Unlocking Creative Flow: A rainy morning, a running ladder, and the muse who only shows up when I move

New York City, a rainy Tuesday, Columbus Circle

This morning, I’m reminded of the rule of thirds, an idea I recently wrote about. There, it was a way through the miles. Here, I realize, it can sort a day into three simple movements. To Do. To Build. To Dream. A way to grasp my day, accomplish what needs accomplishing, and invite in the muse, so all can be balanced.

As I started my day, I looked to my To Do list: Water with Nuun (electrolyte). Coffee. High protein within an hour of waking. Meditation. These are non-negotiables. And for anyone who has stumbled over the word menopause, in any form, these small anchors can be keys to relief and strength for the day ahead.

Then I moved To Build. I forced myself out the door for my Tuesday 6:30 AM NYRR group run in Central Park. The back door of our apartment building slammed and locked behind me loudly as I was surprised to find it was raining. That’s what happens when you settle into rote and routine and don’t pay attention Iris. Not necessarily a bad thing though, and I have always had fun reframing these kinds of rainy runs as “duck walks”. Plus, there’s not much runner traffic in the park!

Today’s road runners drill: Running Ladders. One minute easy out, one minute hard back. Two minutes easy out, two minutes hard back. All the way up to four minutes and back down again, using the same start line. A group of seven helped me build my endurance and keep on “building” and not quit. And chatting with Yvonne from Jamaica, meeting her for the first time, helped me build something else I hadn’t anticipated this morning: social resilience, connection, and a little more knowledge of the many runners’ stories we carry here in New York City. Yvonne has been running for 46 years (yes, 46 years), and at the end of our hard and very sweaty workout, she trotted off on a three-mile run home to the Upper East Side without a thought.

I want to be her when I grow up. #inspiration

The beauty of following my steps of To Do and To Build, (even though I did not necessarily want to) is that the coveted third category was able to present herself. Hello To Dream. Sometimes referred to as The Muse. She showed up while all of this was going on, of course, because movement is her calling bell. Her appearance spurred on my rush to my laptop to capture thoughts and words, to see them living and breathing on the page and not just oozing out of my ears along with the last of the ladder-induced running sweats.

And the best part? The opportunity to hit post and open a door to connect with someone else who understands. Hello YOU. (I see you there, thanks for taking the ride with me)

And for those who know me, I can’t leave you without something to listen to and be inspired by as you take your own next steps TO DO, TO BUILD and TO DREAM:

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This essay first appeared on Mental Laundry at Substack.