So, yesterday, I decided to do something radical. I spent the entire day reading a book. Yes, you heard that right—a whole day. The book in question? The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. And let me tell you, it was like my brain finally found the “pause” button.
If you know me (and by now, I hope you do), my mind is usually a nonstop carnival ride—ideas swirling, colors splashing, and the occasional circus clown juggling in the background. I write pages and pages every week, paint until the canvas pleads for mercy, and create visual poetry that probably baffles and amuses Bimba, my dog. (I swear, she’s my toughest critic.)
But this book—wow—this book was like a breath of fresh air (or more like a cool breeze on a hot Andalusian summer day). It didn’t just calm the chaotic storm in my head; it helped me organize that endless flood of ideas into something workable. You know, something I can actually use without drowning in my own creativity. (I mean, who knew that was possible?)
After hours of absorbing wisdom and feeling my brain gently settle into a state of calm (which, let’s be honest, is a rare occurrence), I realized I needed to stretch my legs and clear my head. So, I grabbed Bimba—who was already giving me the “Are we going or what?” look—and headed to the pine tree wood nearby.
Now, if you haven’t experienced the simple joy of watching a dog in the woods, let me paint the picture for you: Bimba was a blur of fur and excitement, darting between trees, sniffing every pinecone, and chasing imaginary squirrels like they owed her money. (Seriously, where does she get all that energy?)
As I walked, I felt the creative dust in my mind finally start to settle. The ideas that had been swirling like a tornado were now gently landing, forming neat little piles ready to be picked up and turned into something—dare I say it—brilliant. (Okay, maybe “brilliant” is aiming high, but you get the idea.)
There’s something magical about the combination of a good book and a walk in the woods. It’s like hitting the “refresh” button on your brain. By the time we made it back home, both Bimba and I were happily exhausted—her from all the running, and me from the rare experience of a peaceful, organized mind.
So, what’s the takeaway from all this? Sometimes, you need to step back, take a day to read, and let your brain chill out for a bit. Who knows? You might just find that your wild ideas start to make sense, and your dog might finally catch that squirrel. (Okay, maybe not the last part—but she can dream, right?)