Is calling United to change a plane reservation and talking to a young man half way across the world and hanging up with chills- to talk to somebody in India and connect for a couple of minutes and feel each other’s hearts… the flat world has many advantages.
Re-reading an email from a reader and taking in her wisdom again: "Thank you for today’s newsletter. Sitting here trying to write a mission statement for my consulting practice… you were helpful. BUT, my comment on your book struggles is this – could it be that you struggle more than strictly necessary because your expectation is that it should be easier?
When I really whine about the weather, a friend’s dumb conversation, a bad meeting, and rejection letters, I find that there is the pain of the actual happening (bummer) and then there’s the unnecessary pain of bumping my head on my expectations that xyz "should have" been sunnier, stimulating, joyful, and successful. Women are really good at the double troubles. Could it be that this book is hard to write because it IS hard to write?"
Thanks for the timely reminder- so much of my suffering is railing against reality.
For the weather yesterday, the moist awakening warmth.
For stopping by a local gallery for five minutes in the midst of book errands (library) and seeing gorgeous fresco and oil paintings by Alicia LaChance that made my art mind go squirrel hungry.
For realizing that I received so many great stories, well over a hundred, for the book, and feeling the connection of women everywhere.
For my Dad successfully coming out of a pain block procedure and being pain free for the first time in years (he has a degenerative spine and the effects of chemo have made that much worse and it was either go back on chemo before he needed to or try this pain block).
For your comments about me being inspiring. This is me asking for inspiration while writing.
For ArtFest- can’t wait!
As my friend David Martin says, "Gratitude is the mood that opens up our creativity."
6 responses so far ↓
1 Christine Louise Hohlbaum Mar 2, 2006
Listen to your muse whisper. Listen closely. You couldn’t have gotten this far without her. Feel her embrace as you shut out the voices of the outside world. Do this, and you will feel clear. It’s Drano for the soul, my friend!
2 Mark Silver Mar 2, 2006
Woo-hoo! I love it- a timely reminder that the goal isn’t “easy.” The goal is “Truth.” And Truth is an independent phenomenon from “easy.”
You reminded me of an article I wrote back in ’04:
http://www.heartofbusiness.com/articles/2004/Sep7.htm
I’m working right now on enrolling a class I’m offering… The last time I offered a class it sold out, lickety-split. This one is moving more slowly. So what? Better Truth than Easy- thanks for the reminder.
3 Margaret Lobenstine Mar 2, 2006
Perhaps all that is needed here is creating a quick, paradigm-shifting sentence for yourself. Instead of feeling you haven’t done the writing you SHOULD do, how does “I’m someone who believes in balance and serenity who also happens to be a writer” sound? Often Renaissance Souls are so interested in a variety of things they don’t necessarily do any particular one of them the way it’s SUPPOSED to be done: Leonardo da Vinci left the Last Supper unfinished because he had more to his life than any one painting. Contemporary Renaissance Souls may not be geniuses like him, but the same truth applies.
4 Jennifer Louden Mar 2, 2006
Mark- yes! Better truth than easy- that’s got to go in the book.
Margaret, you must say more- I feel like I just have to hear more about this reframe you are offering.
Thanks Christine for the whisper in my ear.
And Michael called to wish me well
So here I am whispering- “I accept”
Check out
http://www.boxofcrayons.biz/cmd.php?af=305801 to learn more about Michael!
5 Lain Mar 9, 2006
Ahhh — creative/artsy hunger. I feel it so deeply sometimes it makes me want to weep. When I look at what others have created and that monster inside roars, “I could never do that!” Is it hunger, really, or something else?
xoxo
Lain
6 Jennifer Louden Mar 10, 2006
Lain,
What is happening to us? What else is this hunger? sometimes, it feels akin to the need to possess or be possessed but others times not. But it does have a literal hunger, mouth component, for me. It also a learning, a wanting to learn part for me. What about you?
XOXOXO Jen