Shifting Gears

In high school, we had a green Pontiac station wagon. Driving this “mom” car wasn’t one bit cool. Actually, it was embarrassing.

Fortunately, we also had a Dodge Swinger. As you might imagine, with a name like that, it was a big step up for a youthful driver. However, it was a lot more complicated to drive.

With a stick shift, there were many other things to pay attention to besides speed, traffic issues, stoplights, left turns, and even pedestrians.

You had to figure out when to shift from first to second gear, then finally to third gear. You had to coordinate your feet with your arm movements.

And, if not done perfectly, the car makes this horrible sound. I can still hear the gears grinding. Then, you had to focus on downshifting when slowing down or going in reverse when backing out.

As a beginner, it was a challenging experience. It took focused concentration to do it right. But ultimately, it became second nature.

Why am I thinking about this?

Because I’m shifting gears right now.

Over the past few months, I’ve been immersed in writing a book on a topic that’s near and dear to my heart, but not something I’ve written much about before.

As a writer, I’ve had to think about what to include and what to exclude. I’ve made decisions about the best sequence so that things make the most sense. I’ve focused on ways to make it easier for readers to apply the concepts I’m sharing.

All my creative energy has been poured into it, leaving little space for other endeavors. Yet it’s been wonderfully challenging at the same time.

Right now, the first draft has been sent to my editor. It will be a while before it’s officially published and available to read.

I feel like a new parent. I need to get the baby’s room (my website) ready, come up with a “launch” plan, and figure out how to integrate my newborn into the family.

It’ll be fun! And, I look forward to sharing my new baby’s picture with you as soon as humanly possible.