Today I got back to a project I have neglected for many weeks: my book. I have not worried too much about taking a break from it. Somehow I instinctively knew I needed more time to let certain ideas stew and evolve. I managed to get the first part written fairly quickly – thoughts and ideas pouring out of me – so I haven’t felt bad letting the keyboard stay silent for a while. I wrapped up a few more unfinished chapters today and then realized my next step was to start re-reading my journal entries from this site, since much of what I am exploring in the book has been touched upon right here. That is why I re-designed my website as I was starting my book – I knew each would feed off the other and ideas would grow in ways I might not ever know if I was only writing in Microsoft Word. I am looking forward to pulling tidbits and passages from what I have written here so far this year.

Instead of feeling like I had to get back into a certain "writing mindset" or work hard to motivate myself to start again, I was instantly back in the flow of writing (and of writing this book in particular). It was as if I had never left the river but that time simply stopped, allowing me to do whatever I needed to prepare myself for the next set of rapids. I have plunged back in, and the water feels great.

I also practiced cello this afternoon and I sounded awful. I started lessons a few weeks ago – after a lifetime of never learning music – and this was my first practice where I got so frustrated I stopped. I love it, though, because I know this is normal and part of the creative process. I am going to sound bad for a looooooooooooooong time before I start actually making music, and I’m probably going to feel frustrated more than I’m going to feel bouyant as I try to master new skills and techniques. So today I got to experience the wide range of all that is possible whenever you are engaging in something creative. With my writing, I felt "in the zone" and full of light. With my cello, I pretty much sucked. That’s why I closed my windows – no need to torture myself and my neighbors.