There are times in life when change seems inevitable, when the crossroads is reached and all around is stillness and the weighty feeling of inevitability. What to do when there are big decisions to be made, when life is changing, when everything feels a bit shaky?
My natural inclination, I have to admit, is to hide away in things that help me escape: video games and good books and scrolling the socials. But reality doesn’t change—it simply waits. I’ve learned this many times.
Perhaps, the best thing to do at the crossroads is to sit and open my eyes, and instead of trying to escape or numb or forget, enter into a space of intense awareness. To really see what’s around me, the good and the bad. To look at the various roads ahead. To imagine the good and wonderful things that change can bring.
That’s where I am this week. At the crossroads. Where are you?
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Here are a few things for your weekend:
- Only one week left to sign up for our course, The Nine Month Novel! If you’ve ever wanted to write a novel, or if you already have but want to try writing in the confines of a gentle and encouraging community, you can get all the details about the course HERE.
- “I’ve chosen this so the light will be burdened with the / fragile and enduring scent of the terrible and the beautiful.” This poem by John Blase is a must-read.
- “I think this is how it is - this remembering and forgetting and the learning to keep watch for the small sparks of recognition that awaken us to what has always and will always be true.”
- “Is There Value in Our Secret Work?”
- Don’t forget: grab this book before Lent begins…preferably from an indie bookstore!
- “Friends, I am being completely honest when I say that this practice changed my life.”
Finally, on Fridays everyone has access to my Video of a Novel post. If you’d like to keep up with all of these short, daily videos, click the Subscribe button below and choose a paying subscription.
It's actually really refreshing to hear that you struggle with sometimes finding time to focus on your story. I know all the writing advice out there says that consistency is important, and I don't disagree, but I've got an 18-month-old and a 4-year-old keeping me busy these days. We don't have the same day twice. :) Ideally, I'd carve out time every morning to get some words in before work, but that's impossible in this season. Eventually, maybe. Getting a glimpse into your scheduling challenges has actually been really encouraging. I'm reminded that it's okay that I'm not hammering out 1,500 words every morning before the kids wake up and that it's okay that my writing often comes in spurts. Even Shawn struggles with this, and look--he's written a ton of books! There's hope!