Monday, February 15, 2010

He's my inspiration

No disrespect to my husband, but I do have another significant other: our Lollie-pup (Lab/Collie cross), Spencer. And a lot of my best writing ideas seem to happen not while I'm parked in front of the keyboard, but when I give myself permission to take a break, stop thinking about the problem, and head outside for a walk with my favourite little doggy-dude. What is it about picking up dog poop that helps me write? E-How, suggests that
"when we feel good, our senses heighten, and we can be at our best creatively".
and while the poop scooping itself doesn't actually make me "feel good", being outside and seeing Spencer enjoy himself really does. (I mean, seriously - who can feel stressed when they're looking at a wiggly bum with a waggly tail? Who?) Watch this video of Spencer enjoying himself outside and tell me it doesn't make you smile!



Furthermore,
"overscheduling is an enemy of creativity."
The physical act of walking probably helps, too. In 2005, Creativity Research Journal published a study suggesting that
"aerobic exercise may positively impact creative potential, and that these effects may extend for some period of time,"
That's why Spencer is such a creative inspiration. He makes me get off my butt, and move. I'd like to be the type of person who just gets up and exercises because it's "fun" or "good for them". I know they exist, because I live with one. But, as stated in my January 27, 2010 blog entry, that is not me. I'd choose a dozen things over deliberate exercise. But I'd choose almost nothing over my pets.

1 comment:

  1. I have been saying the same thing. It's one thing to walk during the day by yourself, but it's something altogether different when you have that furry friend by your side!

    Your dog is adorable! And yes, when a dog is happy, you end up being happy. When you're sad, that sad look they can give you just makes you laugh because you realize that's what you must look like to them!

    That was always something I loved. I could be totally bummed, and no one would have any clue, but the dog would always come and put her head on my lap and look at me as if asking, "What's wrong?"

    Somehow, it always cheered me up!

    ReplyDelete