Filling the Well

I’ve mentioned “filling the well” in earlier posts. It’s a concept I first picked up from reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way many years ago. The idea is that one needs to nurture and replenish their creativity by regularly injecting novelty and beauty into their lives. Cameron was talking to artists of all stripes, but what is more creative than crafting a life worth living? This month it seems I’ve spontaneously embarked on a well-filling extravaganza, and it’s paying off in buckets of joy and renewed enthusiasm for everything.

A huge shortcut: visits from far flung loved ones. I’ve been blessed with the arrival of a dear friend (who is also my premier travel companion) for a month-long stay in a nearby rental, right on the heels of my cousin’s birthday visit. The presence of these important people I don’t get to see nearly often enough fills the well in so many ways:

-Connection. While I’ve become pretty adept at maintaining long distance connections, I’m learning that nothing beats sustained, in-person contact. Laughing together, seeing each other’s body language, having the time and space for discussions that go beyond catching up, all strengthen the bond while providing so much pleasure.

-Novelty. Visitors shake up your routine in the best possible way (if they don’t, you might have the wrong visitors). They also provide the opportunity for you to be a tourist in your own area, so I’ve been seeing sights, doing activities, and visiting restaurants that I usually neglect because I imagine that I can always go “someday”.

-Perspective. Seeing your town and your life through the eyes of others can result in fresh ideas, a more nuanced understanding of your good fortune, and renewed gratitude. Also, your focus tends to shift from yourself to others.

Here are a few of the top well-fillers to date:

Several incredible Italian meals in the fresh air, including under the stars

Strolling through Japanese gardens

Easter brunch under the trees

Breakfast on the dunes as the waves rolled in

And coming up:

A visit to a botanical garden

Happy hours at several new restaurants and old favorites

A tango performance

A quick trip to San Juan

In addition to the jumpstart provided by visitors, I’ve also found myself filling the well as follows:

-Finding new ways to exercise and new routes to walk

-Reading more thought-provoking non-fiction and out-of-the-mainstream fiction

-Adding educational documentaries and great comedy to my watch lists

So, I’m having a fabulous staycation with no end in sight, which will lead nicely into summer, typically my time to escape the blistering heat and travel (the ultimate well-filler). And I’m happy to report that for the first time ever, I’m not the least bit concerned about a lack of productivity. I know without a doubt that I’m going to return to the page refreshed and overflowing with new things to talk about.

Wishing you your version of the same.

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Thanks for reading. What do you do to fill the well?