Quote of the Day: Sometimes you have to shut off the inner critic and just play! – Mary Aalgaard, playwright
When life gives you puddles, JUMP! The dad next door said, “You still need to be a kid some days.”
We’ve had rain for about 10 days straight. Hey, Mother Nature, you can turn off the faucet, now! We’re good with the precipitation. The grass is green again; the flowers are blooming; the strawberries are ripe.
Yep, these are growing in my backyard. I had to pick them in the rain, but it was worth getting a soggy shirt. My hair was already a lost cause, frizzy, then flattened, then limp. Ugh. I’m getting a cut next Tuesday. Thank God! (or should I say, Thank Aubrey!)
I was working on my script this weekend, Coffee Shop Confessions, and the annoying inner critic started saying: Oh, you’re back to that old thing? Hmm. Well, aren’t you putting too many elements in that? I mean, you’ll confuse your audience with all these issues and songs and comparisons, and ha! do you really think you’re funny? And, other stuff too dumb to repeat. I had to turn off that inner critic and just JUMP off the page. Turns out, I like what I wrote. It moves the story forward, PLUS it’s interesting and funny. So, PTHWEOEW! to you inner critic.
When you turn off that inner critic (I had to put duct tape over the mouth of mine!), you find yourself in new and interesting territory. It might even change your look. See what it did for my twins. Their friend came along when they got haircuts, so they took the dare and got buzz cuts! Ah, that will feel great when the summer sun and breeze finally get a chance to come out and play.
Journaling Prompt: Write about a time when you turned off the inner critic, took a giant leap, and let yourself play.
My 8 y.o. begged me to buzz him this summer. He’s thrilled – I’m still getting used to the new look. LOL! 🙂
Every time I write a first draft I turn off the inner critic and go play with all those lovely words. Writing is my playground.
I also have two boys who never cease to provide lots of fun to be had 🙂
I love the dad jumping, and you caught him mid-air. Splendid! Oh, I just love it when I let my inner child play, and I feel like I’m doing that more and more as my own children get older. I’m regressing, and it’s wonderful.
Good for you for telling your inner critic where to go. He was a nuisance anyway — not worth a glance. Begone! 🙂
Cute buzz cuts. Will you do the same? 🙂
Now that is some serious fun going on in the top photo 🙂
With my writing, I let myself play with the blog. I have fun going through my photographs and somehow correlating them to living our choice lives. Sometimes they’re serious, othertimes, like today, it’s purely fun! P.S. Sending a little east coast sunshine your way!
Shannon, must be the new look for summer!
Tabitha, bravo for turning off that inner editor, and enjoy those boys – lots of energy!
Roxane, it feels so good to play with/like the kids, doesn’t it? And, no, my cut will be a trim, I’m done with short hair for a while.
Joanne, thanks for the sunshine. It’s coming in my window right now!
We’ve had lots of rain too. The promise of sun is for tomorrow. Great puddle jumpers! :O)
Oh, I love this post, love YOU!
Sigh. I do stuff like this all the time!
Last summer, we jumped and howled in the golf course sprinklers.
During downpours, I scramble about, saving soggy worms.
Craziness can transform a blah day. Thanks, Mom, for teaching me this!!!
I turned off the inner critic last year when I decided that I didn’t want to be a nurse; I wanted to be a photographer. Fast forward a year, and here I am. Great post, Mary!
I finally scheduled in my create time during the week, making it a priority. Playing in the studio is SO much better than matching socks!
How fun! I love “play” time even at my age. LOL
I wish I hd some strawberries growing in my yard. I have a blueberry bush and I think the birds are eating them before I can pick them. Grrr…
I love to play. I don’t get to play as much as I would like. You’re so right about that inner critic! Turn him/her off and just write. Oh, how freeing!
Jen
had to revisit this WONDERFUL post and great pix.
I love the puddle jumping! I agree sometimes you have to just play 🙂
Hi Mary- love that quote of yours. The strawberries look delicious(mouth watering) and the inner critic in all of us needs to be silenced every now and again (Ha) so I’m with you in telling it to take a hike:)
keep happily writing!
Clara
Fantastic strawberries! I’m hoping for a few of my own pretty soon.
I need to play soon. I have been working too hard. The inner critic is necessary, but I’m tired of her. 🙂