Inspiration 101: The Grocery Store

What's that you say? You're not procrastinating? You're gathering ideas for a pivotal scene in that new screenplay?

Picture this.

You're in the supermarket, and all you need is Comet, or perhaps dryer sheets and a bottle of wine. Then you see the ad for five cans of tomato paste for one dollar. So you buy those. And then the Charmin is on sale. The double-thick Charmin, not the thin, cheap style. So, you gotta have that, too.

There's the friendly Cheese Lady up ahead. She's holding a tray piled high with wedges of Baby Swiss speared by festive toothpicks. The Baby Swiss is so delectable that you buy a wedge, followed by some crackers and a crisp Chardonnay.

Michael Bolton -- or someone very like him -- is playing throughout the store. You're in line. You slide your card, get $20 cash back just for the heck of it. Hey, you just might win that trip to Hawaii for using your "deals" card. It could happen.

Do you feel guilty for all that impulse shopping? Come on, now -- do you really need all that stuff? Wasn't it the thrill of the moment? The shiny packaging? Or did you just like chatting with the friendly Cheese Lady? After all, she's just doing her job. The cashier's "Would you like cash back?" sounds like a choice to me. You could say "no."

Oh, excuse me, please. You're the one who always thinks about what to buy before buying it. You make lists before going to the grocery store. You even double-check them (just like Santa…). You clip coupons. Live frugally. Comparison -hop. In-depth research on salted butter and mayonnaise. So many brands to choose from. So many choices. But you're in control. You would never ever allow some friendly Cheese Lady, Michael Bolton wannabes or the cashier on register three to tell you what you want, what to buy, and how to think about it. In fact, you were already having a "nice day" (or evening, or whatever else they wished you) before you got to their line. And if you weren't, they're sure not going to convince you otherwise.

You're in control. You are not impulsive or compulsive. You're in control. You think for yourself. You're in control. You make informed decisions. You're in control. You're thinking about your thinking and the implications thereof. You're in control. You're in --

What's that you say? You're not procrastinating? You're gathering ideas for a pivotal scene in that new screenplay? Re-casting the characters for that thriller?

Of course you are.

Now get back to your computer where you belong!

NOTE: The Muse can take many forms -- even the archetypal "Friendly Cheese Lady." If she's not your style, then maybe the Church Lady will offer to do her victory dance and give you a spanking. If she's not available, then maybe we'll see each other at a local café being the voyeurs -- I mean observers -- of human nature that we are.