Start Small
Sure, sure you’ve heard step-by-step and element-by-element and putting one foot in front of the other. This is all well and good.
I’m saying start literally small.
Get a postcard. Admire the pretty picture on the front, then grab your best fine-tip pen, turn that postcard over and write your story.
You don’t have very much room, that’s true. Plus there’s that address field and the stamp area. I like drawing flowers in the stamp box while I’m procrastinating on this exercise.
Draw a few flowers, or happy faces or houses or whatever.
Okay good, good.
Now start where you are. What time is it? What does the sky look like? What’s your view? What’s that little thing you keep on your desk that reminds of a vacation taken too long ago? Oooh that’s a good start.
What was that vacation like? Why do you keep that object? What element comes back to you each time you see it?
Write the story of that vacation on the back of the postcard. Don’t let it take that long. Just rip the bandaid off.
Done now?
What about now?
Yes?
Good.
Now put that postcard in a drawer and walk away. And in three days, read your story again. Be kind. The writing isn’t the best, but whatever. It’s not about winning a Pulitzer. It’s about changing your story.
You’ve read it. You’ve looked out the window. You’ve remembered that vacation again.
What do you want from that vacation back in your life permanently?
Get out a new postcard and write your story with that element in it.
Don’t let it take too long.
Good, good.
Now put that postcard in a drawer and go through your day rememebering that element you want back in your life.
And if you haven’t had a vacation in a long time — make it up. What would a vacation feel like? What would it be like? What do the peace or sunshine or cool museums you experience on your fantasy vacation make you feel?
Now write your story again with your fantasy vacation element included. And put that postcard away and spend your day remembering that fantasy vacation feeling.
Start small…literally.
