December 3, 2016

That Inspiration Stuck in Your Teeth

Remember the last time inspiration blessed you with its divine presence?

The clouds parted, angels sang, and an idea descended like a holy dove.

Inspiration!

What, it doesn't happen that way for you?

Me neither.

For me the experience more closely resembles a tiny piece of food that gets stuck between your teeth.

When you first feel it, it is just a slight pressure, a vague awareness of something requesting your attention.

You don't know where it came from but there it is, a minor irritation intruding on your peaceful routine and careful plans.

You ignore it.

But you know it's there and it doesn't seem to be going away.

Eventually you indulge.

You start to explore it.

Your tongue slides across the familiar surfaces of your teeth seeking the source of pressure.

Then you feel it. A tiny tip of something lodged there, hidden in the shadows.

Now you can't leave it alone. Your tongue is on a mission.

The intruder must be investigated.

You caress the sharp edges, press yourself into the discomfort.

It irritates, itches, burns inside you.

You push on it. Pull on it. Attack it from all angles.

Now you can't concentrate on anything else. The object has your undivided attention.

From the outside everything looks normal, but inside you are waging war. This thing will not defeat you.

Eventually you have a breakthrough. The pressure releases and you are free from the bondage.

Success.

And once again, there aren't any halos, fluffy clouds, or trumpets.

No fireworks or parades held in your honor.

You did what you had to do, that's all.

You could lionize the process, try to replicate the factors that caused the inspiration in the first place.

But the truth is you don't know where it came from.

And you aren't entirely sure you want all that discomfort again anyway.

So you do what you have always done, you keep chewing, day after day.

And eventually, what's that? Do you feel something? And off you go...

Thanks for reading. If this post gets lodged in the cracks of your mind, you should follow me. I write irritating nuggets like this every week. Stay Creative.

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