Hi, Friend.
Today I’m here with the tiniest weekend pep talk, in case you need one. Who doesn’t? *gestures at the world*
One of my clearest childhood memories is of my mom screaming RECKLESS ABANDON on the sidelines of my younger sisters’ soccer games. It was her go-to. Once she yelled it so hard and for so long, she started to hyperventilate, her hands tingling and cramping into little lobster claws. That’s become part of our family lore, and we still joke about it.
I shout a lot of encouragement at my son’s soccer games: LET’S GO! THAT’S YOUR BALL! NICE TRY! I don’t yell RECKLESS ABANDON, but I’ve been thinking about the phrase, and the spirit behind it, a lot lately.
I’ve joked that I’m a recovering pessimist, and these days I think of myself as a cautious optimist. “It’ll probably be fine” is my general attitude, which is okay, but nothing anyone wants on a mug or shirt. I don’t know about you, but I could use some brave, full-throttle, no-brakes, no-holding-back energy in my life right now. More optimism, less caution. This is where my mom’s voice comes in handy.
Sitting down at your writing desk, but feeling a little stuck? RECKLESS ABANDON!
Missing someone you’ve lost touch with, but feeling awkward about reaching out? RECKLESS ABANDON!
Considering leaving a situation that no longer makes you happy—a job, a relationship, a place? RECKLESS ABANDON!
Feeling inspired to launch a new project, but worried that it won’t pan out? RECKLESS ABANDON!
If your inner voice isn’t convincing enough, please feel free to imagine a middle-aged, Midwestern mom in oversized sunglasses screaming it right at you. Sometimes we all need that Mrs. Smith energy.
Win or lose, there will be Capri Suns and high fives.
I’ll leave you with a page from Keep Moving: The Journal.
Trying is better than despairing. Hope is more effective than cynicism. Commit to trying, then get to work. RECKLESS ABANDON!
Love (& courage)—
Maggie
I have my own reckless abandon stories. In the late 70's I was living in Eugene, Oregon and my friends and I took a road trip to Bandon, on the coast. It was spectacular, the coastline was fairly undeveloped and full of giant sea stacks. It was Fourth of July and we sat on a nearby dune to watch the fireworks. We nicknamed Bandon "Reckless Abandon." It felt like such a wild and free place to be. All these years later we still remind each other of that glorious day. Recently I used the term in a title of a poem. It is just so uplifting!!
Hi Maggie,
I love that I read this right as I am sitting down to try to coax a few poems I wrote this year to the finishing line, before trying to write the poems "I will write next". "Trying is better than despairing!" I like that sentiment. If I look at all the awesome inventive imaginative poetry out there I sometimes rejoice in its exquisiteness and then despair a little... and then go back to, well what can I do? I can keep trying. Keep creating. Because by now that's a part of who I am.
And guess what, I love that I get a Capri Sun at the end of all my effort. How about I bring some orange slices to sunny up a cold horizontal rain type of day out there on the pitch? Keep moving! Keep writing! Keep on keeping on!