In order to drive a nail into a board, there’s the obvious downswing that pushes in the nail. Equally important is the back swing in which you prepare for the next push.
–Jennifer Hoffman
Jen just wrote an awesome guest post on Leah Piken Kolidas’ Creative Every Day blog about the importance of rest between periods of intense creative activity. (By the way, Leah is one of my absolute most favorite artists, her paintings make me drool.)
For me, the back swing is usually unintended. It inserts itself in the form of procrastination, and stakes a claim on large chunks of my time. For example, last week I returned from a life-changingly intense retreat, totally inspired and jazzed to keep my momentum and Get Lots of Awesome Things Done.
…aaaand then proceeded to watch an embarrassing amount of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu.
Buffy is a recent obsession of mine. (Please no spoilers, I’m only on season two and OMG Angel has just lost his soul, eeeek!) I certainly didn’t set out to spend the better part of two days on a Buffy bender. But I think that the particular forms our procrastination takes can tell us so much about what our souls are needing at any given moment.
Okay sure, I know that sounds like a convoluted justification for my procrastination, but let’s take a look at what Buffy has to offer me:
- Buffy kicks ass. Seriously. She’s tiny but she can slay vampires like no one’s business. She surprises people with her strength all the time.
- Buffy has a Watcher. She may be the only slayer, but her watcher guides her, and gives her background information and context when she is up against a challenge. She is always supported in her battles.
- Buffy has awesome, everyday friends. Her friends at school totally have her back, and they get to hang out and joke about stuff when they’re not fighting evil.
- Buffy’s world is black-and-white. I mean sure, there’s the whole vampire-boyfriend thing, but in general it’s pretty clear who’s good and who’s bad, and what needs to be done about it.
So Buffy is kick-ass, supported in her endeavors, surrounded by friends, and has a sense of certainty about her mission in life.
(Also, it doesn’t hurt that Angel is super-hot. But I digress.)
Is it any wonder that I’ve grabbed onto this recently?
There are people I love here in my new town, but I miss my everyday, drop by, let’s walk down the street and grab dinner friends. I’m also forging a new career and I have no idea what shape that will take, there’s certainly no instruction manual. So I pretty much question my mission in life on a daily basis.
And that’s just what my thinky-brain can come up with off the top of my head. That’s not to mention the unknowable, ineffable ways in which my soul might be drawn to this story. Which are potentially even more powerful.
What’s your current procrastination-obsession, and what might you be getting out of it? I would love to hear it. (Bring on the embarrassing ones…I just admitted to a Buffy obsession, so you know there’s zero judgement here!)
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post!
But I’m totally saving this post so that I can read it again when I’m feeling guilty for “indulging” – when it’s really just down time and recharging. Of course, I am a little worried about what I’m going to do when I eventually run out of seasons of Buffy………..
After three months of stress and zero creative drive, I’ve made it to Season 4 of Buffy – so I’m a little ahead of you
Eveline´s last blog ..Pondering Sacred Sound
Ah, you’re so sweet. Thank you, Eileen!
And interesting thought about obsessions. I’ve been thinking about this a bit lately as I’ve become a blubbering mess whenever I watch a fabulous performance on So You Think You Can Dance. There’s something about seeing people perform and move their bodies with so much passion that just gets me. It’s magical and inspiring and chokes me up over and over.
Last night I was talking to a friend about this tendency to tear up at powerful performances (this is something new to me since coming off anti-depressants) and how I was somewhat curious about my reaction. On my own I’ve wondered if there’s something there for me, a wanting to express my own deepest passions in a similarly powerful and public way, putting it all out there, leaving it on the stage.
By the way, I’ve also been drawn to Buffy recently as well (although I’m only mid-way thru season 1.) Other potentially embarrassing obsessions include Harry Potter, Project Runway, my new red washer/dryer, and photos of living spaces on Flickr.
Leah´s last blog ..Finding a balance between push and releaseGuest Post by Jennifer Hofmann, Inspired Home Office
Twitter: blondechicken
September 3, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Ha! I was on my own Buffy bender last summer (had never seen it before!)
The first season is just meh in comparison with the awesome-ness that is to come!
Since finishing Buffy, we’re working through Angel, but it doesn’t have the same lets-watch-4-episodes in a row sort of pull
Tara´s last blog ..Featured Dyer & Exclusive Yarn
Twitter: AmberStrocel
September 3, 2009 at 3:13 pm
I am sort of glad Hulu isn’t available in Canada, even as I’m irritated. I’m pretty sure that having access to it would be the end of all productivity for me.
