I am a huge book lover. I have been since I was a kid. My mom loves to tell the story of how I dislocated my shoulder getting down from the bed because I refused to let go of my books as I held on with my other arm to the railing. Reading was and still is the great love of my life.
So, it often surprised people when I told them that I didn't keep a journal or diary. I thought it was because I was worried about other people reading it, after all, I broke into my sister's diary regularly. (sorry, Kim) I have known forever that I wanted to write a book but there was something inside me that kept saying, "if you are so opposed to writing in a journal, what makes you think you could actually write a book? I mean, all the great writers have been writing since they were little, it was their passion. Writing was their passion, not reading. You are a reader, not a writer. Probably isn't a good idea to waste your time." Wow, right? I could be so cruel to myself. Hence, the other reason why I hired a book coach (see previous post). I believed that by investing in myself I would be more inclined to follow through with publishing a book, even if it's the only book I publish. At least I could say I did it. Turns out my resistance to writing was not due to lack of desire or inability to write, it was due to limiting beliefs such as the ones above. What actually happens when writing down your most intimate thoughts is that all of these limiting beliefs (and more) rise to the surface where they must be confronted in order to continue the writing process. It is not for the faint of heart. No wonder I didn't journal. Yet, writing is the most healing thing I have done for myself. It's also been the most challenging. And also the most rewarding. I now believe that there may be more than one book in me yet. I now believe that I may in fact, be capable of authoring multiple books that could potentially one day be on a best seller list. I am now the writer that loves to read rather than the reader who longs to write.
1 Comment
Mom
1/31/2022 07:41:55 am
Who knows. Maybe your first book will become a best seller!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMelinda Lee is a mom of two adolescent boys, a devout student of all things spiritual, a recovering perfectionist, and immensely fascinated with achieving the unachievable. Currently writing a memoir about hugging strangers. Archives
February 2023
Categories |