My Biggest Distraction

Do you want to know the biggest distraction in my life?

It’s not emails, or social media notifications, or WhatsApp messages.

It’s not that oh-so-compelling video on my YouTube home screen.

And it’s not a dependant – a child, a dog, a spouse.

It’s building work. Drilling, hammering, banging. It follows me relentlessly, wherever I go.

As I sat down to write today’s newsletter, a loud pneumatic drill began pounding nearby.

It did not stop for seven hours.

So, the topic for this week’s newsletter couldn’t really be anything other than distraction.

I am not a productivity guru. I cannot confidently advise you on how to deal with life’s many distractions. There will never be a perfect time to focus on creative pursuits, because life will always throw something at us.

Some can be avoided – like silencing notifications on your phone. Others – like drilling – must just be endured.

All I could do today was make the distraction my inspiration. Our superpower as creatives can be to turn a negative into a positive.

Rather than giving up, become interested in the obstacle. Try to transform your frustration into inspiration.

Easier said than done I know. This newsletter is not my masterpiece. But at least I got it done. And sometimes, anything is better than nothing. A couple of lines of lyrics, the beginnings of a melody. It all adds up over time.

Mary x

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