December Laurel's Corner

• Laurel's Corner

Laurel's Corner:  The Virtue of Wonder

Over the last 18 months I wrote a book. If you have ever been in a relationship in which you knew you were on an important journey, couldn't let go, but had no idea where it was going, that's what writing this book felt like for me. I knew I was learning. I knew I was open to discovery, and I knew it was a rocky ride.

Then I finished the book. I felt so HAPPY, and proud, and then I waited, and waited, and then I waited more. In the meanwhile, I cleaned house, attended to a more normal life, and exhaled. By the end of October it was clear that there was something amiss. The book was too scientific.

I laughed. I cried. I laughed, and then I got mad, and resolute, and decided that I was going to connect with myself, give to 1, and do whatever it too within my powers to create a book, a new book, within the timeframe allowed so as not to miss the publication date.

That was clear. So then it was a matter of how much time I would have. It turned out to be 13 days. I laughed. I cried. Then I laughed more, and I reached for inspiration. I had heard that another author wrote a book in 11 days, well, even two fewer than I had. She did it because she fell in love with her characters and couldn't wait to find out what happened to them.

So I knew I had to fall in love. So I talked to my son Joe who is directing development for the Institute and bounced this idea off him. What if the method really caught on? Since 80 percent of health problems are rooted in stress, drug companies would go broke and have to throw . . . bake sales to make ends meet.

Of course I love drug companies in that nobody in my family would be alive without them, but this was a spoof about the designer drugs, and he liked it so we wrote the first two paragraphs together, and then it was easy. In 13 days, after asking for much support -- Susan Wolberg, Ellen Cohen, Kelly McGrath, Deanne Hamilton, Judy Zehr, Joe Mellin, Zack Small, Jackie Placidi . . .it was done. And I did fall in love with the characters and write what started out as a funny spoof, and ended up I hope a readable story about the method.

Then I realized that I didn't write 1 book. It was perfect. I had a book, completely untouched, and now being edited by Dede Taylor, with support from Ellen Cohen, that is a book for professionals or those who want more science.

How perfect. The wonder of it all. I hope your holidays are full of love and light and you find yourself to be a beacon of light because, afterall, you are at 1.

Much love,

- Laurel