After yesterday’s lack of motivation for working on my book, I had a very compelling dream which made me realize that I’m shooting myself in the foot. In the dream, while chasing kittens I’d inadvertently released from a back yard enclosure where we were fostering rescues, I met a neighbor who was a writer. He told me that he went into his home office at the same time every day and wrote all day without interruptions. His family knew that this was his work time, and left him alone, as if he was at an office elsewhere.
It was then that it hit me. First, I need to make a commitment to write every day (and yes, blog posts count!). Second, I need to lose the belief that editing is tedious and dreadful and uncreative. Bollox! Part of the editing process is to flesh out and improve on what I wrote while in my semi-fugue state, writing from stream of consciousness. The upside of writing in this fashion is that the story just comes out, but the downside is that it comes out rather bare bones. It is up to the creative process while editing to turn it into something interesting and fun for others to read! Is that a lightbulb I just saw come on above my head?
And as soon as this thought hit me, I started seeing new book titles and ideas flashing through my brain! In fact, I have a nail appointment and need to go to the gym and run some errands today, but now, I can’t wait to get back to writing (though, I admit, I will put it aside to go dancing tonight, as my knee is feeling much better after a few days of rest).
I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to figure this out, but I’m sure it had something to do with not asking the right questions. (last night, I half jokingly posted my status on Facebook as “Motivation…motivation, wherefore art thou, motivation?” Seems the Universe had the answer ready for the asking!
I am happy to report that the best result of my realizations was a more productive day. Although most of it did not involve writing, it did clear the way for tonight and tomorrow as errands which had been neglected were done, I got a workout in (always good for clearing the mind!) and even talked to someone about doing some actual income-producing work!
It occurs to me that no matter how much we try to live a life with an attitude of gratitude, noticing the positive things and finding a way to turn even what seem like setbacks into something useful, we all have moments, hours, days, and sometimes (heaven forbid!) weeks, when our best intentions slip and we need a bit of a wakeup call. Fortunately, when we ask the right questions, or even something close, the answers will come!
My gratitudes today are:
1. I am grateful that my questions get answers and I am back on track.
2. I am grateful for new words like “adoptimism”:adopting a positive outlook towards life.
3. I am grateful for time to work on my body, my mind and my soul purpose.
4. I am grateful for my feline assistants who help me stay on task even when my mind wants to go elsewhere. There’s a lot to be said for a little company which is not mentally demanding (the little darlings only make demands of my heart…and skritching fingers!)
5. I am grateful for my life, as it is becoming more of what I came here to do, every day, one step at a time.
Love and light
