This other goals piece resonated with me. Just finished two writing projects that, well, had proved challenging. I might be having memory problems, but who knows. Next up was a paper for a seminar in Denmark in May. Zero energy, poor focus. I started to make travel arrangements that included the seminar and a short stay in London to evaluate whether/how much archives time I would need in the future. I thought I'd left plenty of time to get to Denmark. But in the end the arrival in Copenhagen after getting to London was 9:30 pm...then a train to a university I'd never visited..... I just couldn't and pulled out of the project. If I've ever done that before, it must have been years ago--I don't recall it. I almost cancelled London. But I decided 8 days or so in London, by myself, and going to archives or the British Library regularly might reawaken my interest in my academic project. I had already set up a plan with a friend to hike some places in E Oregon. That's in April. My mind will not also be on the paper for Denmark, a plus. The "other" thing is to spend my time before London on editing my two draft novels. Whatever the potential for memory problems, narrative writing feels different in my head. I've been happier and most of the anxiety and vague confusion is gone.
This other goals piece resonated with me. Just finished two writing projects that, well, had proved challenging. I might be having memory problems, but who knows. Next up was a paper for a seminar in Denmark in May. Zero energy, poor focus. I started to make travel arrangements that included the seminar and a short stay in London to evaluate whether/how much archives time I would need in the future. I thought I'd left plenty of time to get to Denmark. But in the end the arrival in Copenhagen after getting to London was 9:30 pm...then a train to a university I'd never visited..... I just couldn't and pulled out of the project. If I've ever done that before, it must have been years ago--I don't recall it. I almost cancelled London. But I decided 8 days or so in London, by myself, and going to archives or the British Library regularly might reawaken my interest in my academic project. I had already set up a plan with a friend to hike some places in E Oregon. That's in April. My mind will not also be on the paper for Denmark, a plus. The "other" thing is to spend my time before London on editing my two draft novels. Whatever the potential for memory problems, narrative writing feels different in my head. I've been happier and most of the anxiety and vague confusion is gone.
I am so glad you liked it, Mary - thank you!