Long time no see, folks.

I know, I know you’ve missed me, and I’ve missed you too. But at least during this hiatus I learned something I would like to share with you.

Last April I had to take an important, hard decision, and the consequence of this choice has been weighing me down. Moving away was painful, but fortunately the universe—or luck, or destiny, call it whatever—has come to help me.

A few years ago, a writer colleague of mine (let’s call her Amanda) told me about a book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. In it, she said, was a series of regular writing exercises which would help the “student” open up to greater vulnerability and creativity. Alongside these exercises, the student must write three pages of stream of consciousness, every day, for about an hour. At the time I was editing my first novel, and didn’t want to take on a challenge like that. Too time-consuming, I thought.

Fast forward to April this year. My mother found a book in the bookstore and gave it to me as a present. It was The Artist’s Way. “Ha,” I said, “this is the same book Amanda told me about!” And so, since I needed to process the giant whirlwind of emotions I was caught in, I figured I could take a break from the novel writing and give a shot at this Artist’s Way.

The healing process suggested by Cameron took twelve weeks, each aimed at removing one specific psychological block that artists may have (fear of rejection, fear of being poor, lack of faith in the process, and so on). I did all the exercises—well, most of them anyway. I did the morning pages, too. Of course, at the beginning the pages were filled with thoughts of a loveless future. But I just kept writing and writing for weeks, never reading what I left behind me… and as they streamed out of my pen, my thoughts became smaller. More manageable.

I discovered that part of me was thinking that I’m an immature, irresponsible good-for-nothing, and that because of that I was never going to find love, or accomplish anything. Gently, I steered my mind away from that narrative. I found the reason why I can still live my best life even if things haven’t gone the way I wanted. As Julia Cameron would say, “you shake the apple tree and it gives you oranges”—so I’d better learn how to make lemonade… Wait, I’m getting my metaphors mixed up.

Shortly put, I took the responsibility of being the best person I can manage. And I slowly realized that as long as I kept being responsible of that, I was free to do whatever I wanted. I could leave my old job, move to another country, and see new horizons (which is what I’m about to do in a few months, but that’s a story for another time).

So, the universe finally managed to convince me to stop being the protagonist of my own little tragedy. Thanks to the Artist’s Way, I can finally say that I wish to love myself to the best of my abilities.

For those who have made it this far without getting nauseated at the post’s New-Age-y tone, congratulations. I’d like to “return the favor to the universe” by suggesting this book to you too. Buy a copy, download an e-book sample, rent it from your library or whatever. Give it a read, because it will be one of the best investments on your life, whether you are blocked artists or not.

I apologize for the delay. Hopefully I’ll talk to you soon enough.