March began with sub-zero temps here in Wisconsin. The bird feeder hanging outside my writing cottage window awaits refilling.  In just two days the birds emptied it with gusto in an effort to stay warm.
 
But the promise of spring is right around the corner.  I hear the drip, drip, drip of melting icicles and snow, the chattering of many birds, and feel the warmth of the sun streaming in through the windows.

I now have a subtitle for my upcoming book! The title as a reminder is, I’m fine Just the Way I Am,” and the subtitle: Healing Emotional Pain through the Wisdom of Animals and Oracles.
 
As I approached the last chapter of the second draft two weeks ago I thought I’d have it complete by the end of the month.

But life had other plans.
 
In the span of two days, I had a family emergency, then learned of a dear friend’s passing which I posted a tribute to her here, and my dog, Gidget required a visit to the vet for a bladder infection.

This had me on the brink of spiraling down the proverbial rabbit hole.
 
Writing this book has been emotional at times, and with recent life events, I realized I was caught in the perpetual fight/flight mode, and turning toward things that weren’t supporting me, but only can keeping me in a scarcity and fearful state.
 
Fortunately, I surround myself with like-minded mentors, and practices that help ground me.

It was the honest sharing in a newsletter I subscribe to from writer and writing coach, Cynthia Morris, who shared her recent fall down the rabbit hole that stopped me from completely getting sucked into the same vortex.
 
I’m also much more aware of my energy these days. So sooner rather than later, I recognized I was being invited to yet again trust in the flow of life, instead of pushing against it, or getting swallowed up by it.
 
My manuscript could wait. It was more important that I spend time tending to my hurting heart, finding my footing again, and incorporating self-care.
 
The truth is that when I’m in a place of emotional pain, such as the loss of my dear friend, and the unexpected family emergency and feeling helpless for a loved one in pain, it’s not easy to just jump right back into my writing. I have to first be with, and process my emotions.

But I didn’t always do this. Instead I’d often just power through because as a society we don’t always value the importance of being with our feelings and taking a time out.
 
Guilt also tried to rear its ugly head trying to scold me that it was bad I wasn’t working on my book, that I didn’t meet my deadline for getting this post up, and that I also didn’t get my monthly animal message recorded by March 1st (though it’s available now and you can listen here).
 
But I had to be with that space of not wanting to really do anything and just be with what I was feeling. I couldn’t push it, while at the same time, trusted that I’d be back to my writing when I was ready.
 
Something I’ve come to understand more and more is how important our emotional state is. While I do my best to eat healthy, exercise, and take supplements, the emotional component is vital to our feeling whole.

This is something I also write about in my upcoming book, and how I finally got to a point of feeling worthy and that my quality of life matters.
 
So staying in alignment with where my heart needed to be was all that mattered. Everything else needed to wait and would fall into place as it was meant to, and it did. The more I trust this, the more I experience peace.
 
And the more I’m able to share from the truth of my beliefs, the more I hope it helps those that need to hear this same message. Because it truly is a gift to give ourselves the space and love we deserve.

XO,

Barbara