When the universe reminds you what really matters
The subject line of the email read: FIRE INTERRUPTION
Because I knew that the sender—the proprietor of a book marketing co-op I belong to—resides in Southwestern Canada, I instantly thought, Oh shit. Indeed, she was alerting her subscribers to a pause in programming. She and her family had been forced to evacuate their home. They’d escaped safely with a few belongings, but no one could say for how long they’d be displaced. Or if there’d be a home to return to. (Please send positive vibes, prayers, etc. to our Canadian neighbors.)
The curious thing: I was reading this not ten minutes after I’d come to the realization that I needed to take a mental chill pill around my writing goals. I’d promised myself that once I published the first book, I would find some life balance. Yet five months post-release I’m stressed out about the timeline for the second book, impatiently pushing to meet self-created deadlines that, in the scheme of things, don’t mean a hill of beans. Who cares if my book publishes in February or April? Or honestly, if it never publishes at all? It’s not like a million people are waiting with bated breath to read it. It’s a good story, one that I believe will hold meaning for some people. But it isn’t going to change the world.
This all occurred yesterday, a Tuesday. On Monday we’d returned home from a stay at a cabin we habitually retreat to in the mountains. Tomorrow, Thursday, we will fly to Chicago for a reunion trip with my college friends before heading up to Wisconsin to visit family. Our life is beautifully full. “I just wish I had one more day,” my husband had said to me the previous evening. I’d agreed… then thought, Shit, Lisa. You could have a week, a month, and would it feel like enough?
No. Because I’m one of those people who wishes she never had to sleep, didn’t have to eat, who lives to Get Things Done. But if I’m honest, I know that as long as I’m breathing, done is a temporary state. And if I stopped breathing tomorrow, what would I have regretted not doing today? It sure as hell wouldn’t be centered around finding a title for my book.
So I’ve resolved to put all that aside for a bit (or at least tuck it into a back corner of my mind). Enjoy my friends, my family, and that amazing Chicago pizza. The truth is, in publishing the first novel I’ve achieved a life dream. (As a former client and friend said to me recently, “Mission Accomplished.”) If the second book happens, kudos to me. And if something derails it along the way, so be it. I love writing. But I love the people in my life more, and when the writing takes me away from them, it shows up as anxiety, sleepless nights, and a general sense of unease—a message from the universe that my attention is not in the healthiest place it could be.
That said, I’m getting on a plane at 10 a.m. tomorrow and I have a shit ton to do! Including ordering shoes for my son’s wedding. (Importance level: High. Because it impacts him.) With so much on my To Do list, his October nuptials will be here in the blink of an eye.
WHERE TO CONNECT WITH LISA
Sat Aug 29, 1 – 4pm: The Eureka Room, 1012 N. Main Street, Cottonwood, AZ. Taste some amazing Arizona wines, learn from the amazing and talented staff, and connect with local authors! My friend Debbie Abbott will be there, and possibly another author or two. I’m super excited about this “mini bookfair/wine event”. Hoping to get a big crowd, so book your hotel room asap!
Sun Aug 30, 12-4pm: Stardust Booksellers, 915 Main Street, Clarkdale, AZ. Join me and author Debbie Abbott for a special afternoon of conversation, Q & A, and a lot of fun! If you haven’t been to Clarkdale, you are missing a little gem. Make sure to build time into your afternoon for a craft beer or seltzer at Smelter Town Brewery and/or lunch at the newly opened (and stunning) Newstand.
Sat Sep 5, 10am-3pm: Pinewood Country Club Craft Fair, 395 Pinewood Blvd, Munds Park, AZ. Do your labor day plans involve an escape to Flagstaff or nearby communities? Maybe they should! This annual event is a big hit. Debbie Abbott and I are excited to be part of it.
CALLING ALL BOOKCLUB MEMBERS! I’d love to speak with your group! Reply here, or visit my website for more info.
What I’m reading: I just finished A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Over, by Gabi Coatsworth. A charming story set in a charming New England town about a fifty-year-old widow daring to find love again. Nothing too demanding, but lots of heart and a plotline that keeps the pages turning. This is the first book in the Brentwood Novels series. I’m looking forward to meeting up with the cast of characters again in the near future!
Pair with: A charming book deserves an equally charming wine, and I found a little magic in a bottle at my local Costco, in the form of a rosé Sancerre. Wait, whaaaat? you might be saying. (I said the same thing.) But trust me on this, if you can track down a bottle, it’s delicious—apricot, lemon, a hint of toasted almond, and the teensiest bit of effervescence. Très bien!
Cheers!
Lisa
lisabinsfeld.com 