Peach Pits, Magic Acts, and What Will Thrill You
I saw them this week, all lined up just waiting. Five dried peach pits, riddled with crevices and cracks, laying flat on the soil awash in potential and wonder.
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| Photo: Christopher Bowns, Creative Commons cc license |
Daniel puts them there, this sweet little towheaded blonde six and a half year old. Since learning of gardening and plants, he now saves the seeds from any fruit he loves and plants them in my houseplants. Five dried peach pits line the surface of my indoor banana plant now.
His wonder and magic float even farther, though.
My dad was here a few weeks ago, using slight-of-hand to vanish nickels in an old fashioned linen handkerchief and magically pound spice jars through my dining room table. Daniel was entranced and reached his own hands up to test behind his ears and behind Grandpa’s ears too for the missing coins. And my heart caught with delight to see my son’s wonder and belief. Belief that anything was possible, and that coins could indeed materialize from behind ears and spice jars from within tables.
I slipped away this morning, just me and my smooth-rolling gel pen and other writing materials, intent on this summer’s writing project. In a local Caribou Coffee, I laid out my pens and notebooks, sipped hot fresh coffee, and started scratching ink across page.
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| Photo: Frederik Rubensson, Creative Commons cc license |
I have been reading dozens of books on writing and am convinced that the process and discipline of learning from others, of showing up to do the work, and of continued learning and revising can bring magical results. And so this morning at a sunny coffee-shop table, I warmed up, stared off into space for a while, marshaling my thoughts; and then, with grace-filled expectations for myself, I scribbled word after word, lining them up. Words, sentences, and scrawled near-unintelligible pages coiled side by side in spiral binding. My hand cramped, and I stopped for a chocolate croissant before jumping into another timed session of writing.
I believe in wonder. I believe in lining up the creviced peach pits, lining up for work with the tools ready, and jumping in. I don’t know what passions or hobbies or goals you have waiting for you, but I understand the demands, the delays, the distractions.
You can do this. Show up. Do the work. And the wonder and magic will float through.
Line by line, awash in excitement; peach pit by creviced peach pit.
These wise words are what I've come to know as truth. Keep showing up, keep doing the work, keep learning. I recently joined Compel online and it's chock-full of good information for writers and speakers. It might be something you are interested in.
Oh, that chocolate croissant sounds divine! I hope it inspired many many words! 🙂
Jennifer,
What a sweet story about your son…and yes, there is wonder and power in continuing to write…glad you had a chance to write and enjoy a croissant 🙂
Awesome post!!! Loved the images of your dad and son, as well as your time in that coffee shop doing the work. Good for you. That's the difference between the successful folks in this life and the not as successful as they want to be folks in this life; You don't just talk about it, you do it.
And well I might add.
you give me wonder jennifer at what do is and will do through you and your writing. I sometimes go to a park and sit and wonder…I wonder as I ride along side my husband on our ministry trip..I just need to do it more…thanks for the inspiration.
And I believe in chocolate croissants between sessions of writing! LOL Happy writing, Jennifer!
Hi Alecia,
I've heard of Compel but never joined. Are you thankful for it? Find it helpful?
Thanks for stopping by. Mm, the chocolate croissant was delicious. 🙂
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Hi Dolly,
Thanks for stopping in, my friend.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thank you, Floyd. You are encouraging to me. 🙂
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Hi Betty,
Nice to have you here. Thank you for sitting and wondering and writing with me a bit here.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Cheryl,
Me too! Mm,, I think it's time for another session like that in fact. 🙂
Thanks for stopping in,
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com