Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Renegade Life


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).

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=740746119303080
 

Carry on creating your book-you know, the one about your life.
 
So, how afraid are you to try new experiences?
 
 
 
 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

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

Cora said...

Thanks, JoAnne. Hugs back.

J. L. Greger said...

Thanks for explaining the evolution of your log line. Maybe it could also be the start of a novel about a writer.

Lynn Kelley said...

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!

Cora said...

Now there's an idea, Janet!

Cora said...

Loved your post. Thanks for using my story and giving me a plug. Here's to getting freer as we get older!!!

Anne R. Allen said...

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!

Cora said...

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.