My 40th birthday gift to myself was an Outward Bound adventure in Organ Pipe National Monument. Our goal was to summit Mount Ajo on New Year’s Eve. We did, and as night fell, I will never forget the brilliance of stars against a black sky. Or, waking up to a crystal clear morning where we could see hundreds of miles in every direction. But for this entry, I want to share a bit of the trekking experience to reach the mountain. Our route took us across the Sonoran desert, a stark and stunning landscape. So many different kinds of cactus with armies of creosote bushes sprinkled in-between. Even focusing on each step, I noticed that the creosote bushes were all spaced at some distance apart. Why?
It seems that creosote bushes spread themselves out evenly across the landscape to maintain “social distance” over water. (Another reason might have to do with inhibiting chemicals, but the water theory is more accepted.) During my solo time, I became quite fond of one creosote bush that provided company and a soft place to sleep. (Fortunately, it was January and cold when I did this trek; otherwise, I would’ve realized that my creosote bush was also a cozy home for dormant tarantulas.)
As I ponder all these memories, it occurs to me that as writers, it’s good to space ourselves apart now and then from our writing friends and mentors. Why? Creating words on a page is a solitary task. For me, too much back and forth begins to dilute what I’m trying to write. And with too many classes, I find myself drifting into “learning mode” as opposed to getting down to the business of actually writing. While I definitely promote the idea of a writing community, it’s also wise to sometimes step back from that. Maintaining a bit of distance and focus on the task at hand can be a good thing. Enabling you to create words for that poem or short story or script or novel and bring your unique vision onto the page. (ps. See the Outward Bound link below; it can be a life-changing experience!)
Seek wonder. Embrace joy!
Supporting articles:
Creosote bush description
Additional information on creosote bushes