Getting Lost

These past few weeks I’ve found myself caught up in the frenzy of creating and getting lost. I’ve been lost in my imagination as I let my hands form new creations in miniature, and I’ve been lost in words.

Ever since I wandered deep into the winding alleys of art, I felt the tether to my novels unraveling. My writing muses have given me freedom but I still feel the gentle tug when I hear the voices of other writers. Shadowy reminders of the other pieces inside of me that wait quietly as they let me explore another form of art.

While my fingers were busy with clay, I decided that the rooms around me were too lonely and quiet. I’ve had my fill of YouTube and artist alley vlogs. Part of me still felt empty in my solitary pursuit of pushing my creative limits. Not going into an office to a 9-5 whipping post is great but it’s also lonely.

Last week, I decided that my mind wasn’t being fed enough. I missed the words of fellow writers and the feeling of a good story. I learned those little pop-ups on social media can be a good thing because they lead me to two new reads that will remain at the top of my list.

My autoplay on YouTube lead to a documentary on the history of perfume and then herbology. A book appeared in my pop-up called, The Lost Apothecary, by Sarah Penner. The cross between one woman who’s marriage was falling apart and an old world where women couldn’t become doctors or talk to someone who could understand their female issues was so clean that I didn’t blink when the voices changed.

One woman learned about an apothecary who turned into someone who created poisons for women who wanted to get rid of a man in their life. As she researched, she started to find herself and what she wanted out of life. The question was would she be brave enough to pursue it.

I smiled, making my own parallel. When someone asks that question, are you pursuing your dream and doing what you love? I can finally say yes! Despite all the worries before I quit my 9-5 I did it. I felt myself cheering for the main protagonist. I was sad when the book ended and it was one of those that you want to stand up and cry and cheer at the same time.

My solitary hours flew by as my ears were filled with words again and I felt uplifted as I felt the emotions of the characters, picturing them as the pages turned. Maybe these are the quiet, but brave women I needed in my life. Feeling the sorrow of the last chapter closing, I did what any lover of words would do. I found another book.

If you’re wondering, since my hands were busy and I couldn’t turn pages, I was listening on Audible. Who doesn’t love story time. How many times did I wish some actors would just sit down and read a good book to me instead of going through high action stunts. Yes, I’m an adult that wants story time at bedtime.

Back to my next book.

I’m still lost in the pages of The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods, and the only part I’m dreading is knowing that last chapter will end. This book connects the modern world to the time when Sylvia Beach just opened her bookshop in Paris. A woman who escaped a husband who beat her and a woman who tried to escape to a time when women didn’t have to marry merge together. The magic of an old bookshop in another time brings them all together. Will these women step out of the margins to become the main characters of their own lives? Well, you’ll have to read or listen to the book just like me.

I still have some more chapters to go but switching from endless vlogs and animated movies has given my mind a different kind of food that I forgot I needed. Writers needs words. Part of me felt different ingesting one book. I felt more full and comforted. Maybe it’s because we lack the beauty of words in our daily lives. Many times the words we hear aren’t pleasant.

Listening to the words of writers reminded me that I need to fill my life with more beautiful words to drain myself of the ones that should be left lying in the gutter. I hope you take time to read and feed the writer in you. You might not be aware of how hungry you are for a beautiful book.

Well, I’m off to hit the play button again and get lost. I might stay lost all month. I would live in a library filled with art and books if I could – I guess that’s for another project in the future. Take care!

Imagine Inspire Create: 52 Weeks of action and gratitude is available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09S6XCLFY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_Q7MHM9CFBSASDG56YMJQ

Get closer to your writing goals with my Writer’s Journal filled with writing prompts and exercises. You can find a copy at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0931QRL7C/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VTHN0QSHXRYK6RJ1XSWQ.

~Yoon Ju