Overflow of the Wine Glass of Life

 

My writing is an overflow of the wine glass of my life.

C. JoyBell C.

 

We’re often advised to write what we know, however, it could be said that we should write out of what we live. 

 

Creativity is birthed in life. 

 

In spirit. 

 

In adventure. 

 

In learning. 

 

In experiences. 

 

In relationships. 

 

In God. 

 

When I think of the overflow of the wine glass of my life, words like abundance, plenty, bounty, abundance, expansive, and spacious all create images of more than enough. 

 

The phrase, ‘the overflow of the wine glass of my life’ resonates with my soul. 

 

The oft-quoted Psalm 23 says, ‘My cup runneth over’ and we use that phrase when we are blessed beyond measure. 

 

 A phrase taken from The Message, makes me think of a life that is lived beyond the borders of restriction. 

‘I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.’

My life is full to overflowing but there are questions: 

Is my writing from the overflow of my life? 

Is my life so full that it overflows into my writing? 

Is my life full of the right things? 

 How do we go from just enough to overflow? 

 

There’s a paradox in that the more you give, the more you receive. In creativity, the more time we give to living, really living, the more we receive a creative spark. Cultivating a creative lifestyle that draws on an abundant life is a challenge for writers. 

That's why Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way suggests we go on artist dates. An artist date is a way to devote time to your creative self. It should be done solo. It may be walking through a stationery store or visiting a museum—anything you find creative and enjoyable.

Ideally, an artist date is best done once a week, but aiming for at least once a month is an ideal way to begin. 

    We don't need to travel the world or have a lot of money to live an abundant life. Living with this mentality is an overflow of faith and a commitment to our craft. So, simply living and enjoying Creation, going for a walk in the bush, swimming in the ocean, or walking around an art gallery can inject something positive into our lives. 

    Filling up our spirits, topping up our creativity, and spending quality time with people can all fill our cups. When our cups are full, they overflow to help others, and hopefully into our writing. 

    I am very fortunate. I spend my life travelling (pandemics aside!), learning, mentoring, loving my family, and, every now and then, when I sit back and toast my life, I realise my life is full to overflowing.

I want a life that is like an overflowing glass of wine. I want a soul that overflows from the goodness of God. 

 

I want a life where creativity flows like fine wine at a wedding.  I want my writing to come from that overflowing. 

Where does your writing flow from? 

        Do you write out of the overflow of your life? Do you write to live or live to write? Do you try and write what you know or do you write out of what you live?

Elaine Fraser

Find out more about Elaine here