Amused

A thought occurred to me the other day when I was seeking inspiration: Could the phrase “amuse myself” be derived from seeing and finding the elusive muse within?

To let inspiration come from the self, instead of chasing her endlessly outside of myself.

Maybe that’s the real trick? The muse isn’t something external to be caught. Maybe she’s already inside, waiting for me to stop running and recognize that she was never out of reach to begin with.

So to amuse myself isn’t just entertainment, it’s an act of inspiration, that reminds me that the muse isn’t always some elusive, external force, it’s already here inside.

The dance with the muse, always close enough to keep me chasing, never quite within reach. She’s an elusive, taunting seductress then vanishes just as you think you’ve caught up.

But maybe that’s the point. If she ever let you catch her, would she still be the muse? Or would she simply be something ordinary, or something known?

It’s frustrating and exhausting at times, but it’s also the thing that keeps the creative fire burning.

So maybe the trick isn’t catching the muse, it’s learning to love the chase?

Update: Audio test