Ted didn’t know how to approach the letter. Assigned just over a week ago, and expected by the end of this week, he knew he had to think of something fast. While not incredibly involved, the small scale is likely why it in turn had a relatively small time frame. Furthermore, for someone not usually good at writing letters, this wasn’t something he could just do on a whim at the last minute. However, the last letter he wrote ended up ruining a vital relationship he had, and even worse, he not only had put his heart and soul into it, but he ultimately was more than satisfied with what ended up on the paper. He was even excited to send it out and have it read. So when he got the response letter that accused him of being incompetent, incoherent, awkward and uncouth, Ted became faceless. Not sure whether to be shocked or horrified, confused or offended, laugh or cry, all Ted was able to do to was feel nothing and become nothing. Those were more innocent times, and this letter is an even more important one. Ted will be filled with doubt from start to finish.
As such, he decided to play video games. Procrastination allows a great amount of time to turn on a game console that hasn’t been used in two years. He decided to take a walk. The weather was great! He decided to go on the internet. How does one procrastinate without doing so? However, Ted wasn’t inherently procrastinating. He was hoping that as he was doing anything but actively working on the letter, he’ll find the words to say. Whether through slowly compiling inspiration from the various procrastination mediums, or being struck hard with an idea from a single one, or even through sheer coincidence. From Ted’s experience, the best forms of creativity always came naturally. Contrived creativity bares its nature as such openly.
Unless you procrastinate for too long, in which case, contrived creativity, the product of being out on a limb, is all you have. That, and the sheer desperation to get everything over with and submitted on time.
Soon enough, Ted realized: he can write a letter detailing his process of how he wrote the letter! Or rather, he can write about how he would go about writing letter and use that image as a means of communicating what he really wants to get across. Ted got started immediately, not wanting to lose momentum brought about by that spur of inspiration and was almost done within a quarter of an hour. What seemed like an insurmountable mountain became just a slightly steep hill that might be a touch too troublesome for someone for bad knees. A little more time, and Ted finished the letter.
Now all that was left was to have the letter sent out. Confident but apprehensive, Ted saved that for the last minute. To him it simply a matter of something that wouldn’t take too much time to get done, but really, there was a lot of doubt. “Will the receiver understand what I’m trying to say?” “Is there anything I could have made clearer?” Is there anything that could have been added?” Ted ultimately decided to let live and let go, as he didn’t have the time to needlessly preen something he had faith in due to episodes of paranoia and self-doubt.
A stamped and addressed envelope, followed by a trip to the mailbox later, and the letter was sent. The letter had been sent. The letter had been sent. The letter had been sent….
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