It seems that when we travel, we are blessed with inspiration, inspiration to dream, plan, and create.
But, travel also introduces a different kind of fatigue we have to fight.
We travel in a motorhome with our small pickup towed behind, and our 7-year old Beagle, Chloe, riding on the dash. We are quite the sight traveling down the road. Pedestrians invariably smile and wave at Chloe expecting her to wave back, I suppose.
When we arrive at our day’s destination, we get all set and hooked up — water, power, awning and chairs deployed, and TV hooked up. Wait! TV? All the comforts and distractions of home. WiFi completes the home-style living.
What happens to the inspiration? The scenery, the breeze, the clouds, the trees all add to the environment. But, the inspiration gets overlooked because of travel fatigue. We have driven a couple hundred miles with the attendant stress that can develop. Driving one of these big rigs can be a mental drain, especially in traffic.
At the end of the drive, deflation and relief set in. Comfort and rejuvenation take precedence over art and inspiration. Just let me have a soda and a sandwich so I can relax…
If we stay for a few days,the inspiration leaks back in. We are refreshed. We can take pleasure in our surroundings. We can see some of the leaves on the trees. We can think in drifty ways that lead to new thoughts.
Writer’s block, no creativity, and lack of inspiration are the excuses we make when we don’t make progress. As professionals, we just go to work regardless of whether we are inspired or not. It shouldn’t matter if we drove all day, or if we are at the beach or the mountains.
When it’s time to create, we just must.
