Coffee Mugs and Writing Rituals

Many books on writing will mention the rituals of famous authors. Not sure how much truth there is in Hemingway obsessively sharpening pencils to prepare to write, but hey, whatever works to get yourself into the zone.

For me, I must drink tea or coffee. It's borderline addiction, but I just love wrapping my fingers around a warm mug. Sometimes I'll get stuck with my writing and so I'll just sit back, sip, and think. Pondering difficult questions or dilemmas is one of my favorite parts about writing. It's therapy for me to work out my own inner junk.

Over the weekend I asked my mom (also an avid tea drinker) how to clean my stained mugs. She told me to scrub them with salt. And it works like a charm.

While I was cleaning the mugs, I let my mind go blank. I didn't think about writing or doing laundry or picking up Xavier from school. Being present is incredibly hard to do for my busy mind. What writer doesn't have a million things going on in her head at once? But being absolutely present is the only way to have creative breakthroughs. And peace of mind.

I've been practicing presence more often since reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. He suggests simple (though not necessarily easy) practices to incorporate into your day to help you live in the now.

And what I really need more than a cup of coffee is the ability to settle myself. Being present makes my day as a mommy, wife, and writer feel much more satisfying. How do you connect to the present moment? What writing rituals help you get there?