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Bela Fidel's avatar

Yearning, reaching, being forever slightly hungry. That's good but can also increase the stress level. considering all the possibilities and choices available. My solution, when the steam reaches the top, is to revert back to the moment, the Now. Without losing sight of the goal, the desire and the hunger. Putting it in perspective.

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Charles Schifano's avatar

Your use of the word "now" is a useful one. I can certainly appreciate it - thank you for the comment.

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Lyle Enright's avatar

That last paragraph fabulously unpacks my favorite part of study drafting. I'll spend more time than anywhere else on those distances and debates. In fact the "debate" is a narrative element that few writing coaches really seem able to justify but that you explain very well here.

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Charles Schifano's avatar

Thank you for the kind words.

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Trilety Wade's avatar

You are just such a capital m Mind. Your pieces are labyrinthine, depositing me in unknown and revelatory corners. Love it

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Charles Schifano's avatar

Thank you Trilety. That's great to hear. I really appreciate it.

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John P. Weiss's avatar

“My library is an archive of longings.”-Susan Sontag

Seems we’re never happy. Except, maybe, for the creative souls who find that sweet spot between creative flow (blissfully lost in the moment of creation) and endless improvement. Monet’s haystacks and Lilly pads come to mind. No doubt time dissolved when Monet was painting them, but then after each result, he longed to capture the light differently. Joyful creation, but the ideal always out of reach.

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Charles Schifano's avatar

I always appreciate a Sontag quote. Longings in a library is the right image too.

"Joyful creation, but the ideal always out of reach." Thanks for the comment John.

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Tom Pendergast's avatar

I always thought that Vonnegut's "we are here on earth to fart around" needed just a little more; after reading this enjoyable piece, I'd add "then try to fart around better" and "wonder if farting around was worth it."

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Charles Schifano's avatar

If I am remembering this correctly, Vonnegut tells a story in his memoir about why he stopped speaking in public - it was the result of one person asking one question about what right he has to teach cynicism to the next generation. He didn't have an answer, so he gave up lecturing. Thank you for the comment and I like the addition to his saying.

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Tom Pendergast's avatar

I am certain I am taking his quote entirely out of context, but it’s one of my favorite answers to the “what’s it all for” is a topic I visit all too frequently. Yours is far more elegant!

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Sherman Alexie's avatar

This is great. Great. Great.

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Charles Schifano's avatar

Thank you very much! That's great to hear—I appreciate it.

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