By Barbara Jorgen Nance
We all have had big ideas on occasion. How does one clear away all the unnecessary debris surrounding our big idea to get to the heart? I saw the idea clearly for just an instant, hanging off the edge of the cliff in my mind. Hasn’t this happened to all of us at times? Oh, it was the best idea ever and then we lost it. Perhaps it dropped off the cliff?
What’s the big idea? We’ve all seen them with crystal vision at the time. Moments tick by and the illusive idea drifts out to sea. We might encounter the same idea again as it rolls in with the tide, but now there’s mounds of debris around it, which need to be cleared away. The problem is, as time passes, secondary ideas come into play and we’ve lost the heart of our original gem. You all know the one I’m talking about. Your new, life-changing, earth-shattering idea that fell off the cliff in your mind is now lost at sea. All of a sudden I find myself adrift in a tiny rowboat, a girl with no story, no big idea for a time.
Nevertheless, morning always comes and new ideas come with it. My inner lost and found department is most likely larger than most. I heard a Cantadora (keeper of the old stories) once speak about folks in my category as being known as “ Zig-Zag People." At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about such a label, but knowing myself, it’s actually an appropriate description. She explained that Zig-Zag People aren’t scattered in thought, but have a unique mental filing system for creative ideas in particular. One big idea comes to the front, but what if this were added, let me revisit that, now try to place the puzzle pieces together after I Zig here and Zag there once more. I’ve come to embrace the idea of being a “Zig-Zag Person." Do you think you might be one to some extent yourself? It certainly gives us a lot of freedom, doesn’t it?
If you have lost your big idea momentarily, fear not. It will Zig-Zag back to you if it is worthy. If not, a better earth-shattering, life-changing idea will come along. This just seems to be the nature of things.