My creative juices seem to flow in rivers or trickle in streams. Those dry patches (aka writer’s block) can be frustrating to the passionate writers of the world. Try as we might to overcome them, sometimes it takes a while before the waters rush again. I once read somewhere an interesting take on writer’s block. This author’s view was that such a struggle was a sign that something was not quite right within the writer them self—that the lack of ideas and words was his or her own mind trying to catch his or her own attention.  I found this argument thought-provoking, and I have asked myself ever since to simply examine what could be causing a drought, because wouldn’t you know? There is nothing quite as frustrating as wanting to write and bring forth new ideas, but finding yourself unable to do so. At least having a possible reason why eases the annoyance a tad.

Over the past few months, I have been working on college applications, scholarship applications, and honors college applications like a mad woman. I’m only applying to three schools, and I cannot imagine doing anymore because this has basically been a full time job. I think that instead of us having to pay them, they should be paying me. I’ve been pouring all of my creative juices into trying to write decent college related pieces, and my dear old blog is suffering for it.

The holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, that is, are right around the corner though. And for those of you who don’t know me personally, let me just state one thing upfront: Christmas time is hands-down my favorite time of year. I basically love everything about the Christmas season. There’s lights, decorations, memories, traditions, family gatherings, a brief and partial reprieve from school, my birthday, winter flavors (where are  my fellow peppermint lovers at?), the feel in the air, and the overall more cheerful encounters with people when out and about. I’m telling y’all, I eat this stuff up—breakfast, lunch, and dinner all season long.

Point being, I really love this time of year, and I can already feeling it starting to warm up my creativity and starting to get my juices flowing again. Yes, I still have what feels like endless applications and whatnot to get through, but I’m hoping to have a few more blog post coming this way too. Writing may be vulnerable, but it’s also something I feel is healing and good stress relief and something I have genuinely come to enjoy.

I can see myself switching up my topics some with the coming of the Christmas season, and I hope that you all enjoy whatever manifests. For now though, it’s back to work on a scholarship essay for me.