The Art of Yearning.

 

Bonjour from Collioure where I'm attending a writing workshop at Karbohemia, led by the fabulous writer, Karen Karbo, along with another wonderful writer, Natalie Serber. I feel very lucky to be here among all this talent. And yes, there's a whole lot of talent in the room--including the thirteen workshop participants who have traveled so very far to share their writing and stories.

This photo was taken by Kathy Budas from the night that our guest of honor--Meg Wolitzer introduced the screening of the film adaptation of her novel, The Wife. Meg is the author of The Interestings, which became an Oscar nominee for the star Glenn Close.

And now, Sara Bareilles (of Waitress fame) has created the musical version of The Interestings. Our cohort got to hear a recording of Sara Bareilles sing Enough a song that begs the question--when will we have enough?

There’s an art to finding happiness, while in a state of yearning, because it may be true that while we’ve all had a modicum of success and happiness in our lives, we long for more—just like the characters in Meg Wolitzer's novels. We have one thing, but we want that other thing. That thing over there.

I don't think this is wrong--this yearning. It's the thing that got me off the farm--onto a plane, then a train, then down to the south of France where at age seventy, I thrust my fragile self into a group of mostly younger writers. The key is to use our yearning wisely.

Creative Friends--your assignment this week is find joy in where you are right now. Pick up your pen or paintbrush, your dance shoes or your violin and then bring your sense of yearning into your art. This is how you’ll find pleasure in having enough, but still wanting more. And this is how we can live in the Land of Yearning with joy and gratitude.

Love, 

Jamie