"Bird by Bird"

Sorry for the extra long hiatus. I was swept away by the daily grind and then got stuck in quite a rut. Every day for the last two weeks I thought about writing in a blog post and every day, decided not to, or at the very least by the time I seriously considered it, it felt much too late to be staring at a computer screen. Now I've got a new cold and have been downing Kombucha and green tea and in the last 24 hours I've added NyQuil and DayQuil. I'm doing everything I can to kick it so I can survive the 7 AM eight hour shift tomorrow.
Anyway, I've started reading a book called Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and she has some great insight about writing. It's a huge relief to know and to be reminded that writers known and unknown struggle through painfully terrible first drafts. Another piece of advice I really appreciate is when she compares writing to driving in the dark with your headlights on. Despite only seeing 20 to 30 feet ahead of you at any given time, you can still make it to your destination. This gives me some hope for if and when I try my hand at writing a novel but I'm going to start with the story I lived through before delving into a new fantasy world. She also recommends writing at the same time each day so that your mind might begin to be prepared for the hour or so of creativity.
A few weeks ago, I had written up a post but it got deleted before I could upload it. I'm mentioning it because the message in it is worth sharing. At this Chapel that I mention from time to time, they often talk about how we are all already perfect, whole and complete. Ever since I completed the trail, I have been more and more accepting of that truth. Many of the lessons at this chapel can only be learned incrementally and I would have been unable to see them for what they are without having first completed the trail. Of course, believing in souls and reincarnation also helps me avoid the possible cognitive dissonance. Anyway, I had written that all of the turmoil I have gone through in this lifetime haven't been disproving the idea that we are perfect, whole and complete, they've been proving it. I've always searched for things to be happy about knowing that even when circumstances aren't favorable, there might be something coming tomorrow that will make me smile and maybe even laugh. Our hardships aren't meant to break us down, we get to choose how they mold us, whether we'll make something exquisite or be whittled down to nothing. I see life as a riddle of a kind; this sounds like a non-sequitur but hang in there. We can often use our past experiences to direct us toward a path we're passionate about.
Be that as it may, a whole lot depends upon how connected we are to our higher selves or our spiritual being. We all have the human propensity to follow all the life advice our egos have to offer without considering either the source or the repercussions. And since the ego has such a strong hold over our thoughts, our spiritual side can almost never get a word in. How many times do we ignore our intuition and have it bite us? Our souls are perfect, whole and complete and the more we try to connect with them, the smoother this ride will be and the happier we'll be. If you are already doing something you're passionate about, chances are you've been listening to what your soul has to say; be sure to keep it up.