Let Your Spirit Soar - a Preview of My New Book Project

Today I spent a few moments reading through a manuscript I'd completed in January for a new project.  An odd fact about being a professional writer is that often times I need weeks, if not months, to let a manuscript cool before reading it again to make sure it says what I wish it to say.  I collaborated on this book with Katy Joy Freeman, a marriage and family therapist who also teaches the Buddhist technique of mindfulness, and we did not have that typical amount of time to allow the manuscript to sit and mellow before sipping it again like a fine wine.

We were asked to write a book about mind/spirit techniques for centering, creating a peaceful mindset, and connecting with the spirit.  Katy Joy wrote an excellent first half of the book on mindfulness techniques;  I wrote the second half, describing non denominational ways to connect with the spirit, through nature, creativity, music and finally meditation. 

I haven't even looked at the manuscript since completing the last round of revisions on January 17.  It was truly a pleasant surprise when I opened it up today before sending it back to the designer, and spotted this passage. I felt the "ping" in my gut that says "Yes - you have it - you have spoken truly; this conveys what you felt."  Without further ado, here is the passage. I hope that when I share the information about the new book it piques your curiosity....

From Let Your Spirit Soar -

"I live in a rural area and walk my dog through the woods. As we came to a clearing filled with juniper bushes, she stopped, and so I stopped, too. I paused.  The rich tangy scent of juniper filled my nostrils. Tangerine and gold filled the morning sky as the sun peeked over the horizon. A crisp breeze blew wispy white clouds across a dark azure dawn sky.  A mockingbird sang a sweet song, squawked, and changed tunes like a radio changing stations.  I drank in the peace, tranquility, and beauty of dawn and felt my spirit connect with nature. It was a moment of connection, of pure peace and bliss that came about through a simple moment of mindfulness. Now imagine linking such moments together throughout the course of your day like stringing beads on a necklace or snapping children's blocks together. What would your day be like if you could bring that peace into another moment, and another beyond?"  by Jeanne Grunert