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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Day 4 of 365

Being there.

Wow, the enormity of this task just hit me like a ton of bricks.  Write a book?  In a year?  AND get it published?  While writing a blog to chronicle the journey?  Have I mentioned that I also work full time?  Oh my.

What is it about our own internal dialog that attempts to shut down every idea we ever have, burying dreams and emotion with, of all things, logic and reason.  My inner self advises “You will have more free time if you just focus on work and family.  Isn't that enough?  Besides, most books don’t even get finished, much less published, so why try?  And if you fail people will know, and you’ll have to live with that.  It’s so much safer to stay where you are in life.  Right?”

Well thank goodness my brain is not wired that way!  Living in my comfort zone in an uninspired daily routine is not compelling at all.  Been there, done that.  I am at my best when I have a goal, a big dream, something I can work towards day in and day out.  Writing this story, and getting it published, that is a dream worth pursuing. 

I will admit, there have been moments in the last few months when I have considered letting the book die. Life was getting complicated, and my emotions were just worn out.  I wanted to bury it all and move on.  But I knew the only way to transcend the moment was to get the story out of my head and onto paper, finally. 

Besides, when I am writing, I’m free.  It’s pure joy.  I’m away from all burdens, all struggle, everything that makes life complicated.  When I’m writing I get to be with Alex and Lea, during the moment when they first met, and on the day of their first electric kiss.  I get to go back in time and see the world that Leo created for Rachel, and I get to feel the depth of the love they shared.  Writing this book is absolute bliss for me.

I am also amazed how pure imagination can take you to the most incredible places, and feel the most magnificent things.  For example, I have been writing about Rachel and Leo today, and when I’m writing their story I can actually see the mountains where they live, and I can feel their emotions as they play out.  I lose myself in the moment, and sometimes I am startled when the writing stops and I realize I am in a room with 4 walls, not sitting on a mountain top embracing the beauty around me. It’s a crazy bit of fun.

Speaking of Rachel and Leo, allow me to share some paragraphs from their story.  I invite you to go to their mountain top.  See if you can feel that moment like I did.

The contrast of the deep hunter green of the chestnut trees against the brilliance of the blue sky always mesmerized Rachel.  She found herself staring out as if in a meditative trance, absorbing into her being the beauty of the trees, the mountains, and stunning horizon that seemed to stretch in every direction for eternity.  It was one of the reasons why she did most of her cooking and prep work over the kitchen sink, where she could gaze out the window and take it all in, giving her a settled, simple peace.  “You can’t get this in the city” she mused.  It was a bright, warm summer day, and every few seconds a gentle breeze would find its way through the open window.  On the breeze she could smell the recently cut hay and a hint of the horses in the pasture, all mixed with the freshness of the red peppers and scallions she was carefully slicing for dinner. 

Out of the corner of her eye she caught the other reason why she so loved to look through the window.  There, coming out of the barn, looking exhausted and at the same time somewhat pleased with all that he had accomplished, was Leo.  He wore an old pair of ripped blue jeans, a shirt that had been white earlier in the day, and his favorite pair of leather barn boots.  His dark brown hair was matted back with sweat and his deeply tanned, muscular arms were layered with dirt.  He was walking up towards the house, removing his work gloves, when he glanced up to see Rachel at the window.  He smiled, and it literally took her breath away.  They had been married for three years, and still the simple sight of him, his walk, his smile, his presence, made her heart resonate with joy and her soul fill her body with warmth.  She dried her hands so that she could meet him at the door, waiting to hear about the happenings in the barn, and ready to steal a salty kiss from his lips.

I so enjoy going there and feeling their love.  It is why I write, and why I am on this journey.  When I allow myself to be completely open to the Universe, and receptive to the energy of this world, the words flow through my fingers with minimal effort.  So despite buyer’s remorse, or temporary trepidation, I will not give up this quest.  It is far more exciting to me than “more free time”.  I get to spend time with Alex and Lea, and Rachel and Leo.  I get to relive and/or create their world.  And I love that.  I cannot wait to share more with you.

Thank you for being you, and for continuing on this journey with me.

Believe in forever.

Alex




Monday, July 29, 2013

Day 2 of 365

 

Welcome back!

