So many things nowadays are fast-paced and instantaneous. From ordering a shirt online and having it delivered the next day to looking up any complex question on Google and receiving an answer momentarily, we rarely have to wait a moment to get anything.
This has caused all of us to be fueled by instant gratification for most things.
I am a victim of this. I get frustrated when my wifi goes out, and I can’t find out the answer to how many tablespoons are in a cup (something I should probably have memorized by how many times I’ve Googled this). I scoff at a brand having me pay for shipping that will take more than two weeks. We have just adapted to the state the world is in right now.
However, instant gratification is never lasting. There is always going to be the next thing vying for your attention and money. This can lead to the feeling of dissatisfaction when things don’t automatically go your way.
One way I have been trying to rewire my brain against this is by pursuing creative endeavors. Creating something from scratch—with no other help than your brain, hands, and maybe a few tools—is a task that can recenter yourself in the fast-paced world we live in.
My favorite thing to slow my mind down is writing poetry. What started as something as a way for 13-year-old Abbey to vent about her mother became a mandatory task for a creative writing class. Then just this year, my perspective switched; I enjoyed my work for the class so much, I started finding time to practice my art outside of what was mandated from me.
Taking time to sit down and write (about anything, everything, and nothing; depending on what comes to my mind) is self-care for me. I feel the tension and stress slip from my shoulders to my pen to my writing. Emotions pour out into long stanzas that are scraped only to be built upon in my revisions.
This is my favorite part of writing—revisions! While heavy and prominent emotions can be good inspiration for my poetry, they often lead me to write with just emotions in mind, not caring about form or sound or anything that would make the poem ‘good.’ So that’s when I take a step back—this usually involves forgetting about a poem for days, or weeks, at a time—and come back to it with fresh eyes.
Just like some people find solace in journaling, I find peace in writing. That means truly any kind of writing, creative or not. It could be a quick, 400-word Her Campus article or an even shorter Goodreads review. But I always find myself coming back to my poetry.
Poetry can be anything you want it to be. It isn’t constrained by length, type, format, grammar, or any other strict rules that other forms of writing may be held to. Poetry is therapeutic, and there is literature to back up this claim.
In their article, “A Look Back and a Path Forward: Poetry’s Healing Power during the Pandemic“, David Xiang and Alisha Yi say, “In writing poetry, the mind is forced to slow down and to revisit memories, often bringing to life past emotions and experiences.” While this may seem scary sometimes, it is extremely helpful for self-reflection and personal growth.
So my challenge to you during winter break is to pick up a pen, grab your favorite notebook, and write a poem. It does not have to be good. It does not have to be anything that you are particularly proud of. Just get something out onto paper. Check how you feel afterwards. Do you feel lighter now that you have put your thoughts to paper?
If poetry doesn’t float your boat, try journaling. Write out what you’re grateful for.
Find a creative outlet that works for you. I promise, each word you write will slowly rewire your brain to slow down, take a breath, and find peace.