Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My Maya Angelou Dance

When God passed out rhythm, I was at the end of the line. Even in my pre-teen years, enough people laughed at my attempts to dance that I hung up my dancing shoes. I attend a pentecostal church where when the "spirit" hits, some folks break out into a dance. I always look at them in amazement as I have to make an effort to even clap to the beat of the music. So after Dr. Maya Angelou called me on November 16, 2011 to tell me she thought my book "Your Little Light Shines" was fetching, I was so excited—amazed—filled with wonder, something inside of me exploded and caused me to start twirling in my living room. I was stomping as I was turning with such speed. Then suddenly, I would switch directions. My arms were waving in the air. I kept moving, almost uncontrollably. And I was shouting, too! I stomped so much that later I could "feel" my knee joints. I shouted so much that my voice became a little hoarse. I call that wonderful experience my very first praise dance.

When you're writing your (first) book, amidst the challenges, frustrations, and rejections, there will be moments of celebration; moments when your spirit soars; moments when you dance and shout. Capture those moments in your memory, imprint them on your mind because you will need to recall them—often. Whatever you focus your thoughts on, you will attract more of the same. When the moments of frustration and rejections come, and they most assuredly will, you will have a natural response to them. Okay. Those are the times when you need to make a conscious effort to recall your moments of joy. Even though I may not feel like dancing at the time, I am quick to recall that Jack Canfield and his co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series received rejections from over 100 publishers (some sources say 123, 134, 144) before they found a small publisher to take on the project. When those moments come, if you need some help to refocus your thoughts, read the book description on the above Chicken Soup link. It will encourage you. Just keep going!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment