Fall is upon us. The chill in the air signals all things comfy cozy and perhaps a few more moments to muse. Birds are patterning their flights south, and squirrels are scurrying about packing nuts. Yarn balls and needles are surfacing on sofas and the lure of soup making is beckoning once again. When I was a little girl, I would spin in the sunshine of my backyard until I fell in a patch of dandelions enough to make my pretend soup. I’d add the flowers to a pail of water and stir my mixture, dashing in imaginary spices. During these moments I was at totally at ease and my mind was free to wander. I never tried to eat my backyard soup (thank goodness). It was the act of creating that I delighted in. As I grew into a young girl, alphabet soup became my favorite. The tiny pasta letters were the ultimate game of scrabble and I loved the wordplay. My mother made an assortment of nourishing hearty soups. I’m all grown up now and like most busy people, I don’t have hours to swirl in the sunshine. But as writers, we still need moments to muse. Moments that give our minds the space to pause, notice, fixate, and meditate on the shape of a cloud or the hue of a sunset. Time spent in contemplation is often what prompt us to write. The moments can become the seeds of stories. Time has always stood still for me during activities that involve my hands and stimulate my senses. Activities like crocheting or making soup channel my creative energy, ultimately seasoning my writing. Life is hectic now with family, kids, work and writing. But I still cook soup from scratch a few times a season. I want to feed my family healthy meals, and I need to feed my muse. Making soup takes me back to my childhood backyard where there was no time, just space to imagine. This season, treat yourself. Try to finds some time for activities that allow you to mull momentarily. The evenings are getting longer and story time can be extended a few minutes. Cozy up with a bowl of soup. Make it from scratch if you can. If you’re short on time, these picture books may do the trick. Pause for a few minutes… long enough to imagine… your next story. Carol Higgins-Lawrence wrote her first story at the age of five. Her father paid her a quarter for it and she's been writing ever since. She's taken a variety of courses in writing for children. Multicultural perspectives are of particular interest to her. Carol is of Jamaican descent and was born and raised in Canada. She has a BA in Communications and Sociology and she has completed coursework towards a MA in TESOL. She has worked as a literacy educator for the past 15 years. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two young children.
22 Comments
Audrey Couloumbis
10/22/2014 01:10:56 am
so true, carol. mulling time is here.dragged in firewood for the chilly evenings this morning. and mulling a christmas story. so far i've only got the dog ; )
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 09:09:03 am
aah...a fire, sounds lovely! glad you've got a story stirring :)
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10/22/2014 02:49:34 am
I loved this post, Carol and I agree. We need make space and time for mulling things over and opening our hearts to the creativity and ideas that surround us always.
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 09:14:27 am
Thanks, Kristi! Glad you concur. I'd love to hear more about how you schedule quiet time :)
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Jill C
10/22/2014 04:18:41 am
I love this time of year. Reflections and memories always have a way of winding themselves in among the falling leaves. There is an annual stone soup party here for a local charity. I might have to check out the book by the same title!
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 09:26:05 am
I agree, Jill. I reflect on the past when the seasons change. Fall leaves are the best! A stone soup party? Cool!
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Mariana
10/22/2014 05:18:42 am
Thank you Carol for your lovely article. We all need more time for contemplation in this fast moving world. I appreciate your insight and "made from scratch" suggestions.
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 09:30:58 am
It's so incredibly fast. You're very welcome :)
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Jackie Kramer
10/22/2014 06:24:15 am
Funny, just lit our first fire and now I'm in the mood for some yummy soup...hmmm, perhaps butternut squash:)
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 10:01:30 am
Jackie ... can I come?? I'll be quiet, promise :)
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/22/2014 09:42:47 am
lol ;) ... you're welcome!
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Debbie Best
10/22/2014 11:17:37 am
Carol, thank you for sharing a special memory from your childhood. I miss those golden moments in life when you could just chill and lose your thought in wonderful, relaxing imagination. Life is too short to not take time for ourselves and make whimsical dreams and stories in our head. Great incentive that I take from your story. Thank you again!
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/23/2014 01:51:49 am
Thanks, Debbie! Your comments are affirming :)
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10/22/2014 03:49:15 pm
Words to surely live by - thanks for the post and sharing your childhood memories :)
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/23/2014 04:32:46 am
You're welcome :)
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Kathleen C. Berman
10/22/2014 11:14:03 pm
I love this post Carol. It has certainly stimulated my appetite for home made soup and contemplation. Little did we know back then that every part of the dandelion is super nutritious.
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/23/2014 04:37:24 am
Thanks, Kathy! I was on to something with the dandelions and didn't know it.
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Pat
10/23/2014 12:57:24 am
Thank you for reminding me to stop and smell the roses!
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/26/2014 11:35:22 pm
You're welcome :)
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Beautifully written! Strangely enough, some of my best ideas have come to me while I'm cooking, or while I'm just sitting and watching my children play. Words come when I sit at the computer (sometimes) but the ideas always come during the quieter hours of the day. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
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Carol Higgins-Lawrence
10/26/2014 11:38:51 pm
Maria, great to hear where your inspiration comes from!!
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