New York, New York

I had a great flight across the country and sat next to a very interesting lady who was on her way to NY for a final interview as a marketing director for some Italian design house. We commiserated with each other on how  life's ambitions sometimes force you out of LA, a city -especially if you live on the West side - as close to an urban paradise as possible . She may end up moving to the East Coast and splitting her life between NY and Rome. Her life, like mine, was changing atom by atom as we flew across America.

I woke up this morning feeling very anxious and realized that for the first time in my life, I've embarked on work that is only (primarily) pleasing to myself. Unlike my consulting, in which I had external agents to please so as to get paid etc., here the only boss (to be disappointed or made happy by my performance), is myself. This responsibility or awareness of this responsibility is making me quake with a mix of nervousness and excitement. I feel strangely "grown-up".

I'm going to take today to draw up a schedule, write out my goals a bit more clearly,  re-read what has already been written, and clean up the outline. I have to be honest about who I am to decide if I'm a morning, afternoon or evening writer. I'd really like to be one of those early morning birds, already typing away as the streets come alive. But, I suspect my best hours are nearer lunch. I have to keep reminding myself to "be true to thyself" - authenticity will carry this project forward!

Starting the (writing) journey

I've been trying to write this book for just over a year now and I realized to really get it going I had to take some major steps, including changing my external environment and generally getting out of my daily rut.

And so, on a whim (and with some indirect pressure from my dear husband Arv), I sent out an email to friends asking if anyone had a place for me to stay this summer - a room of one's own - in which I could write and isolate myself a bit. And, less than 24 hours later I had such a great response from so many loving friends.

The result is two lovely apartments in two diverse cities, places to get my creative juices flowing and some serious writing happening! I start my journey in New York, cat sitting in Brooklyn, for some dear family friends. Then I move on to central Madrid to house sit for some good friends.

THANK YOU S, C, J, M and T for providing me with spaces to write, delve deeper into myself, hear my inner voice more clearly and concentrate on the book. Without your generosity and kindness I wouldn't even be writing this blog! Thank you, Merci, Gracias, Grazie!

I feel immeasurably lucky to have such an opportunity. If it wasn't for my Delta tickets (thanks to my parents) and the in-between nights of hosting by my brother and his wife, and of course the blessing (and the push to get out and do something) from my husband, none of this would even get off the ground!

So, what do I want to accomplish while away and via this blog:
1. Ideally, I'd like to have a draft of the book - however rough - completed
2. If possible, it would be great to even edit some of the chapters.
3. To journal, via this blog, the writing process and experiment with practices, what works, what doesn't and generally contemplate where and how inspiration can be found, through writing exercises, meditation, and art.

I hope this journey is both interesting and fulfilling in all ways possible!