A Burst of Light: Sunrise On My Way To Africa
“Turn the ringer off your phone. Don’t answer the doorbell. Tell your loved ones that you cannot be disturbed. If you get distracted or allow yourself to drift, you will never make it to your destination.” – Walter Mosley, “This Year You Write Your Novel.”
I’ve always loved the advice author Walter Mosley gives to aspiring writers in his book, “This Year You Write Your Novel.” I’ve never read the entire book, but I love what he says in the first chapter about dedication.
What does Mosley’s advice have to do with you or me? Everything! I believe part of each day should be dedicated to something that is sacred to you – something that’s connected to your purpose. In order for this to happen, you have to make sure that YOU are on your own agenda. You have to constantly remind yourself what YOU are about, and then you need to ensure that part of each day is dedicated to doing YOU!
Unfortunately, that’s not how many of us live. Too often, we allow ourselves to be tossed about by the demands of society or family and we forget to pay allegiance to the inner voice. That’s why when Stephanie, my wife, asked me about painting the house, I promptly said: “not today. I’ll do it on Saturday.”
See….I take the journey to the film seriously. I’ll paint the house – BUT not during hours when I’m supposed to be working on the film. I have a schedule and I stick to it. (Emergencies, of course, are an exception).
I believe we all should have a sacred routine. Learn to say NO. Learn to honor your sacred space. Make sure that that YOUR vision is part of your daily ritual. (Your family will just have to deal with it).