Sunday, May 19, 2024 [4:30 PM]

Morning Pages originated from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I have yet to actually finish the book. Both times I’ve tried, I stopped about 1/4 of the way through. This is no shade to Julia Cameron—some texts hold me while others just don’t.

I did read the section about morning pages, and have been a part of the internet for long enough to read the countless testimonials, praise, devotion the morning page practice gets.

For those unfamiliar, morning pages are “three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning.” Morning pages are meant to “provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.”

At the start of this year, I really wanted to hone my writing skills. I’m not sure what that truly means. I want to be a better writer. But I lack the true understanding for how to measure this. I figured if I could at least find practice everyday, then the only outcome would be progress.

So I started a morning writing practice. As I always tend to do, I find what might work for me from prescribed practices so I can implement them in a way that will work best for me. I focused on:

• Writing every weekday, and
• Writing for 3 minutes.

This rule list felt accessible and like failure wouldn’t be an option.

Five months into this practice and I feel I have more questions than answers. It’s an awkward dance, one I’m struggling to find the rhythm to. I fear images more questions than answers at this point. But I’m also learning a great deal, too.

• A daily practice alone is worth it enough to keep going. Even if I skip a day, two days, or a week. It holds me accountable. It reminds me to practice. To be in process.
• Finding this type of presence each day grounds me. I can’t really explain this other than it brings enough stillness into my morning to feel less overwhelmed, anxious, and tried. It gives my body enough of a grace period to catch up with real time. And my mind a chance to clear way before the day begins.
• It also grounds me in other ways than just time. It centers me - my thoughts and feelings, before prioritizing other matters that might come up. This, I thing is helping me affirm certain things, and find sureness, clarity, and confidence in others.
• Building a habit is hard. Building a devotion is even harder. I have found that doing it in the same place, with the same tools has helped. I always make my tea or iced coffee. And settle at my desk with the same journal and same blue marker pen. These things, while minor, feel like they help me habit stack in micro ways.
• Though I feel like I’m just brushing the surface, I’ve been curious about what comes while writing. And what doesn’t. I’m starting to see small patterns in what I think about, the way I think, and what might be just below the surface.