They tell us we must relax, unplug, recharge. The benefits of stress reduction are many. Relaxation promotes the clarity of our thoughts, increases reaction times, and improves performance. It becomes another item on our lengthy to-do list. We attack it like any other goal, and we work hard to relax. Disappointment plagues us when we cannot hit our target, and we produce the opposite of our desire and increase our anxiety levels. Our objective grows more elusive the harder we try, and we obsess with the mantra of “I must relax, I must relax, I must relax.”

But it is impossible to make our thoughts disappear. However, there are methods for learning to decrease the chaotic and distracted thinking whirling through our minds. With meditation, yoga, or breath work, we can minimize negative feelings decreasing their frequency to create room for calmness, quiet reflection and find the path to discovering the source of our energy.

What tricks do you use to relax?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I never remember having a vacation without a summer reading list. Before I started school, the list was informal. It comprised the maximum number of volumes the public library allowed me to check out each time. If I was lucky, I finagled a second trip so I could exchange my new friends and reload with more.

In first grade, I discovered the holy grail: Book recommendations classified by class level. Imagine my horror when I realized I had read half the books on the list. It didn’t deter me. I collected the lists for other grades. I marked every title as finished long before the new year began. The adventures I found in each those pages magical transported me to amazing places.

Where will your reading take you?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Nobody sees my first drafts. I ignore thoughts of who might enjoy the piece I am writing. My focus when I try to create something new is to tell a story. I don’t trouble myself with spelling or grammar or word flow. Syntax, tense and even a character’s name may change from one page to the next. The storyline ebbs and flows. When an idea strikes, I give myself permission to write while the sparks are flying. The writing jumps from a starting point to the end to various points in the middle. The beginning suffers from cross-outs and re-dos, while other parts are skipped altogether.

Believe me, the original piece is not readable. But from the chaos, magic happens. I meet my heroes and the antagonists in unique ways as they reveal their inner personality. The adventure evolves with surprises as situations unfold and my characters react according to their nature. When I write draft 2.0, I can rearrange, cut and edit the tale into something someone may one day wish to read. By the time I reach my first draft 3.0 I no longer feel the need to light a match.

How do you approach your writing process?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer