My first poetry reading

I am SO proud of my poem ‘Dissociation’ for making it into this collection.

So proud, in fact, that I am going to read it at the launch of the collection. If you are curious about what a zoom launch of a poetry collection looks like you can get free tickets and log on: https://liquidamberpress.com.au/events/

This is a new thing for me. The most I have done is read some carefully chosen poems to students. I am both nervous and excited.

Which leads me to think about energy and where our life energy comes from. Not so much in terms of religion or philosophy—fun as I would find that discussion—no, I’m thinking here in very practical “day-to-day life” ways.

We each have a certain amount of energy to get through our days. Our energy often determines whether we are feeling upbeat or flat, whether life looks rosy or dark, and how we approach what is before us.

Here are three sources of energy and how they might impact our lives.

Anticipation

When we have something fun to look forward to, something that we are excited about or are counting down to, energy is created. We keep thinking about how good that thing will be. We create narratives, imagine certain moments, and savor what we believe is coming. Our mood is naturally buoyed and we see things in positive ways. We tell people ‘I’m going on a holiday’ or ‘This good thing is coming up’ or ‘I’m reading my poem at a launch’ and people get excited, creating more energy.

Self-belief and purpose

When we believe that we have something valuable to contribute, energy is created. This is a subtle area of energy. Some have such self-belief as to be arrogant. They are generating energy but it has a certain domineering, self-focused edge to it.

Finding something that is within our ability while still challenging and interesting that gives a sense of purpose, creates energy. This is less frenetic energy and is likely to keep our engine ticking over in a more steady way. When we grow tired, a good sleep can often see us restored. This energy is resilient. While quiet by nature, the importance of this type of energy cannot be overlooked.

Things chip away at our sense of purpose and so without management and intentionality, we can find ourselves wondering ‘what happened?’. It is often small, inconsequential things, that eat away at purpose-found energy. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves burnt out and shocked that the thing that once created energy is now empty.

Drama

Yes, drama creates energy.

To be upset and aggrieved, to choose to take offense, and to see the world as against you, all create energy. It is an interesting type of energy as it isn’t sustainable. It flares up, fills a person with indignation, generates sympathy, and then dies down. It is an unreliable source of energy requiring regular upset and outrage.

When I have found myself moving from one upset to another I have asked ‘why do I feel the need to generate this type of energy?’ The answer is often that I have nothing I am looking forward to and I have lost my sense of inner peace (the energy that comes from having a purpose).

---

Publically reading ‘Dissociation’ won’t take very long—a couple of minutes at most—but the energy the event creates, the energy I feel from stepping outside of my comfort zone, the energy of honouring this poem, this type of healthy energy is immeasurable.