Behind the Scenes
The Chaos and Charm of Writing “Magic in the Mess”
Good morning from the heart of my creative sanctuary! Today, my thoughts drift to sunny Santa Monica, where I once soaked in lessons on Spiritual Psychology under the guidance of Ron Hulnick at the University of Santa Monica. This morning’s reflections are tinged with concern, as I learned Ron recently suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, he’s now resting at home, surrounded by love, healers, and his ever-watchful cat.
One invaluable lesson Ron taught me rings loudly today: “Get your butt in the chair.” It sounds simple, yet it’s profound. As I sit here, attempting to wrap up my latest memoir, “Magic in the Mess,” I realize how often my chair has been empty lately. Why? Well, fear of finishing, fear of the book launch, you name it.
Instead of facing the blank page, I find myself orchestrating distractions. Last night, instead of tackling social media tasks, I found myself deep-cleaning our hot tub and cold plunge—both sparkle now, but my manuscript? Not so much. It seems I’d do anything to avoid sitting down to write.
Acknowledging this avoidance is step one—the first law of spirit Ron often spoke about. Awareness. I’m acutely aware that I opt for control and organization when I’m at my most vulnerable. It’s easier to convince myself that the dishwasher or laundry demands urgent attention than to face the potential of not being good enough.
But here’s the deal: I’m ready to come back home. I’m ready to face the fears and dive into the hard parts of publishing and putting myself out there. I’m ready to be in the conversation, to share my love and light, despite the high personal cost.
To help tether myself to my writing chair, I’ve embraced a few strategies:
- Scheduled Writing Time: Planning my week in advance, including when I’ll write, helps immensely. If the decision is made beforehand, it’s easier to just sit down and start.
- Sticker Charts: They’re not just for kids! Marking off a sticker after completing a writing session offers a tangible sense of accomplishment.
- Habit Trackers: These are fantastic for visualizing progress and maintaining consistency in my writing practice.
How do you write a book? One word at a time. And each word requires time in that chair, confronting every part of myself—fears, flaws, and all.
So here’s to more days in the chair, more magic on the page, and more adventures in sharing the mess and the magic of real life. Let’s embrace the chaos and charm of creation together.
