Everything is a double-edged sword. Both successes and failures come with a flip-side of the coin. I have had an uber-productive year and a half. I completed a novel last year and wrote two drafts of an even longer novel this year. In addition to that, I hosted three workshops, launched a site and a Patreon page, and started posting more on social media. That’s all fantastic and wonderful, but what it is not is restful. Productivity is amazing, but it does come at a cost, especially if your writing career is the plus one to your day job. Whew.

In my middle-age years, I’ve realized that I have lost the fine art of doing nothing. I don’t know what rest and relaxation are. So I’ve been spending the summer pursuing nothing time. I’ve been reading, taking my blanket to the park to lay out in the sun, taking walks, or sitting outside and people watching rather than taking my chai to go. It has been fantastic I fantasize what an artist life would be like. Where I could be on deadline and still take walks and have nothing time. Where I don’t have to cram writing in to my leisure time.

To be clear, this is not a complaint. I am honored to have connected back to my writing flow and to have used my free time to develop these novels. And when my edits come back in, I will be back on the grind. But right now, my editors not liking my second draft has been a big gift to me. I could feel horrible about it, but this pause really feels like gold. It has been DELICIOUS to press pause on the push and host my visitors, and wander the streets, and connect with friends. If there’s ever a time I needed a break, it’s right now!

As we roll into the third month of summer, I hope you are taking time to fill your well—and giving yourself the space to see challenges as gifts, and to find the silver-lining in setbacks. Ultimately, all things are what we make them. As we make sense of life’s blows, we can also embrace unexpected blessings and take the time we need to breathe!

Onward!