The Long Way Home…

I took the scenic route home today. It started with a wrong turn, but I took the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. It would have been easy to turn around and return to familiar surroundings. Had I done that, I would have missed seeing the beautiful fall colors on the trees. As a result, I had a peaceful commute. This idea of expanding my routine has been a reoccurring theme in recent weeks.

A few weekends ago, I attended the Southern Festival of Books. One of the sessions featured Tennessee poet laureate Maggi Vaughn. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Maggi read poems about her family and southern life. It was a pleasure hearing her paint a picture with her words. It reminded me to take time to be creative and write for fun. It’s easy to get caught up in the routine of writing or editing and forget why you love it in the first place. I have always been fond of poetry. In fact, it was a poem that inspired my love of writing as a child.

Having a regular writing schedule is important, but I’ve learned not to let it be a routine. It is just as important to take time to have fun and try new things. I write because I have to, but it doesn’t have to be a chore.