Before I get to the trials and tribulations of writing a novel and the many addictive challenges encountered along the way, I wanted to share, again, some beautiful Hawaiian thoughts to live by. If only we were evolved enough to see the wisdom in practicing these amazingly simple concepts. Every day. All we have to do is say these four little phrases…
Please forgive me.
I’m sorry.
I love you.
Thank you.
I was first introduced to the basic principles of Huna, the ancient Hawaiian art of healing, in Sedona by a metaphysical healer who helped guide me on my journey back to health and wellness. It saddens me when I encounter so many people on my journey who are so trapped in a world of blame, ego, anger and hurt that they are unable to express these words. Successful, super smart people who have not yet found it in their hearts to utter these words and mean it. What a different world this would be if using these four phrases were as common place and popular as watching professional sports games, bingeing on violent video games, or yes, playing Candy Crush ad nauseum, to mention but a few hollow, meaningless pastimes.
I used to play Candy Crush for hours a day when it first came out. Then I got sick and lost interest and was surprised to learn that it is still around. Until recently, when I started up again. For me it is an addiction if not strictly regulated and controlled, much like Facebook, which I had not participated in for a couple of years for the same reasons I had turned away from CC.
It’s a problem for me now because I find myself at my computer for as many hours per day as I can physically and mentally muster. Writing. My second novel. The first is long gone. Up in smoke. Literally. But finally, finally I have found my voice again. But I find that writing is a very, very hard thing to do, requiring a great deal of discipline and focus. How was Agatha Christie able to be so prolific? She is my newest heroine, and I bow to her perserverance and creativity.
When I get stuck, or bored, or need a mental break, I avoid chocolate and check in on FB, or worse, ration myself to one game of CC. Or, I turn to my easel and paint. I was quite pleased with my first two copies of masters, but now I am composing and painting an original, based on four different photos from Provence. What was I thinking?! Painting a sunset?! I’ve spent hours and hours and hours on it. But at least picking up a paint brush is a more constructive distraction from writing than the other two. Anything to keep from spiraling down the writer’s rabbit hole of apathy, insecurity and frustration. Just keep writing, I tell myself. It’s a story I am passionate about and I want to tell it. But will I ever get to the end? Thinking it is one thing. Writing it down is quite another. I totally understand why so many writers and painters became alcoholics on their journeys.
Well, I guess I can add blogging to my list of clever diversions from writing my novel. 
Love and light to all, with special healing energy going out to Cathy who is recuperating from surgery.
Jul. 14, 2015
Judy Richter 