How do you wait for what you want in life? Are you a foot-tapper, restless and sleepless until your desires come to be? Do you stir your coffee into swirls in attempt to concoct Plan B? Or do you submit to the waiting, unmovable to pursue a pastime in the delay? How do you wait for something important to happen?
I must be subconsciously thinking about this topic, because every verse or quote I’ve come across recently has been something to this effect:
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. ~Sharon Begley
He makes everything beautiful in its time. ~Ecclesiastes 3:11
Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on what we’re waiting for… ~Charles Stanley
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not be faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31
Although, then we hear… We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell
And finally, there’s Lemony Snicket… If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives. So how long is long enough to wait for something we care about?
If you’re hoping I have an answer to this life question; I don’t. But I can offer a few insights. For me, and I say this hopefully as I’m only human, I have to find the glow seeping in from behind the gray cloud. The birdsong amid a downpour. The expectant child sporting new rain boots in sodden grass… alone at the vacant park. If I can find a bit of glimmer while I’m waiting, then I feel like something is happening. Things are moving in the right direction.
One thing I know for sure… you have to look for it. Certainly, if you’re waiting for that spark of hope to bite you from behind, you’ll be waiting a long time. I think that’s why we’re told to wait expectantly. There are verses and quotes galore on this aspect of waiting. Positive life coaches will tell you the same thing. Wait… expecting the right, good, and positive outcome will happen.
Put on your rose-tinted glasses, folks. And I’m not talking about thinking positive (although we all know that works, even if we hate the truth in it). I’m talking about seeking out the positive outcome you are striving for. Work earnestly toward it, awaiting its absolute reality in your life.
Here’s part two: Find joy in your waiting. Yes, you heard that right. Some how we must look for the smaller good things in our lives as we await our desired outcome. I don’t believe this is settling. I believe this is living each day for the gift that it is, plain and simple. Think of the knowledge we can consume each day (and I must trust that we’ll need for the day of our dreams). Think of the message we can better deliver to those behind us when we arrive.
Go ahead, tap your foot and stir your coffee. Or just sit for a while if you need. But, look for something in each day that you are happy you’ve already received or achieved. Don’t underestimate the power in celebrating each and every small step. My guess is they will carry you to what you’re working toward.
And, what else are you going to do in the meantime?
Writing Advice: Permission to Re-Write
As I earnestly seek and await my desired outcome, I realize I have things to learn and apply along the way. I’ve only sent my completed manuscript out to a handful agencies, you might even say a child-sized hand at that, and I’ve received no bites. Depression time? Well, perhaps for a minute. But then I would have to eat my own words, (peek back at any other post I’ve ever written – damn my positive outlook) wouldn’t I? After thinking on it, praying about it, looking for signs in the sun gleams through my window, I’ve decided there’s no harm creating a different version of my story while I wait… grow… and develop myself as a writer.
I learn new techniques about the craft of writing every day. Unfortunately, I had already completed most of my novel before I learned the bulk of them. I truly love my story, and I’m not ready to abandon it yet. I believe it has potential. I’m just going to save a new version of it and rip it a new one! I’m going to give myself permission to reconstruct it. I have some ideas about starting my story at a different place and changing where everything begins. I think it may provide the edge I need to pull in the reader. I’m also going to experiment with my characters’ story arcs. As well, I’m giving myself approval to make this a fun journey of exploration. Why not enjoy myself along the way?
I’ve read other authors go through re-writes. And if I’m considering myself the author I believe I want to be, then I owe it to myself to persevere through… to see this project to the end. And if the end is that I abandon it and start something new, then so be it. But not yet.
I’m going to attempt to use Scrivener for my re-write. If any followers out there have advice on that, let me know. I used it before my old computer crashed but haven’t tried since. I even took a class on it at the PNWA Writer’s Conference last summer, though just haven’t returned to it. Time to try again. I know it will help in the reorganization of scenes I wish to track.
Good luck to any re-writers out there, although if you read my last post, you know you have some control in bringing good luck your way. I am still taking the 30-day challenge for that one. In addition, I am diving into this new attempt at my own re-write with gusto… coffee… and some hopeful waiting.
Image Links:
http://blog.furnishmyway.com/cat-lady-lifestyle/ (cat with rosy glasses)
revivingfaith.wordpress.com (waiting)
https://egouvernaire.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/the-essence-of-writing-is-rewriting/ (rewrite)
Categories: Thoughts on writing...
Tags: Accomplishments, authors, books, celebrations, encouragement, goals, inspiration, inspirations, luck, motivation, poems, publishing, To-Do, writers, writing, writing advice, writing tips
Steps In Between 
I am waiting right now… waiting for a letter from someone, waiting to hear back about a job, waiting to hear back about this contest and that contest, waiting for the motivation to lose thirty pounds, to clean the house, to get organized, waiting for time alone to record my radio show, waiting for time to write poems and stories and work on my book. I hope that I am waiting expectantly and not impatiently. Thank you.
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I feel ya! I keep wondering why I’m prompted to write and do so many things when there’s clearly not enough time in the day (or even a lifetime) to accomplish it all. I’m really working on trying to simplify. I swear I write these posts to convince myself. It’s pushing my vow to live intentionally to the test.
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