Creative Living: Working with the letters you have

Posted on Mar 9, 2013

Every day Life gives you a set of letters.

Like a great Scrabble game, only in 3D where you can get hurt playing.

One day last week, my letters spelled L O N E L I N E S S. I saw myself starting to go down the path where that can take me. And I had a moment of clarity.

What else can I create with these letters?

I took myself out for a walk. I took a new route to the local library to renew my card. As I passed the familiar row of unentered antique stores, it occurred to me. Today’s letters are 2 Ls, 2 Ns, 2 Ss, 2 Es, 1 O and 1 I. What else could I do with these letters? I could write a poem, I thought. Just the question gave me the awareness that I could just sit there with my letters and complain about them. Or I could play the game. I could create something else.

In line at the library, I saw a beautiful, well-dressed family at the counter getting their first library card. A grandmother, a father and two girls. Dressed in a suit with with with a bag full of paperwork, the man was very serious about this card. Hovering above them like an angel who knows how things work, the grandmother took the girls to explore while their father waited. It took a long time. His eyes caught mine, seemingly a bit worried about the line forming behind him. I smiled and nodded it was okay. Then it was over. We never spoke, but I was no longer lonely.

I returned home by a different route still. I called in at the Italian food market for their delicious breadsticks, and bought two even more delicious cookies too. And when I passed the busy stylish café on the quiet side street, there was one table free. I sat down and wrote that poem. I called my husband on his ship. I left an extra tip for the server.

The world that seemed so empty in the morning was full by then. Everyone seemed friendly. And I returned home changed.

What letters has Life given you today?