used some of his friends’ names. I was also able to include death as a theme because he suffered two losses last year. I hope it brought him some peace. It was so much fun to write it without the pressure of wondering “is this good enough to be published?”
Good luck sorting through the butterflies to find where your heart wants to lead you!
Oct 08, 2011 @ 07:36:10
The funny thing is that Anne Lamott published the two books that she wrote as a gift for other’s. Maybe by taking the pressure off of feeling like you want to or have to publish, you find your path to strong work.
Oct 08, 2011 @ 07:19:15
I like your metaphor:” Each butterfly represents an idea, a thought, a word, an image, a story. If I focus too long on one, however, it flits away and another one moves into view. I cannot capture their fleeting beauty” And the idea of “setting one free.” You have some great posts on this blog. Take one at a time and expand on it. Make a list of a few of those “butterflies” and tackle the one that interests you most..
Oct 08, 2011 @ 07:33:49
Thanks Terry. I hope to eventually set a lot of butterflies free.
Oct 09, 2011 @ 16:18:19
I would love to see you write about creating a career you want. I have similar questions about my life and often feel (and I know this isn’t true, but I don’t feel it) that I am running out of time. It’s also something I’ve tried to write about, hoping to figure something out. I end up concluding that it’s okay that I don’t know what I want, but somehow that always seems like I’m just selling myself short.
Oct 09, 2011 @ 20:51:15
I will probably be writing about this more here. But I also have started writing about it on my Hub Pages if you are interested. The link is on this bottom of this page. I’ll be by tomorrow to check your blog out. It is okay not to know what you want, because that is the hardest thing to figure out sometimes. Thanks so much for visiting.
Oct 09, 2011 @ 21:57:46
Maybe explore creating the career you want might be a good topic to pursue… If not, any of the others should suffice..
Still catching up on blog comments… been a hectic week.
Oct 10, 2011 @ 08:22:34
I think I will be writing more about that both here and in my Hub. I am impressed about how many posts you’ve read to catch up.