It should come as no surprise to you that we’re a rushing civilization. Modern virtues include multitasking, efficiency, any capability that allows one to get things done quickly. Good grief, I’ve been known to have a face-to-face conversation with a coworker while simultaneously typing an unrelated e-mail. And I’m good enough at this multitasking thing that I felt guilty about it at the same time!
However, I understand that “they” say we’re actually less efficient when we try to multitask and hurry. While we might feel like we’re getting more done, we’re actually doing poorer quality work that ends up taking us more time to complete. To top it off, we get ulcers, stress headaches (my personal nemesis), and sleepless nights. Aren’t we having fun?
I’m finding this hurry-hurry attitude permeates all aspects of my life, unfortunately to my detriment. I like to make some small claims on being an artist and a writer, but my attitude and actions do not support those claims.
I have become addicted to instant gratification. When I finally have make time to be creative in my studio, I find that I want projects done right now. I don’t have the patience to start big projects that might take me weeks or even months to complete. I make fun little things that make me smile and which I hope might sell, but I don’t search deep to find the ore which might hold precious gems of creativity. I’m too easily satisfied with the shiny gold flakes to spend time digging for the nuggets.
I’m not any better when I’m writing. I enjoy dashing off these blog posts and the five-sentence or 150-word flash fiction challenges, but I’m not doing so well on “more important” writing. Even when I really think I have something worth saying, it takes time to take an experience I’ve had and figure out how to make it meaningful to others. I seldom want to take that time.
I’ve been working on a few short stories which I’d like to develop into something publishable. They suffer, however, from the same hurry problem. I want them to be done now, not later, and as a result I do not take the advice offered in the multitude of writing books and blogs I read about developing rich characters and scenes. I’ve adopted more of a wham, bam, thank you ma’am style, and it doesn’t work.
Now what? I'd like to change my way of being: slow down and take more time to ensure I create art and writing of which I can be proud. Intellectually, I know I need to stop focusing on immediate gratification, and instead focus on quality and originality. Doing so will entail a fundamental shift in how I operate, and I'm not quite sure how to go about it.
If you have any advice for me, I'd sure appreciate your sharing it. Thanks.
