Daily Nourishment for September 17, 2024: Exactly Here, Today

Daily Nourishment Read Time: 50 seconds
Pause/Prompt/Practice Time: 15 minutes


“I think there’s something about a writer’s disposition, that is, even if unaware, always slightly in a witness state.”
- Dani Shapiro

Pause.

Take six deep breaths with a six-count inhale and a six-count exhale. Then set a timer for three minutes, close your eyes, and rest.

 

Prompt.

“We may be halfway through a novel, an essay, a story, or a memoir or we may be nearing the finish line on a piece that has taken us years. But wherever we are in our work, we have never been exactly here, today.

Today, we need to relearn what it is that we do. We have to remind ourselves to be patient, gentle with our foibles, ruthless with our time, withstanding of our frustrations. We remember what it is that we need. The solitude of an empty home, a walk through the woods, a bath, or half an hour with a good book—the echo of well-formed sentences in our ears. Whatever it takes to begin again.” - Dani Shapiro

 

Practice.

Set a timer for nine minutes and write about beginning again using the quote above and/or the questions below.

—What are your thoughts on the quote above?
—What do you want to begin again today?
—What do you need to remember about your writing and creative practice today?
—How do you want to honor your body, mind, and soul today?

Want More?
Here’s the Rumpus Interview with Dani Shapiro from 2014.

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Workshops, Gatherings, & Resources
—New Resource: Parenting with Art® Lectio Divina Cards Information about ordering these cards can be found in my Books + Spiritual Direction + Retreats & Gatherings email newsletter that went out last night. To stay in the loop on all of my work, writing, book recs, and more, subscribe to that weekly newsletter at charlottedonlon.com/subscribe.

The September Co-Writing calendar is live.

—Spiritual Direction for Writers® + Enneagram for Creativity Gathering
will take place on Friday, September 27th and Saturday, September 28th. You can register here. All registered participants will have access to recordings.

The Great Belonging Project is live here and The Great Belonging Project October Refresh will take place Oct 1-Oct 31.


Today’s Daily Nourishment was provided by Charlotte Donlon.

*Please help us protect our intellectual property, our creative process, and the integrity of our work. Spiritual Direction for Writers® Daily Nourishment is covered under the Spiritual Direction for Writers® trademark. You are welcome to share this link with others, but any other use (written or spoken) is prohibited without written permission from Charlotte Donlon.


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Daily Nourishment for September 18, 2024: On Quitting and Not Quitting

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Daily Nourishment for September 16, 2024: Which Stories Have Been Omitted with Guidance from Matthew Salesses