My mind is a pretzel!

Why do people spend more time stretching and exercising their bodies than their minds when it is the brain that controls everything the body does?

The thought came to me the other day while doing my morning yoga. I was lying on the ground, body twisted in a shape resembling a deform pretzel, attempting to do a little of both. With two children yakking in my ear and two big dogs hovering over my head trying to assess the situation, my mind was racing not relaxing! So, yes, when I was supposed to be clearing my mind from all thoughts, I had this one.

I need to find new ways to twist and stretch my mind as a writer. Sure, I’ve never been accused of being short on imagination (in fact, my imaginative mind has gotten me into trouble more than a few times). And coming up with new ideas doesn’t usually pose a problem either. But… what if I were to do these mind-stretching exercises and they allowed me to move further outside my comfort zone as writer? Or they might help me to develop a clearer sense of who I am as a writer and what my true voice is. And maybe, just maybe, I might find a perfect niche for me – possibly one I would have never before considered.

So, my search begins. I’m off to delve into the unknown depths of my semi-twisted mind and find ways to twist it some more. Wish me luck! I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, please share your thoughts and tips. What mind-stretching exercises work best for you as a writer, artist or musician?