Do Something Because You Enjoy It
Reflections from a writing workshop
Welcome to Humans Leading, a space designed just for you by me, Dr. Jillian. As a busy physician, toddler mom, coach, and creative who has experienced burnout, I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t have any time for yourself. Via the Humans Leading community, you’ll find ways to live a less stressed, more satisfying life by making the most of the small pockets of time that you do have. I’m so glad you’re here. If the full post doesn’t show up in your e-mail, come over to the webpage or Substack App to see the whole thing. Subscribe here to get future posts straight to your inbox:
✨ Last time: A reminder that small changes = big impact- Read it here
✨ Today: Reflections from a writing workshop
As the sun slides closer to the hill across the lake, I sink into a well-worn Adirondack chair.
The long row of chairs is empty save for someone a good distance away from me, and I am grateful for the reprieve from people-ing. I will always be a person who needs plenty of alone time.
In this chair, I can leave the conversation-making to the teenagers that dot the hillside around and in front of me. I suspect they’ve been drawn to the sunset by the same thing that has drawn me. Their distant conversations wrap about me like a blanket, old and familiar. I think wistfully of my own adolescence, now more than 20 years ago.
The hill is just outside my hotel near a lake I’ve never been to, on the campus of an Arts College. In the distance, a lone tuba calls out, wandering tentatively up and down a scale as it warms up. Towering pines rustle in the breeze, their scent fanning my nostalgia for wandering aimlessly through the forest many years ago. I sigh contentedly, sinking lower in my chair as my eyes trace the horizon. I’ll happily repeat this ritual the following two nights.
On paper, I have come here for a memoir writing workshop.
I do not plan to write a memoir, though I have plenty to write about. Instead, I have come to learn, to write, to have space to explore ideas, to be around other creative people, to do something completely unrelated to my job, and to do something I enjoy simply for the sake of doing it. What a privilege to have this time.
I let my gaze fall upon two teenagers taking photos of the sunset just down the hill from me. As this is a competitive arts school, I try to imagine the level of talent that brought them here. I wonder where it will take them.
Will they, too, forget or set aside parts of themselves in service of their career goals?
Will they reach their goals, fall short, or pivot along the way?
Will they find themselves at a writing workshop 25 years from now hoping to connect more deeply with some of what they set aside?
I may not be here to write a memoir, but I’ve been writing. Inspired by the energy of this place and the lessons in class, my pen has struggled to keep up with my buzzing brain. I have found myself walking around, muttering to myself and into my notes app as I’m finally able to connect the dots on an idea I’ve had swirling there.
It feels good to connect with the part of myself who has always loved words and to be surrounded by others who feel the same.
It feels good to do something simply for the joy of doing it.
It feels good just to be present to what is happening now.
And it feels good to remember something I saw so clearly as a teenager but, like many adults, forgot somewhere along the way:
There is more to life than work.
What do you enjoy doing just for the joy of it?
I’d love to hear in the comments. Even if you have a tiny breakthrough or idea, it all counts. If this resonated with you, feel free to click the heart icon to let me know. And if you fancy sharing this post using the restack button to help more people discover it, I’d really appreciate that too.
xJillian
This is such a simple and yet powerful and important message. In our busy, complex world, it is so easy to get caught up in the have-tos and shoulds that there seems to less and less capacity for the simple act of 'because I want to' - thank you for this reminder Jillian!
Oh hope you've had a good workshop, always fun to take a day or weekend for ourselves to really immerse ourself in a hobby! So important to get away from the busyness of it all too.