Ever heard of the FlyLady? "I can do anything for 15 minutes" is one of her inspirational phrases to get you cleaning your house. Although I quit her mailing list years ago, her wisdom still reverberates in my ears at odd moments. "Even housework done incompletely blesses your home," I repeat as I decide not to move the couch. I always "shine my sink" each night and "lace my shoes" each morning to get a running start on the day. And countless times from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm I set the timer on my stove for 15 minutes and attack a room, a yoga pose, or a special project. In 15 minute increments I've purged, cleaned, reorganized. I've paved out time for simple pleasures with this simple tool. Like writing.

So Leger's contest was a big old smack in the head. Why didn't I think of it? For one thing, I can't write a grocery list in fifteen minutes. To write coherently, I need quiet--and I need time. Anything written without copious amounts of editing is a rambling mess.

But if housework done incompletely still blesses your home, then of course writing done incompletely still blesses your head and heart.

I've learned a lot about myself, my writing style, my limitations and my strengths. Fifteen minutes to assess yourself is just about right. I hope to continue adding entries after the contest. I'm also buying a stand-alone timer.