Too Many Minds

From The Writing Desk Posted on by

There’s a quote in the movie The Last Samurai where one of the characters mentions to another that he has “too many mind”. In other words, the person he’s talking to has too many things on his mind instead of focusing on a singular task. This is something I can completely relate to but, unfortunately, can’t control. I have often been praised with being talented due to the number of disciplines I engage myself in. Sadly, however, that is only half the story. What people don’t realise is that when you do as many crafts as I do, it becomes very difficult to concentrate on just one task.

Let me explain. I’m a writer, composer and poet. I also enjoy knitting, drawing, painting, cross-stitching and web design. When I have my writer’s hat on, I write novels, screenplays, stage plays and audio plays. While most people have just one passion (like my husband Paul who is a musician first and foremost), I have enough to give myself a headache just thinking about them!

My problem is that I have so many ideas running through my head that I get very distracted. I might be in the middle of creating something when an idea will pop into my head demanding immediate attention. I find that if I decide to wait until I’ve finished my current task, the idea eventually fades away and I end up completely forgetting what it was to begin with.

For years, I have struggled with this issue. My last novel took nearly 7 years to complete. It wasn’t that I was lazy but I was tackling several other projects at the same time. I don’t know if there’s a name what I struggle with and I’m the only person I know who does. I have so many unfinished projects begging for attention but I’ll keep plodding along until I complete them - one day.

 

Autumn Afternoon

From The Writing Desk Posted on by

At the heart of suburbia, I sit under the swing, taking in the wonders of the cloudless Autumn afternoon. The crisp, cool air caresses my bare skin yet the sun shines brightly down on the green artificial lawn and neighbouring vegetation. Mavis sits in the middle of the yard, nose in the air and sniffing it, blissfully. Sometime I wonder what scent she has caught and what she makes of it.

In a distance, I can hear the soft rumbling of traffic coming from the main road a few hundred metres away. It makes you realise that you can never really obtain peace when you live in suburbia. Thankfully, the soft rumbling is just that - soft. Oftentimes, it is overridden by the sound of birds chirping, either in our backyard or those from neighbouring yards.

The peace is suddenly interrupted by the sounds of sirens which constantly reminds you just how busy the outside world is. The sirens don’t last long though and the tranquility returns. The backyard is our sanctuary and the weather compliments it quite beautifully. While the bright afternoon sun bared down on the yard, the crops cool air reminds us that it is still Autumn and that Winter is just a few weeks away.

For now though, we can enjoy the blissful weather while we can before the cooler weather sets in. Or until the neighbour’s loud television interrupts the peace.