Reflections from the Joys of Plans B, C, D, E and...

Your Soul Café: Conversations that Open Hearts and Inspire Actions

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” 

~John Lennon, lyrics from"Beautiful Boy"

To coincide with the auspicious celestial events of today--the Spring Equinox and New Moon--the original Plan A meant launching my first book today!

It's aslo the birthday of William Joseph Lelash aka "Bump Bump," my maternal grandfather and first spiritual teacher. A frustrated wannabe priest, he enjoyed giving me snippets of sermons about life and happiness.

A lover of roses, he'd be celebrating his 128 turn-around-the-sun. The sight and smell of roses connects me to his presence and inspired teachings that remain lovingly tucked away in my heart.

And "my" Plan A is not happening…yet.

Instead, Writing Medicine: The Must-Have Guide to Your Hero’s Journey to Inner Healing is waiting for her reveal later this year.

The alphabet of emotions to publicly share the launch date's change ranged from anger to sadness to feeling like a failure to trusting this is all in Divine Order. Guilt and shame joinded the emotional parade for disappointing family and friends, not to mention my publisher, editors, and Beta readers.

Embracing John Lennon’s wisdom, I can now reflect with gratitude on the past 11 months to see that the beauty of Plan B, and even Plans C, D, and E unfolded perfectly imperfect.

“Book” as I affectionately call her, released a tsunami of positive energy—all while immersed in the daily writing routine often spanning four to eight hours. For awhile, the possibilities of new plans remained unknown to me while sitting hunched over a computer in the same clothes with unwashed hair and a naked face. 

Book sent out her business card, attracting new opportunities that demanded my attention, energy, and action—and she willingly agreed to wait and delay her appearance and, not forever.

Plan B: Instead of finishing Book, a panel proposal for Writing Medicine, was selected from 1,700 submissions; the selection committee BELIEVED in its healing message and notified me of their acceptance by the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP).

Affirming I'd be in Portland, I asked Michele True in April  2018 to take this photo while attending the AWP Conference, Tampa. The Law of Attraction works! 

Plan C: A week from today you’ll find me at AWP’s Annual CONFERENCE and BOOK FAIR in Portland, OR, the City of Roses. This gathering is North America’s largest literary event. Joining me are four writing sisters on the Writing Medicine panel--three of whom I’ve never met. Gratefully, they found me through the virtual ethers. They include Alexis Donkin (CA); Alicia Anabel Santos (NYC); Tawni Waters (NM) and; my writing sister and business partner, Michele True (FL).

The skyline of Portland, "City of Roses," with Mt. Hood keeping a watchful eye.

Plan D: Who knows what exciting plans might invite DIVINE ORDER in a week with the literary crush of 10,000 writers, authors, agents, publishers, and lovers of all things written?! I’m not planning anything other than serving as the panel’s moderator and a presenter. Just being me is enough to show up as an Ambassador of St. Petersburg and possibilities!

Hilltop view of Arcidosso, Tuscany, the medieval village and site of our retreat and Michele's ancestral home.

PLAN E: Finally, there’s the EAT, Pray, Write: Women’sTuscan Writing Retreat. In November 2018, Michele announced, “My husband and I are buying a house in Tuscany so I can’t be here next month (December)…and of course, we’ll have to plan a writing retreat…” 

Her thoughts became a dream, became actions, and became real. Yes...

"Thoughts are things. Make them good ones." 

~Mike Dooley

We co-created and launched the writing retreat on February 2. Thrilled, we’re delighted to announce that all 13 sacred spaces are filled with a waitlist. Plans are percolating for more retreats in 2020 to places like Bali, Costa Rica, and of course Italy. Thanks to this new awareness and appreciation, it’s exciting to know and trust that these plans, too, could change for different and better Plans F, G, H and...

Thank goodness for the 26 letters of the alphabet and the joy-full gifts from 

Plans B, C, D & E! 

Let's all remember...