Because I am Surrounded by Creativity

When I listen to creative and insightful people talk, there is a mechanism in me that triggers my pen to move again. This mechanism has been activated yet again after remaining silent for quite some time. Looking back at my last post, I haven't written since April 18th. And even though I had the urge to grab some receipt paper at work and write a poem instead of, you know, work (which I did end up doing), I haven't written much since then. Maybe not at all since then. I find that mildly depressing.

For the past couple of days, I have been abusing my new iPhone and the fantastic feature of being able to listen to fascinating people all day, every day for free. Even as far as seven years ago, I enjoyed downloading podcasts onto my whatever-generation iPod nano. However, the iPhone makes it so much more accessible. I've listened to one TED Talk from Sir Ken Robinson and two TED Radio Hours on NPR in the past two days (one of which I repeated because I enjoyed it so much). It makes me so happy to hear that there are people who think so similarly to me and that there are more ideas out in the world than I can comprehend.

I just gave you this huge anecdote to literally introduce a poem I wrote in my head on the way home tonight. This doesn't usually happen, but I'm happy it did.

One Day

I don't need a Kleenex to dry my tears
Or the overly-willing hand of a boy or his shirt sleeve.
I have my own hands to drag across my tear-stained face.
I have my own sleeve to ease my eyes of their burden.
But I hate to think that there is still that part of me,
That fraction of my soul,
That begs for that ever-so silent Kleenex he has hidden.
And one day, even though I have my own two hands,
He'll relieve me of my burden.
For just one day.

Aaaaaaaaaand because I love this woman more than I should love a person I've never met, here is Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk. If you don't recognize her name, you should. She wrote Eat Pray Love (which totally had me crying more than necessary).