The thing about Morgan that’s always amazed me is that she embodies an indomitable creative spirit.  She focuses on some things to the exclusion of others and produces what are for her and her loved ones masterpieces of expressive outburst.

That’s all well and good, except that in this case she wrote this story for three hours, and neglected to do her math!

“I hate to stifle your creative energy, Morgan.  Please think about what you want to do, versus what you need to do, and choose carefully,”  were the words that came out of my mouth.

She did manage to finish her story, though, and do most of her math.  I feel it was a good balance, and she wasn’t up too late.

Isn’t that true?  There are so many things I want to do with my life but can’t because of time. So many outlets for my own creativity that are unexplored because I have to finish the college home page layout (which I didn’t design – I’m just the grunt man implementing the technical details and making other people’s creativity happen these days), cook and prepare dinner, help my kids with their homework, manage dishes because the kids are too busy to help, and prepare for my own class tomorrow.

Some of that is creative. All of it I chose.  Much of it I treasure.  But where is the time to write, to play the piano, to practice Tai Chi, to roleplay, to dream?  To invent?  To create?

I watch my kids grow up and am so thankful that they have an appreciation of the treasure of these last days of childhood. Unburdened by the expectations and responsiblilities of adulthood and only lightly tethered to the duties of education, which is itself a joy if embraced from the softer side, their lives are blossoms of joy and energy.

Mine is too.  I’ll never lose the hope of getting to do the things I want and love.