Taking a soul retreat

It’s the first time in a long time that I’m not working on a specific project. I finished my latest editing job, and there’s nothing specific I need to be working on for my book – at least not until I get my cover. It’s a strange feeling. I don’t know what to do with myself.

This morning, I set my alarm for 6, as usual. I like getting up early before work because it allows me a pocket of “me time” between waking up and getting ready for work. Usually I spend that time editing other people’s manuscripts or working on my own WIP. But since I had no specific project, I figured I’d find something to bide my time in that early hour.

Here’s what I could have been doing in the hour and a half of extra time:

• An hour of yoga
• Prayer/meditation
• Planning my book launch
• Plotting my next book
• Re-reading my Come Here, Cupcake manuscript
• Writing my first chapter of CHC 2
• Planning this year’s NaNoWriMo story
• Reading a book for liesure
• Create marketing goals for CHC
• Write a poem
• Update my Facebook covers
• Plan out my work day

Here’s what I did:

• Perused Facebook on my phone

At least I only did that for 45 minutes. But what a waste! Now I’m making up for it through journaling. 🙂

I’m taking tomorrow off work just to have a day of rest, when I can get back to center. But if I don’t come into it with a game plan, I’m bound to spend it playing on my phone and surfing Facebook. I will come back to work unrested, and the day will have been a waste.

The biggest purpose of tomorrow is to make personal time with God through meditation and prayer. I have a particular burden in my life that I need help lifting, and I haven’t paused long enough to hear what God wants me to do with it. This time alone is also about becoming more in touch with my own soul, whether it be through writing poetry, reading a book that helps me gain perspective, writing a short story for no one’s eyes but mine…

Here’s what tomorrow is NOT about: Finishing must-do projects, editing other people’s work, stressing about my writing path, thinking about my job, guilt, perusing Facebook.

For one day, I will not be burdened with anything, if I can help it. I will not be a worker, a mother, a wife, an editor, or anything but me. I will spend time with myself and my creator, and just enjoy the miraculous beauty of life.

Tomorrow, I will pause and just be.

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Final thoughts: Sometimes we make ourselves too busy so that we can avoid our own creative endeavors or life goals. For the most part, this is because we are living in fear…fear of failure, fear of success, fear of screwing up, fear of the unknown….just plain old fear. I’m realizing that I’m slipping into this routine, making myself so busy, I “don’t have time” for my own projects. Are you doing this, too?

P.S. My friend, Molly, just started a new blog that will address getting back in touch with your spirit and doing what moves you. Check her out at her blog, As the Spirit Moves Me.