Two weeks, no blog. Sometimes I wonder why I even have this place.

But the summer holiday has begun. It’s that four and a half week break from work that we British teachers get to enjoy from the tail of July until just prior to September. Historically, I always enter the break exhausted and full of hopes for my creativity but generally end wondering what I did with the time.

This year has begun with a slightly different vibe: three of ‘The Summer Conversations’ podcasts are recorded and scheduled – the first available to early access Patrons for the past three days; Karameikos just enjoyed the 16th session with an escalation of the stakes; I’m reading Cypher (2e) and already thinking about my Autumn gaming options.

And yet I am also very tired. Today, I slept for two hours in the afternoon – out like a light, as they say. I’m learning to rest and recuperate. Allowing myself to just sit sometimes.

Do we have to fill our time with productive effort? Creativity flows when I don’t try to force or push it. I find it’s near impossible to ‘be creative’ on demand. Perhaps it’s the way my mind works, but the mention of a book or a game will spark my curiosity and attention flows into it. Where attention flows, experience emerges and sometimes that leads to insight or enjoyment at a deeper level.

Allowing ourselves to sit without pressure to perform is a lot harder than you might realise. The culture I live within is all about productivity and activity. Busy-ness. And if not productive, the temptation to stare at the screens in our lives is overwhelming, especially given the opportunity to feed our dopamine fix.

Reaching out to make real connection with living people feels harder than it ever has. That’s why it was a joy to at least drop into a Zoom call and chat with people I’ve not spoken to in the past year. Yeah, it’s through a screen – there’s nothing inherently wrong with technological communication – but it was genuine conversation.

That’s where I am at as I begin the first full week of the summer break. I’m going to go see a movie with a family member this week. I’m having a couple more online conversations (even if they are also being recorded). I’m going to delve into a couple of interesting games and books. I’m getting back to the morning walk and taking in the fresh air before my day begins.

Who knows if anything much will arise from the time spent… that’s not the point. What I truly need right now is a break from the pressures of work and productivity, the expectations of others who really just want to take take take all day long. Creativity flows when I don’t try to force or push it.

Game on!