Taking Care of Myself in the Publication Phase
Other authors have told me that writing the book is only the first part of a long equation if I want people to read it! Ahhhh! Today, I am remembering to take good care of myself regardless of the many hitches in the process of publication!
Last week I thought I was ready to sign off and go to the print phase, when I got new information about preferred book sizes, and then about needing a specific block of copy on the copyright page to tell librarians how to catalog and shelve my book. Oops! Let’s rethink the process and backfill here. Friday, I wrote to my publisher with several questions and so far, I am waiting for answers — being patiently impatient!
Arrgh! If I were a lion, I would definitely roar!
Then there are all the little technological pieces to get this website up and fully functional. Even with tech help, I am putting the pieces together step by step. I learn as I go, but at times, my frustration level and adrenaline rise!
Not to mention I am about halfway through with a next book, but it is on the back burner while I focus on publishing Nurture Yourself First for a Change.
What am I doing to stay balanced? To nurture myself?
Doing Something Different
Saturday, I attended a lecture on how to assist endangered Monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, essential food for the caterpillar stage of their life cycle. Housing developments and farming with Round Up have wiped out most of the milkweed in the Midwest corridor of the Monarch migrations from the Canadian border to Mexico City.
I visited our farmer’s market and a nursery and nurtured myself with a hibiscus, two rose bushes, a small evergreen shrub, and many herbs — stevia, oregano, lemon thyme, chives, mint, basil and more! I planted four tropical milkweeds (Monarch favorites), plan to get more varieties, and aim to turn our yard into a Monarch sanctuary. Digging and planting restores me!
Asclepias curassavica, Tropical Milkweed, favorite of the Monarchs!
Tired but happy, I flopped on the couch and joined my husband for a television binge. Although I seldom watch television, several episodes of my new favorite reruns — Blue Bloods, proved curiously satisfying. Sunday brought two inches of rain, so after church, I roasted the extra turkey stashed in our freezer since last Thanksgiving. And watched more television!
All this was in addition to my usual spiritual exercises (meditations), journal writing and a few other daily self-care rituals.
Restored and Ready to Roll Again
My lovely hibiscus!
Today, I am refreshed and ready to go again! I keep reminding myself that I do not have a hard deadline, and I do not have to rush. I have been working on this so long it would be nice to see the book in print! On the other hand, I want to get the details right, so I am willing to take more time, going step by step into my future!
I will keep you posted … with both the roars and the reminders to nurture myself! Even though we are having more thunderstorms, I’m ready to bloom like my beautiful plants!