My “Parts” really wanted to write this book – my young “little girl” who felt pushed down by me and all my other creative and intuitive ones wanted their stories to come out too. I was inspired by the energy I felt inside that was bursting forth in my writing of these important moments of my midlife when I came alive after deep struggles. That was the parts coming forward to be witnessed! I didn’t have a plan until I found a memoir class and learned about memoir writing. I really wanted to write a guidebook for midlife but my parts really wanted a deeply personal truth-telling. I was in conflict inside all the way to the end, but ultimately this book was a powerful step in healing my relationship with my Mom and that was enough.
Yes, and no. I referred to them early on, but as I continued the writing process key scenes just appeared from inside of me and I wrote them from memory with some elaboration and interpretation added. Later, as I was in the editing stage, I did go back and refer to my journals to be sure I was remembering dates and scenes sequentially, but choosing what to share was guided totally from my compassionate Self or Leader of my Parts (as we call it in IFS).
I schedule 2 mornings a week first thing into my calendar to keep the creative juices flowing, but when I feel creative and open or ideas are flowing, I also switch my schedule and try to sit down right then to catch that flow. So I guess that’s when inspiration hits?
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What I enjoy most is how fulfilling and juicy it feels when I am in the flow and creativity is coming together into a piece. This isn’t happening every time I write, obviously, so the times that feel like a struggle are when I’m trying to get myself back to that juiciness. And then, I realize trying isn’t what I need to do – so I am working more at allowing the process to be whatever it is. That’s working better.
“Then, as if inspired by all those sensations and feelings and the freed turtles showing their spirit, I began to leap over the waves coming in, and I leaped like a beautiful Lipizzaner horse, my right foot soaring up and over the waves that were sparkling and catching the moonlight. The ball of my foot touched down first, and then my heel came down, kissing the sand as it landed. I felt tingling in my belly–an excitement about who I was becoming. I was freeing my spirit so it could soar." - Chapter 13 - pg. 153-4.
That was it. My body had given me an answer. I was free to decide my fate. I was capable of making myself happy, living my dreams, and moving on from a marriage that had once been successful but was now stuck and dysfunctional–-a marriage that did not make me feel respected and loved. I needed to continue being loving of who I was and who I was becoming so I could live my strength and my wisdom.” (this scene is depicted on the cover picture)
Very interesting
ReplyDeleteI always find new author interviews interesting! They are inspiring.
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