Mind Work discussion

I just saw "First Position," a fine documentary about a handful of youngsters aspiring for success as ballet dancers; and left thinking a lot about DISCIPLINE. We writers seem by comparison with those dancers to be a lazy lot! Are you a disciplined worker? How do you maintain it? Is it necessary?

I'm lazy, too easily distracted, too addicted to Scrabble, to chatting on places like this, a procrastinator of the worst sort, and a thoroughly reprehensible person. Besides, my socks don't match.

Hello Reprehensible!

You sound a lot like me but my socks match. So I guess I'm kind of boring too.

Discipline can be boring but it gets results. I find that the discipline of a regular schedule is a helpful start.

What do you do?

What do I do? You mean like for a living? Or vocation?

I mean, to find the necessary discipline. Or not... But I'd also be interested in the difference between living and vocation. I know that one's a struggle.

I'm retired. I was a professional artist with gallery representation in LA. I also taught studio art and art history at the college level. Now, I make a little art, but mostly I write poetry. Have some success publishing in obscure poetry journals.

You can't say I write poetry for a living, so I guess I'd call it a vocation. I'd bristle if anyone called it a (gag) hobby.

I'm not very good at finding discipline. What I do is try to put myself into situations where I borrow the fire from others. Classes, discussion groups, similarly engaged friends, etc. Exchanges that get my juices fired up.

I like the approach: fire-stealing is a great old tradition. I believe it started with Prometheus--or maybe a little before, just not recorded. Cheers, P

I guess I'd better watch out for eagles, then.

Just as well!

Ruth wrote: "I'm lazy, too easily distracted, too addicted to Scrabble, to chatting on places like this, a procrastinator of the worst sort, and a thoroughly reprehensible person. Besides, my socks don't match."

My socks are supposed to Match!? CRAAAAP!!

Well it's summer so I've taken a vacation from my unmatched socks. Hehehehe.