Renegade/Rebel: a person who resists authority, control, or tradition.
Several years
ago when I first became enamored by the idea of starting a blog, the only
material I could come up with was for a travel blog. I wasn’t ready to put my
more intimate thoughts out into the world.
Along came
Kristen Lamb and I took an on-line class from her to learn to use social media
for promotion (because I had a novel I was finishing and knew I needed to get
started thinking about that). She helped us define our log lines; our defining
lens through which we see the world. But I wasn’t ready for her log line for
me, from the Mothership. I still laugh when I read that. I know I am ‘spacey’
at times, but I don’t want anyone thinking I’m some sort of kook (my
insecurity) so I chose instead, ‘straddling the edge,’ or something like that,
but last year changed it to ‘writing through time’ because I write stories that
entail reincarnation and past lives.
I just finished a second novel that is the
past life of two of my characters from my first novel, Dance the Dream Awake. This second story, Haiku Dance, came out of the novel I had
begun writing as a follow-up, but was so strong I had to make it into its own stand alone—a love
story (romance genre-now in the process of looking for a publishing home).
Through the
years of doing this blog, the subject matter has been all over the place while finding
my legs for this journey. I’ve gotten braver about revealing my thoughts (I’m a
very private person, usually). A psychic friend I had years ago did a Tarot
spread for me once, revealing a life I had in Persia that entailed running away
with my lover to travel around the country buying and selling things-a gypsy
life in which I wrote down the stories of the people we met along the way.
That reading
came back to me when years later my husband and I bought a school bus in which to
travel around the country to follow a self-styled teacher/guru who was going on
a lecture tour at major universities around the country. He had the Monday
Night Class in San Francisco, as it became known then, where large groups of
people came to listen to his new ideas about life, enlightenment and love in
the new age. In truth the trip was an experiment in an alternate life style of
being and thinking. But that’s a story for another day.
I bring that
experience up to highlight the fact that to make that trip we had to sell all
the things we had accumulated in our life up to that point—everything. The
trade of ‘things’ for the treasure of the experience was worth it on so many
levels—it fast-tracked my growth as a soul (but I still think about those
beautiful leather boots I gave up-ha).
People on the
outside of an experience will always give their opinion/judgement of what they
see—but they do it through the lens of their own limitations and fear filters.
It doesn’t disturb me much anymore. I dismiss or ignore such opinions because
I have the rich treasure of my experiences, and it is in my heart to continue to
learn from and use my entire life for growth as a soul.
If I would give
one piece of advice, it would be to push aside the fears you have surrounding a
deep desire/need that you might have to do something you’ve been hesitating
about, and go for it. If the desire in you is strong—it is your Spirit seeking
freedom and growth, something you should not ignore. Don’t let anything hold
you back or you will begin to die inside, and then you will create a story you
will come to believe as to why you couldn’t do a thing, and it will be a false
story.
I get braver as
I get older, less fearful to ‘go for it.’ Mistakes are just the bruises you
earn along the way, the ‘war wounds’ of the battle to free your spirit. They
will become the stories of the book of your life, a book that you will carry
with you when you leave this earth. Make it a good one.
I saw this video
this morning and thought it appropriate to share to give you a visual of the positive
energy/light we carry and throw about all the time in our daily experience. If
we could see this energy, it might look like this. (Maybe Kristen wasn't far wrong about where I'm coming from-ha).
Carry on
creating your book-you know, the one about your life.
So, how afraid are you to try new experiences?
8 comments:
Cora -
Loved your I get braver as I get older, less fearful to ‘go for it.’ Mistakes are just the bruises you earn along the way, the ‘war wounds’ of the battle to free your spirit. They will become the stories of the book of your life, a book that you will carry with you when you leave this earth. Make it a good one
So true and so telling.
Hugs,
JoAnne
Thanks, JoAnne. Hugs back.
Thanks for explaining the evolution of your log line. Maybe it could also be the start of a novel about a writer.
I LOVE your blog, Cora! This is an excellent post. So many great points. And that video is awesome. I wonder how they did that. I like that log line, From the Mothership! Hahaha! I'm a kook and a goofball and have no qualms about letting others know! But as far as posting personal things, I'm like you. Not too keen on posting about sensitive issues. Like you said, though, as I become older, I'm more open and getting braver. I took part in August McLaughlin's Beauty of a Woman Blogfest last week and shared some things I never would have had the guts to write about a few years ago! I met August through Kristen Lamb's blogging class, too!
So I posted about your laugh attack today. I wasn't sure when I was going to finish it, so that's why I didn't notify you ahead of time. The link is http://lynnkelleyauthor.com/2014/03/when-laughing-isnt-appropriate/, but I'll tag you on FB, too. Thanks so much for letting me share your story!
Now there's an idea, Janet!
Loved your post. Thanks for using my story and giving me a plug. Here's to getting freer as we get older!!!
Kristen is great for getting our own creative juices flowing. Your title is definitely better than hers. (:-) In fact, "writing through time" is perfect for what you do! I agree that we can't have the dream until we let go of the fear. On the other hand, I've done some fearless things that maybe were a little more like "reckless", but I don't regret any of them! Giving up all that stuff to go travel is a fantasy lots of people have but few act upon. Congrats on living the dream!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Anne. It means a lot to me since you inspire me all the time with your blog posts. I have been encouraged by your 'slow-blogging' posts and don't feel the pressure to pump out a post anymore until my writing well is filled.
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