writing

End of an Era

Posted by Barbara Techel

Striving – Eventually the individual ego’s drive to “make things happen” falls away, replaced with a relaxed, trusting openness to answers as they arise. Thank you, Divine, for letting me move with the Flow!” The Wild Offering Oracle by Tosha Silver

This keyboard. It has seen me through the writing of two children’s books, three memoirs, countless blog posts, and the creation of an oracle deck. Plus just the general administration tasks of one’s life. 

As I cleared the clutter and organized Joyful Pause Cottage studio last week, I realized it was time to say goodbye to my keyboard. Many of the letters are worn away. The “foot” on the right side that helps to prop it up had broken about a year ago and a box was placed underneath to help keep it in place.

I’d wondered why I put up with the fact that it often caused me a bit of angst when I’d have to yet again adjust the box after the keyboard fell off it. Those little annoying things can eat away at our energy.

And just like that. It was time. Time to bid it farewell. While I’m typing this one last blog post on it, the new one will arrive today.

With that came all these emotions of what this keyboard has seen me through!

Yesterday in the monthly animal wisdom oracle reading I recorded for Youtube, I shared how I’m in this space of no new projects on my plate as we move into 2023. For about the last 15 years I was either in the middle of finishing a book or beginning one and the same with my oracle deck project I’d been working on the last two years.

But nothing has surfaced into my mind’s eye of what it is I may want to create next.

It feels odd, yet nice, though at moments, uncomfortable. Shouldn’t I be doing something?

Diann, a reader of my blog left this comment on Youtube: “I too for the first time since I can remember am in the same place and I am working through all the feelings around that. I many times instinctually feel like I should jump into something and then get this friendly intuitive reminder to just be…and be ok with just being for right now. This is so foreign to me but I am trying to remain mindful to be patient as I await what is to come next. Very vulnerable place!!” 

She hit the nail on the head by sharing how it is a vulnerable place. Because our culture places so much attention and almost a stamp of honor when one is busy and striving. But this vulnerable space is also an invitation to be with all those uncomfortable feelings because as I’ve experienced time and time again when one comes out the other side, you see and understand the growth in learning to just be in those feelings.

And while I, or Diann, or perhaps you too, may not have a new project on our plates, perhaps this is the project – of allowing this wide open space and just being in it.

It was after I’d read Diann’s comment that I pulled a card from The Wild Offering Oracle. This is a deck I keep on my table in my bathroom and pull a card for the week. I’d realized I’d not done that since about a month ago when I’d pulled the last card.

How perfectly the card pulled with just the right message which I shared above. A stamp of confirmation to let the ego’s drive fall to the side and in its place, a more relaxed and trusting openness to come in. Not something many of us are used to.

But a call to just take it for a test drive and see what comes of it. As I’m learning to once again be with at this time. And as I say goodbye to an end of an era with my worn-out keyboard and await the new one to arrive…and the possibilities of what may come.

XO

Barb

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Interview with Author Lori Helke Inside Her Vintage Writing Retreat Camper

Posted by Barbara Techel

As promised earlier this week, here is the inspiring and uplifting interview to share with you with my friend and new author, Lori Helke.

The interview took place inside Lori’s Paris themed vintage camper named Beatrice (see photos of the inside below!). We discuss Lori’s love of travel and how it fulfills a special space in her heart, overcoming fear, the inner journey, mid-life, the power of an oracle reading, and her children’s book (about Beatrice!), plus a sneak peek at what she is working on writing next.

Lori now invites you inside for a tour of Beatrice!…

Lori’s sweet pup, Zoe loves to hang out in Beatrice. This table is headquarters for Lori’s writing projects and her blog on travel.
Folds down into a bed

And heeeeeeeeeere’s Beatrice with her own children’s book, the first in a series, written by Lori!

I smiled the whole way through reading this sweet book! It’s endearing, touching, funny, and heartwarming.

About Lori Helke:

Lori is an Author/Travel Writer from Wisconsin whose mission it is to inspire women to conquer their fears through travel. She just published her first children’s book Beatrice The Little Camper Gets Rescued about her little vintage camper named Beatrice and is looking forward to writing a whole series based on Beatrice’s adventures. Currently, along with writing about her travels on her blog, she has begun writing a memoir based on her first trip to Paris and how it changed her life. Learn more about Lori at:

www.lorilovesparis.com and/or www.lorihelke.com

Thank you so much, Lori, for spending time talking with me inside your adorable, sweet, special space! I’m so happy for you and enjoy watching you continue to follow your heart!

XO,

Barbara

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I Burned My Manuscript

Posted by Barbara Techel

Truth be told. I’ve had a few moments since Gidget has been gone that I have wondered what is even the point of completing my book – my third memoir.

An edited paper version of it that I marked up in red ink, and before feedback from my beta readers, has sat on my desk for a few months now. Yesterday I looked at it and wondered why I kept it. 

This morning, after my yoga practice and journaling with the SoulCollage® card I made in honor of Gidget (which I’ll share in a future post), I felt called to burn the manuscript. 

I placed it in the chiminea that sits on our deck. It has held a fire most weekend nights and often entices deep conversation and contemplation. Tearing the sections of the manuscript in half, and then half again, I threw them into the chiminea, doused it with lighter fluid, and threw in a match.

It was cathartic to watch it go up in flames. A ritual of letting go of how the manuscript began – painstakingly at times and then the last six months it flowed with much more ease.

Before Gidget left, the draft I was currently working on was close to being polished with feedback integrated from the beta readers and then it would be off to the editor.

But it all stopped when Gidget died. I couldn’t bring myself to open the unfinished document on my computer. Though it was only about a week after Gidget left that I knew there would be an afterword for my book. But I’ve had to just sit with the many thoughts of how I will write it.

I will complete the book. And yesterday, I began where I left off with the chapter on a dream I had that was pivotal to my healing last year.

All of how this has unfolded has been the process that has been meant to be for me. There is no right or wrong way to write a book. This has been a valuable teaching for me over the years since I began writing here on my blog and the books I’ve published. 

I’m much more interested these days in listening to my inner voice and letting go of how other’s say we “should” write. I want to continue to follow my flow of energy, honor it and trust that all is happening in just the right time.

Just as I sat down to write this post an email came into my inbox from a woman I recently gifted my first two memoirs. What a beautiful confirmation:

I honor and bless the little girl in you who has chosen in this lifetime to do so much healing. I sense you are healing from many past lives. Stand tall in your newborn knowledge of who you are. You are so needed to share your light with all whom you touch.

Your books are beautiful. Your gentle heart comes shining through. I wish you peace in your healing process.

There is so much amazing support that the universe offers us when we stay open to the possibilities.

And with that, I’m signing off to update the next chapter of my book, I’m Fine Just the Way I Am…

XO,

Barbara

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