So, here’s the skinny: I’ve been thinking about writing and how often our perfectionism gets in the way of our words. And I figured, why not take 5 minutes and see what comes out: not a perfect post, not a profound post, just five minutes of focused writing.
No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation. Just painting with words. Finger-painting even.
So now on Fridays over here a group of people who love to throw caution to the wind and just write gather to share what five minutes buys them. Just five minutes. Unscripted. Unedited. Real.
Your words. This shared feast.
A Five Minute Writing Challenge <—click to tweet this!
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:
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See…
:
GO
I can read and read and still not see.
Hours of bumpy skies en route from Arkansas back to Virginia has me in seat 11 C shifting between closed eyes and eyes wide open to a book. Not a single seat open. All these heads stretching out in front of me. The baby wails as we make our descent.
I mark the pages. Story after story of how children are changing the world.
The baby cries more and passengers around him shift uncomfortably.
Their grown up sensibilities insensitive to where they come from. How their hands and feet used to fit in all that tight package of frightened vulnerability.
We want silence and forget that every journey started with that babble of life. Each head, each checked bag, each presumption that parents ought to get the job done better began in diapers.
STOP
{Subscribers, you can just click here to come over and play along}
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Thank you sweet friend, for blogging early. I’m on my way to Tennessee and did not want to miss linking up with you. It is my favorite part of the week!
Love the truth of this, Lisa-Jo.
“We want silence and forget that every journey started with that babble of life. ” I like that.
“all began in diapers.” I got to that point, and how it made me laugh! Yep!
That is soooo true! You always have such a sweet way of reminding us where we are in life! Thank you!
This is beautiful and so true. I was flying home from DC (age 49 now with kids grown) and sat next to a mom with a 9 month old. I watched others squirm and I squirmed too as I helped mom pick up, hold, hug, play, laugh and enjoy! She was so appreciative to that someone who loves kids sat next to her, and I was so appreciative for having her little guy bouncing and squirming next to me.
We begin life as joyful, moving, adaptable, beautiful creatures and then we begin to conform and harden, no longer seeing the joy around us, only seeing our “to do” lists and answering to our internal “I should, I need to, I can’t”. My message to the younger generation – NEVER CONFORM and always flow! Namaste!
And…I love your “finger-painting”. It’s what I do at my blog site, having slept through english class some 35 years ago! Practicing creative grammar and punctuation daily! ;-)
Saw your tweet about not liking your post but being true to the rules of FMF. I just wanted to say that I have yet to read something from you that isn’t inspired. You have a wonderful way of giving a snapshot of your life that radiates His love and grace, even in five minutes. Thankful for you.
Nicely done :0). We have never traveled by plane with little ones, but I am sure it is interesting :0). I know I could be one of the “nay sayers” simply because I forget! Thanks for the reminder. EEEPS! I also noticed I broke 2 “rules” in your Five Minute Fridays! :0) Still learning the ropes and thankful for your site :0). Enjoy…
Here’s mine. See.
I thought the other day about what i had sent my son off to school wearing. You know, just in case someone like a policy officer (i tend to overdramatize and can always picture calamity happening to my kids!) had to ask me to describe him. i had to think hard. did i really see him this morning. what was my daughter wearing. did i take the time to even look at them this morning between the getting breakfast, dressed, teeth brushed and not late for the rush to the bus? some days i just stare at them when they’re not looking and say to myself “when did this happen?” how did they get so tall, slimmed out, grown up? I don’t want to miss it anymopre. i’m taking the time, starting when i pick them up from school today, to really SEE them.
STOP.
Now, I just have to say, it is KILLING me to see my grammatical mistakes above, but I’m also trying to play by the rules! Good, bad, ugly…
uggh. I meant to type “police” officer, not “policy” officer too!
I loved this post. The last line made me smile, “each presumption that parents ought to get the job done better began in diapers.” A certain gentleman who took one look at me flying alone with 2 toddlers, gave me a disgusted look, and turned to quickly find a seat far away, came to mind. Can’t blame him for wanting to sit far away (I would too if traveling alone) but the look hurt. We all began in diapers and we would all do well to be reminded of this fact occassionally – myself included. :)
I always love your words here, Lisa Jo. God bless you and your darling family.
Janelle
“Each head, each checked bag, each presumption that parents ought to get the job done better began in diapers.”
I love the way you write – you pack so much in to a short space and I am left ruminating. The post you did recently telling the story of spilt coffee in the coffee shop has stayed with me and haunted me – the sign of a great storyteller.
Thank you for your gift.
I’ve been receiving and reading your emails for about 1 month, so I’m not sure how I could make a suggestion of improvement or change needed of your website. Your writing style is very enjoyable to read! It keeps me interested and I look forward to what you are going to say in the next email….what is it going to be…tomorrow?? Your upbringing of being British from Africa, I love it! You can relate so much to the military wife of having to live overseas toting kids back and forth! You go back and forth overseas to your two homes and understand the troubles involved of traveling. This is expressed in your writing, your experience of going around the world and having God as a best friend. I like it. Thank you.