Escape Bound

Today, I received the final chapter comments from a developmental editor for my book, Escape Bound. In his final commentary, this editor, who has a PhD in literature and has spent 18 years working as a professional writer for a research institute, made the following observations: 

• The trip’s episodic nature takes over the narrative
• The themes are there, but they need to be strengthened 
• The narrative doesn’t currently have a real conclusion

His critique helped to crystalize a thought, which had been tugging at my mental sleeve over and over as I read through his astute commentary: 

I am being guarded. I am hiding my pain. My failure to clearly identify and face this hidden pain is preventing a good story from being a great book.

Through the editing process, my editor helped me identify that hidden pain. Somewhere along the way, in the course of 23 years of marriage, I lost my power. Like many women, I labeled my husband as controlling. But nobody can take our power from us. I lost my power for one reason and one reason alone: I gave it away. 

I looked to another human being for validation, rather than relying on my higher self for validation. In an effort to please others, I failed to attend to my own precious soul agreements. I failed to take responsibility for my own life. 

Not only did I fail to take responsibility for my own life, I allowed others to define what it means to be responsible. 

Escape Bound is a story about a road trip. But more than a journey of miles, the story is a journey of the heart, where I came to define responsibility on my own terms. 

For me, being responsible is NOT:

• Having a specific amount of money in the bank
• Living in a spotless home with matching placemats, napkins and dinnerware
• Knowing what type of perfume and make-up to wear
• Writing business plans and developing social media platforms
• Checking to-do’s off a to-do list.
• Saying “yes” to every single thing my loved ones request of me
• Making parenting decisions based on public opinion

For me, being responsible IS:

• Attending to my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs
• Offering love to others from my place of power, not a place of lack and limitation
• Teaching my kids to listen to their own inner guidance, and having the courage to trust the Universe is guiding them from a place of love
• Relentlessly and passionately blazing new trails in the expansion of human consciousness
• Exploring what it means to embody the divine, in this physical form
• Listening to God and following intuition, wherever it leads, no matter how crazy the journey gets

Interestingly, this is the first time I’ve actually bonded with my book. It feels like something living, a friend or kindred spirit, something vibrant and capable of inspiring cogent expression.

Am I excited to get down to the business of rewriting it? Not yet. But I’m getting there.

Am I excited at what the future holds once this powerful work is released? You bet. 

I’ve been writing this book for over a year. The end is in sight. According to my editor, (shout out to Decillis on Fiverr) it’s probably not as far away as it feels. 

Thank you to those who have supported me on this journey. And thanks to the One who continues to provide insight, wisdom and guidance.