I am so honored that you made the decision to read on!!  Now that you have, allow me to share with you my plan for the next 364 action packed days:

Step 1: Write a compelling blog to chronicle the process of creating "My Journey with Lea".  Why?  To keep me on track.  To push me.  To feel a sense of accountability.  You see, I have had this story in my mind and in my soul for a few years now.  It's been there, ready to go, aching to be told, but the pace of life has made it easy to say "someday I will...".  By sharing this process with all of you via a public blog, with a specific completion date in mind ***July 27, 2014***, I will stay on track and get these love stories out of my mind and on paper...finally! 

Step 2: Write the novel that fills my heart.  A tale of parallel romances, connected yet separated by several lifetimes.  Find a way to explain how love can transcend time, space, and all earthly circumstances.  Now, I need to tell you right up front that part of the story I am writing is a deep, sometimes gut wrenching love story that occurs between two women.  When I write about the day a casual glance touched my soul and changed my life forever, the inspiration in my mind is a beautiful, strong willed, kind hearted woman.  The deep brown eyes I picture when I'm writing belong to “her”, not to “him”.   If this concept is offensive to you, then maybe this blog is not where you need to be.  I have faith, however, that most people are open to the concept of true love between two people, as opposed to the all or nothing approach of “It has to be a man and a woman”.  At the end of the day you, YOU, have to be happy with who you love.  I, the writer, have had nice friendships with men AND women, and find them both quite lovely in a lot of ways.  But my heart belongs to a woman.  That’s just the way it is.

Step 3: Publish the book.  Enjoy every step of the journey.  Learn along the way and be grateful for each and every life lesson.

That's the plan!  So with that said, here is the book premise: 

“My Journey with Lea” shares with you the story of Alexandria and Lea, two women who met young and fell head over heels in love.  Their first embrace was electric.  Their first kiss was filled with more passion than either had ever experienced before, or since.  What they had was pure magic.  Yet every attempt to find their “happily ever after” was met by a world full of complications, responsibilities, and a lifetime of more twists and turns than most hearts would even try to endure.  Yet here they are, after many long years, still fighting to be together.  Will our heroines finally find peace, and will it be with each other?

 “My Journey with Lea also depicts two souls, Rachel and Leo, who met long ago and were tragically parted by an early death.  She died on him young, and it ripped him to shreds.  The heartbroken spirits spend a century trying to find each other again, unwilling to let go and move on, believing that they must reconnect in this life to spend eternity together in the next.  The two stories are interwoven throughout the book before ultimately reaching an ending that leaves you guessing right until the final few moments where the journey will lead our heroines and the forlorn angels in waiting.

That’s the novel.  This is my journey.

Moving forward I will continue to chronicle the book writing process and share excerpts from the novel itself.  This is my first attempt at professional writing, so it is very much a learn as I go experience.  It would mean a lot to me if you would walk along with me!  I hope that you will.

So until we meet again, enjoy all that you do, love with all that you are, and as always...

Believe in Forever.

Alex





Sunday, July 28, 2013

Day 1 of 365


Will you join me on this crazy journey? 

Here we go!  Day 1:
Hi!  My name is Alexandria (Alex), and I have a few simple questions for you. 

Do you believe in the concept of pure love?  You know, the type of love that captures every fiber of your being, dominates your thoughts, and sends your heart and soul to the deepest parts of the Universe?  And not just love for another, but the simple, heartfelt love for life itself?  That pure feeling of gratitude you get in the moments when life is beautiful and it all makes sense.  Have you ever felt that?

Do you believe in the power of a resolute, determined dreamer?  The person who believes that anything can be accomplished if the reason is strong enough?  The being that is willing to face, and conquer, any and all obstacles on their path to achieving their dream?

Do you believe that there is nothing on this earth more powerful that a resolute dreamer backed by the power of pure love?

If you answered yes to any one of those questions, then I would like to invite you to share this crazy, high stakes, passionate journey with me.  For you see – I believe that when you have a dream that is so dynamic, so real, and you back it with faith, love, and a determination that could set the world on fire, then you have the power to accomplish anything.  And I happen to have a dream so big that it could fill a room!

The journey that I am inviting you to share is pretty simple.  I intend to write, and publish, a book in 365 days.  Starting today.  And not just any book.  This novel has been burning inside my soul for years.  It has captured my mind and my heart almost as much as the love that it was loosely based on.  It HAS to be written, and now is the time!

So here I am, ready to pour myself into this journey, this novel, this blog.  I'm ready, and I would love to share the experience with you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my day one blog.  I hope that it resonated with you enough to want to hear more.  I also hope to see you, and a few of your friends, back here in a day or so.  Until then... 

Believe in Forever.


Alex