I’m in a comtemplative mood today. While I did my NaHo cleaning today, I listened to Cat Stevens. What can I say? The T-Mobile commercials got to me. I had quite a crush on Cat in the 70’s. (And for those of you who’ve read Brevity visualize that era Cat Stevens as Renee’s Demetrios, and a good bit of Jalal too.) But back to contemplation.
When I listen to any music that I love (and I have quite a range of faves) it’s like a B-12 shot for my creative soul. I suppose that’s how we choose our favorites songs and artists, eh? So my Cat Stevens compilation DVD was set on repeat and my mind drifted along as I listened and worked. And then, suddenly I tuned back in. “Sitting” is a song I’ve heard countless times, including three times today before it got my attention, but something about it slapped me the fourth time. To be exact it was this part of the lyric:
Now I’m not making love to anyone’s wishes,
Only for that light I see
‘Cause when I’m dead and lowered low in my grave,
That’s gonna be the only thing that’s left of me
I don’t know what Cat meant when he wrote those words. I only know what I felt when I heard them. Sometimes I forget why I write. Sometimes I get so focused on publication that I feel desperate. Sometimes I lose sight of the true goal. The written word is a means of communication. Plain and simple.
I don’t mean that all written word should be life-changing, of course. My novel The Brevity of Roses, is just a story I want to share. The story won’t solve any of the world’s problems. It most likely won’t solve any of your personal problems. But it might take you away to a lovely place for a while.
And that’s the light I see. That’s why I write.
Linda Cassidy Lewis 
Writers live so much in their heads, it’s a good reminder to see how focusing on your hands, doing something physical, brings on that contemplative mood. You’ve inspired me to pull a weed or two.
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It makes sense that the occasional retreat inside is a neccessary thing for writers. To nourish, replenish, the soul from which our writing springs.
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I came in twice Linda, TWICE and couldn’t find the right words to say how lovely I thought this was.
So lovely will just have to do for now.
:0)
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Thank you, Karen. I will take all the lovely I can get. 🙂
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OMG, when I clicked on that YouTube video and heard those first notes, I went back so fast to 1972, I think I have whiplash.
And speaking of sitting, I just sat here stopping all brain and hand function to concentrate on where that music took me.
Now I’m listening to the rest of the album as I type this (at this second The Boy With the Moon and the Star on his Head). I LOVE music. LOVE it. Thank you for this trip back in time.
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I’m glad you enjoyed the trip, Cynthia. 🙂 On top of Jackson, you’re having a good musical week!
You know, I’ve been wondering lately how I got away from music so much. There was a time that music played in my home during most of my waking hours. Somewhere along the line, I got accustomed to the sound of silence, but music energizes me so that I think I must re-develop the habit.
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