You’re totally fine to post this here, Elaine! 🙂 And you’re on a key point with the observation that we need to be careful about what we wish for – particularly when we write it down. Our words have incredible creative power, as you’ve experienced in both the positive and negative sense. Me, too!

I had quite a shock the other day. I have been drafting a book with the intention of showing the correlation between my emotional state and the events in my life some of which have been amazing. I started something similar some years ago without finishing it as because I’m not mega ‘successful’ I didn’t think I had anything valid to say and I am now 59. However, my approach currently is just to relate what has happened at various times and let people decide for themselves whether it is coincidence or some universal law.

One amazing thing was, back in 2000 I created a ‘wish box’. In it I wrote I wanted a partner like my first boyfriend Nigel (who I had had no contact with for 28 years) and that eventually I wanted to retire in the Scottish Highlands (we lived in the south east of England – 600 miles from Scotland). There were other things too but they would take longer to relate here and were the things that I was actually more focused on – I didn’t actually think much about Nigel or Scotland at all after I put them in my box but during this period (2001-early 2002) I was happy, meditating, with no real worries everyday. BUT! In May 2002 Nigel contacted me via the ‘Friends Reunited’ website, and he was already in the Scottish Highlands. In October 2003 we were married and I moved to the Highlands.

Last week, as a result of starting to write my book, I re-read what I had written in 2006. Over the last 10 years, I have not been so very happy and things have slowly gone downhill. However the shock came last week when I read an exercise I had done back in 2006 where I described my day from hell. I realised I was living this day almost exactly as written, even down to being in an office with no view – I work in a room where the window is only three feet from the next building’s wall!

I could go on with all sorts of other things, but what this has all brought home to me that happiness is key, go with the flow don’t try to force it, that we go through life creating on default if we aren’t careful.

Also don’t write things down unless it’s what you really want – the universe really doesn’t seem to know the difference!

Wow…thank you so much, Richard. This is truly high praise, and hopefully Mr. Twain isn’t spinning in his grave at the thought of you mentioning my name and his in the same sentence…lol! But I will do my best to live up to the standards of the one you were kind enough to compare me to. 🙂

It’s a brave thing to embrace your creative gifts at ANY age, and sadly many people don’t ever do it. But even if most of your life was spent running from the Muse, you are more than making up for any lost time. I was honored to edit “Donavan & Jude” (a great love story…full of passion and adventure), and would be more than happy to work with you on your next novel…and the next! 🙂

Nothing worse than reading something by someone who somehow got published who thinks they are Mark Twain and failed miserably.

Okay. Here’s your stroke. You are on the same level as America’s beloved author. All you need is some paddle wheel experience on the Mississippi.

For anyone who may read this, Mary recently did an edit job on my third novel. I’ll soon be asking her to do the same on my fourth. Here’s the interesting point I make. I spent a long life (not saying how many years) avoiding what I love, writing. At a very old age ( not saying how old) and with a multitude of health problems( not saying what they are) I dove into the world of writing fiction.

At a very old age (again, none of your business how old) I am having the time of my life. And believe me, I come close to saying,” I’ve done it all.”

Thank you Mary Hughes for stroking my ego!

Thank you so much for the kind and wise words, Mary. It’s so true that everything can be appreciated as a learning experience, whether we succeed or supposedly fail. It’s taken me a long, long time to finally take that leap of faith and follow my dreams. But I’m so glad I did…it’s turned my entire world around. 🙂

So happy you liked the post, Zara! And you’re so right…one step at a time is all we can do. 🙂 And speaking of steps, you’ve taken quite a few of them over the past year! You’re out there in the world with your first book in a series, and I for one can’t wait for the rest of them. 🙂 Congrats, and keep on going!