Thursday April 24, 2025 // Mid-Morning
I’m re-reading The War of Art for fifth time. Inside the front cover I have the years written of when I’ve read it. It used to be a yearly read for me. Something to keep me in line and continue with writing. The last few years this book has sat on my shelf, similar to the words I meant to write.
Other books caught my eye. And rightly so. Life is short. Read the books you want to read in the time you have.
Recently we got one of those single person pop-up saunas. It’s out in my garage next to my weight lifting bench, which is finally cleaned off. Every few days after the bedtime routine and getting the house and family ready for the next day, I find myself in the sauna. 120 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Needing a book that I want to read and also I don’t mind ruining in the heat while getting drenched in sweat, I reached for my old friend The War of Art.
Steven Pressfield, the author, writes about how he sits down every day to do his writing. That’s his thing – he writes. Each morning he gets the family out the door then heads over to his office where he writes undisturbed for four-to-five hours. Then packs up and is done with his work for the day.
It’s so simple. Just go do the thing you want to do. Or to paraphrase Steven, do the work you are called to do by your muse. But in reality most of us can’t do that. Our jobs are not in line with our creative endeavors. Our lifestyles and obligations don’t allow us to use the prime part of our day on what we want to do. And then we feel guilty that we can’t live up to the ever-so-simple system(s) we see portrayed like Steven’s but especially on social.
I truly love this book. But reading it this time around, a little older and maybe a touch more jaded, has me pondering how to take the lessons he’s teaching and making them practical for a normal person. I don’t have an answer… yet.
– Josh // Searching
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