My current procrastination is True Blood. I guess vampires are in the air.
Amber´s last blog ..Mondo Beyondo
Twitter: GoddessLeonie
September 3, 2009 at 3:21 pm
mmmm… i love this post… am now musing on what my current obsession is…
probably thinking about what i can eat next… planning out what my body is calling for, and how to give it what it needs
<3
i heart you!
Goddess Leonie | GoddessGuidebook.com´s last blog ..Mama Goddess Resources
Hi Eileen,
I loved this post!! And I totally adore Buffy. She’s all the things you said and more. In fact I think that Buffy should be required viewing for all women cause she’s such a great role model for female leadership, female empowerment and how much fun it can be to kick some ass. And, yes there IS the hot Angel factor. In fact I OWN the whole 7 season DVD series and have watched the entire thing ( with my husband who is also a major Buffy fan) 6 times!!! So there’s a confession right there.
My current downtime obsession is probably Twitter. When I’m tired and just needing a break I can spend hours just goofing around with folks.
Big hugs to you sweet girl!!
Chris Zydel´s last blog ..Your Creativity WILL Talk To You… But Only When It Knows You Are Ready To Listen
Twitter: evalazza
September 4, 2009 at 9:33 am
@ Eveline: the horror! I’m already thinking I need to ration episodes, I’ll be lost once it’s all oooverrrr… Zero guilt
@ Leah OMG that is so cool (I mean, it sounds cool to me unless it bugs you)… I go through periods like that too, where certain things just *get* me. Sort of makes me feel more present and alive. I haven’t seen So You Think You Can Dance but my girls in Virginia and I had a weekly Dancing with The Stars gathering, so I’m right on the edge as you can see… Love to you dear! (PS hope I didn’t spoil anything Buffy-related for you and OMG season 2 is so where it’s at!
)
@ Tara: Yessss the 4-episodes-in-a-row pull. Glad yet disappointed to hear Angel doesn’t keep that going! Amazing how many Buffy fans I’m finding amongst you all
@ Amber: hee hee! yep, it’s dangerous all right
@ Leonie: but that’s a gooood obsession! Sheesh. *Smooches to you love*
@Chris: Yes! Buffy rocks for all those reasons, definitely empowering plus entertaining. Such good stuff. Thanks for being here my dear!
we should meet! i live in west seattle, i should very much like a person to chat with who is building an amazing and unique business! and yay what very cool things your write about
last year at this exact same time, when i was trying to put my career path together i spent 2 month watching buffy on an almost daily basis. she helped sort through a lot of the crap in my head.
this summer i got my husband to finally sit down and watch her (we are just starting season 7) ironically i am once again redefining my path so buffy again helps me leap.
i also get lost in movies, and books.
amy goetz´s last blog ..OMG i almost missed Monday’s wish
Yup. and Yup. I’ve watched Buffy all the way through twice, and I have to say that you pretty much nailed it – I, too, have found it to be a great in-breath between creative exertions for those reasons precisely!! She kicks ass, she gets it done, she has friends, she has a mentor, and dang it, you know who the bad guys are . . . mostly. Great job, too, getting at why exactly we need those in-breath times . . .
Bridget B.´s last blog ..Bring on the MONKEYS!!
What? I can’t believe I didn’t post a comment in here already!
Buffy Rocks and I secretly lust after a lexicon of buffy-isms. (Also Angel, Charmed) Haven’t gotten into True Blood or Vampire Diaries…though I caught part of one episode and whoever that gorgeous naughty boy brunette vamp that was dancing on stairs is…HOLY ABS! *drool
And yes, dammit, I love the Twilight books and movies which, for some magical reason, brought me out of a deep funk. Maybe it was just the freshness of the non-traditional vampy idea.
But yeah, Buffy rules.
Wulfie´s last blog ..Broken People
Twitter: NathLussier
January 15, 2010 at 10:46 am
Bring on the Buffy. Yeeee! I’m still obsessed with Buffy and I had to sell all my DVDs otherwise I wouldn’t be here right now… I’d still be glued to watching those episodes.
So glad Buffy is still applicable today and finding new fans. And I hear you on friends you can walk and connect with.
Okay enough geek girl giggling. You are awesome my dear!
Nathalie Lussier´s last blog ..I’m a geek girl. There I said it.