Dear Writer’s Block

Dear Writer’s Block,

I’ve known you for so long now that being with you is like having a warm, loving blanket wrapped around me, one that numbs all my thoughts of writing into a fading shadow that eventually, or rather finally, disappears into the grey dust of what used to be my inspiration.

Our relationship started off so casually.

It was so easy to just let you slip into my life.

At first, I thought your name was “Excuses.” I started to have a million reasons why I could not write, and considering that I had always been bursting with ideas, this first time without any was almost like my brain had gone on vacation.

As we became more acquainted, I nicknamed you “Procrastination.” At this point, the eager ideas that once danced in my head until I got them on paper were just not there. I was, in all honesty, a little afraid. I had never had a time when my head did not burst with thoughts to write, like water behind a dam that swells and seems as if it will crack the encasement if not let free.

I thought to myself, “I will spend time tomorrow and come up with something great to write.”
That worked for a while. It was easy to just put my writing, my true lover, off another day until I had something of value to offer. Exactly. Wait until I have something of value. Great reason! Not an excuse!

Then the most terrible thing happened.

I realized that my beloved was gone.

There was no singing in my heart of the sonnets of spring. There was no cloud of despair surrounded by pellets of dark words trying to make their way out. There were no moments of pulling my notebook out of my purse for the tenth time in a day to scramble down the ideas before they slipped away.

My writing, my passion, my sweet lover, was gone.

And so, I am writing this letter to you.

I want you to know that you were a great replacement for a short time, but I need my precious soulmate back. I need to write. So please understand, it is not you, it’s me. I just cannot live without this past love of mine.

If I have to cross the ocean to find him, I will. If I have to stay up all night with an empty page in front of me for weeks on end, I will. I will wait with the patience that only unconditional love can offer. I will wait with bated breath, knowing that I will find him again.

Staying with you would be another excuse for me.

And so, I bid you adieu and wish you all the best.

I am sure you will soon find another who craves your way of numbing their thoughts.

Goodbye forever.

And now I take my pen and paper.

And I smile.