polka dot suitcase

I was interviewing an education expert yesterday, and he commented on how sometimes you have so many ideas in your head bumping around that when you try to write them down, you can’t do it fast enough and you lose some.

That happens to me all the time. Like just yesterday, when I was trying to crank out my grocery list. Milk! Butter! Popcorn! Uh…

But he’s totally right. When I’m trying to write creatively, ideas will pop into my head when I least expect it – usually when I can’t write them down. That’s because ideas are like naughty puppies.

As a former dog trainer, I get the puppy connection. Here’s a quiz for you:

1. Your puppy runs away. Do you:
a) Chase after her, and holler at her to teach her she did something wrong
b) Run the other way
c) Squat down and make squeaky noises

2. Your puppy wees on the gorgeous green shag rug in the living room. Do you:
a) Holler at him
b) Ignore it – it’s shag, after all. No one will notice.
c) Clean it up and keep a better eye on him in the future

3. Your puppy bolts out the door and disappears. Do you:
a) Holler at your spouse for leaving the door open
b) Figure you’ll just get another puppy
c) Get in the shower and try to dream up your puppy again

Okay, option “c” for number three doesn’t really work in the ideas/puppy analogy. Because really, you’d go out and look for your puppy, but you can’t do that with ideas. They’re invisible, and you can’t really microchip ‘em. Although that would take care of a lot of copyright issues.

Anyhoo. You’re smart. You know that if you chose “a” for any of these, you need to not only consider Nintendogs as your permanent pet of choice, but you probably need anger management therapy. As for ideas: You can’t treat them aggressively, either. The harder you try to chase after them, the more they drift away. You’ve got to trust that they’re coming from God (or the universe, or your belief system of choice). Don’t chase them. Accept them.

If you chose “b” for your answers, here’s the thing: for the first question, that really will work for puppies (sometimes). Lots of times, you run the other way, and they’ll think, “Oooh! Fun!” and run after you. Then you can praise her for coming. As for ideas: You can choose to ignore your ideas. I have for years (uh…my ideas, not yours. That would be rude.). But then you end up frustrated, with diminished capacity to come up with new ideas.

And if you chose “c” for your picks? Ah, puppyhopper. You are wise in the ways of puppies and ideas. For the record, squatting down and making squeaky noises – or if you don’t have dignity, even laying down or play-bowing – will intrigue your puppy and those around you. She’ll come over (medics and paparazzi may, too). As for ideas: They’ll tease you – go with it. Goof around with them, make kissy noises to get them to come to you, do what you must (the shower concept truly does work, because you’re not consciously chasing them). Call them to you, but don’t order them to come. If they mess on the rug, calmly clean it and learn from it (I’m talking ideas and puppies).

But I’ve taken my analogy too far. Sir would tell me my post was too long. So I leave you with this: Nurture and play with your ideas – although they, like puppies, do have wicked sharp teeth sometimes, you learn to avoid those. Be gentle with your ideas and with yourself, and keep a watchful eye. Guide them. Embrace your inner puppy!