My suitcase lies open on my bed. I stare down at a cluster of clothes, toiletries and souvenirs. I rummage through my bag, clearing out the contents, emptying every pocket and every corner in preparation for my next trip. As I sort through everything, it occurs to me that the writer me is like an empty suitcase – when I finish a project, I de-clutter my mind, clearing out the superfluous pieces in my head and spend the next 24 to 72 hours cleaning up the residue and tidying the compartments of my brain. Just like packing a suitcase for the next journey, I begin accumulating the ideas of another project, folding them neatly into the corners and pockets of my mind.
The Suitcase in My Mind
Published by J.G. Chayko
J.G. Chayko is a writer, actress and international arthritis advocate living on the beautiful west coast of British Columbia. She has published poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction. Her work has appeared in Canadian Stories, Shotgun Honey, and Boston Literary Magazine. She is a contributing writer to three anthologies and the author of the blogs The Old Lady in My Bones, based on her experience living with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Corkboards and Coffeehouses, essays on her writing life. Her work has also been featured in Arthritis Digest UK, Health Central, and Pain Free Living Magazine. She is a graduate of the Writer's Studio and is working on her first novel. View all posts by J.G. Chayko
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