Fortunately, our days dont come neatly sorted and labeled in advance.

For instance, you wont see a calendar that highlights holidays and predicts good days, bad days, and everything in between.

Yet we do this, in our own minds, dont we?

For instance, I try to write on a daily basis. Sometimes, articles flow into my keyboard like beautiful breezes, moving me along steadily and gracefully. On other days, when I face the doldrums, I have to put the little outboard motor into the water and put-put along.

Ideally, we would be so perfectly in the moment, every day, that we wouldnt have time to hear that internal voice declare, Gee, this is a tough day! or I cant think of anything to write, for the life of me!

As the Zen folks say, wed simply chop wood and carry water, without comment, criticism, or notice of any kind.

Well, were not perfect, so perhaps we can transform our travail into treasure.

If were going to comment, to observe how things are going, lets resolve to make the most of it.

For instance, if my writing is uninspired, so what?

I can still craft it capably. Instead of eloquence, I can shoot for clarity, for brevity, for some other strength that isnt beyond my diminished powers, on that particular occasion.

On the other hand, if everythings effortless, perhaps I can appreciate this and take my writing pad and pens to the restaurant with me, and jot down all of the inspired ideas that seem, at that happy moment, irrepressible.

In other words, by all means go with the flow, when there is a flow. And when there isnt, do the next best thingwhatever that is.

Pick up your canoe and drag it, if you must, to the next tiny tributary, or to a piddling puddle. But keep moving, making the most of what you have.

If you can do this, you can embody the wisdom of Americas greatest plodder, Abraham Lincoln, who reportedly said, it doesnt matter how slowly I move forward, as long as I dont have to go backwards!