Walk on the Edge of Wild

My new book, A Life Without Limits (Your guide to a life of Freedom), is dedicated to my father - who, to me, even though he was an elegant man, always walked on the edge of wild. Which got me thinking just what walking on the edge of wild means:

Push Boundaries

Accept no man's opinion other than your own

Do it your way - on your terms

Never give up

Comfort is not as important as discovery

Weave your own moral fabric

Let others be who they will be

Turn toward the unknown to find your juice

Find the edge of your wild and go there today.

I Intend to Do Whatever it Takes....to Do Nothing

Illustration by Zan Packard from the book A Life Without Limits

I’ve been feeling a bit guilty the last few days. I intentionally set aside some time to not focus on work and go play. To just live in the moment and go where spirit takes me. The trouble is, my spirit just wants to stay in bed and read (and of course journal)….I feel like I’m not doing what I should be doing.

Yep – it seems that I have a case of the dreaded ‘Shoulds’ again.

But I’m an introvert – ya’ll know that right? I’ve had to have a strong talking to myself this morning. “It’s O.K. to do nothing….as a matter of fact, it’s necessary at times”. I’ve been whining to a few friends about my guilt and here are two great sentiments that I know to be true:

1)     I’m not on vacation – San Francisco will be here when I come out of my cave.

2)   The older the battery the shorter the time in between recharges (take away what you will from that one lol).

So I am now redoing my intentions because as is so often my habit, I wasn’t clear the first time around.

I intend to do what ever it takes to spend some time with myself and do whatever I feel needs to be done, at the moment, to recharge my emotional batteries. I will let go of preconceived notions about how to spend some time off and allow my Inner Source to take the lead.

At that is the end of that – for now………

DON'T PLAN

Illustration by Zan Packard from the book A Life Without Limits

I've just spent the last 6 months in complete and total planning mode. Had to. First there was the eBook to complete by January 25th of this year. Then there was the move to San Francisco - that took a lot of planning to pull it off. Then, of course, I had to find a place to live. During the moving out of the old and moving into the new there was also some serious writing happening. Turning my eBook into an expanded printed edition took planning - more than I ever realized was involved.

But here I am, waiting for my first proof copy of the book to arrive..... excitedly, anxiously, crazy happy. There will be a ton of planning to market it too...but for now I have a few weeks reprieve and I plan to not plan.

I want my spirit take me when and where it seems fun and adventurous. I'd almost forgotten how adventurous I had become while I was locked inside my office day and  night plugging away at the key board. I'm free now; even if for a short while, but I'm off to find fun and excitement in the streets of San Francisco.

LOVE

Illustration by Zan Packard from the book A Life Without Limits

Love is full and good and kind.

Embrace your feelings –

It’s how you know you're alive.

Fillmore Street - All Things San Francisco Part 2

Sidewalk Sale on Fillmore Street, San Francisco

Fillmore Street caught my eye several months ago on a recon visit to San Francisco. The locals referred to it as Lower Pac Heights. It immediately made me feel like I was in the Village in New York. So needless to say it didn’t take much for me to go exploring there this weekend with unlimited time.

‘Unlimited time’ in San Francisco is my code for taking the Muni – no meters to worry about, no extra minutes that will cost you an additional $10….just time to fritter because the next bus is always 7 minutes away.

One of many trios and quartets along the sidewalk stores.

When I stepped onto Fillmore I was greeted by a jazz trio playing on the sidewalk – but I could hear another group a little further up….now this is the way to wander the streets!! It turned out that last Saturday was the merchant’s Sidewalk Sale and the retailers made sure to welcome and amaze you. 

What better way to say come join the fun?

Each lamp post had balloons of my favorite colors – the music was energizing and the shops? Oh the shops.

Do Something Creative Every Day

There were shops that invited you to hum to your own inner muse on every block. There were shops that did the creating for you - all you had to do was plunk down your wallet (or pink slip to your late model BMW). And cozy cafes and coffee shops were sprinkled along both sides of the sidewalks.

Pillow to capture your imagination.

This is just a small part of what I love about San Francisco – the creativeness at every turn. But I also love the history of this place….just look at the mass of lines on this intersection – for those of you that aren’t familiar with this sight, it’s the lines for the trolley buses – pretty energy efficient…certainly clean and odor free. That’s not something you find just anywhere – that is San Francisco pure and simple.

Overhead lines for the trolley buses

I do love exploring all the nooks and crannies of stores – where things are so artfully displayed…

Paper for any project - or just to look at

and Fillmore Street didn’t disappoint. I’m not sure who can afford to shop there, but looking is free and the smiles and openness of the community were in full force. 

Notable happenings in the summertime

I’m told that the Jazz Festival on the 4^th of July along Fillmore Street is not to be missed – but I suspect as I learn more about my City by the Bay I will have to choose which amazing venue I will attend – but with the Muni? I may hit them all….just pray for a clear night (this IS San Francisco, after all.)

Couldn't have said it better myself!!

A Day in the Life of a Writer...

I am busily and happily working away on the 2^nd edition of my current book A Life Without Limits – this edition will have so much MORE added to it and I am really loving how it is coming together (and a new title too, I think).

A while back a friend of mine, Creatively Fit Coach™ at MelissaAnneColors.com inspired me to begin to doodle and sketch everyday to switch up my creative juices. This tugged at my heart because it was something that I used to love to do as a child, but haven’t done since, and oh, what a difference this has made in my life-of-writing.

It all started with this one - and took on a life of its own.

While writing is my passion – I’m now really getting into illustrating my work as well…the book is turning out to be a fun, inspirational, how-to guide to getting the most out of your life: To finding the joy and adventure in everything you do.

It still takes the reader from being stuck, to finding out what matters most; and holds your hand as you design and step into a new world of your choosing. And most importantly, it’s FUN. Fun to read, fun to do the activities, and fun to look at. I am excited beyond belief. And I’m almost done (in book years that means only a few more months of labor until I give birth).

See how fun this is?

And here’s some insight into the life of an author: it never fails that the next book comes to you in the middle of the book you’re currently working on. AND it feels much more exciting than the pages you’re knee deep in. The trick is to hold space for it while you finish your current brainchild – after all, it was once the most exciting thing you could imagine so you mustn’t leave it behind!!

And true to prediction – my next, next book is born in my mind….God love this process, but it’s exhausting too. So I write. Everyday I write. And now I draw everyday…. I can’t stop that any more than I can stop thinking. I used to wake up with a sentence or phrase in my mind and reach for my journal, now I wake up with an image and a sentence that goes with it and automatically reach for my sketchbook.

Just as my book suggests, writing is a way to go deeper into your Inner Source and I am truly getting very well acquainted with mine…she is fun, she is joy and she is love – and she is all about adventure. I am also incorporating drawing into my journey – and wow what an excursion this is turning out to be.

These 3 books are burning a spot in my heart and they are truly my joy and passion….but really, muse, can I keep it at three? At least until the 2^nd edition goes into print? Pretty Please?

Some Days You Just Can't Help Feeling Like This

Illustration by Zan Packard from the book A Life Without Limits