Fire in the Belly - finding diamonds amongst the coals
My children’s novel ‘No Ordinary Joe’ is launching this week Thursday 5th August, I’m so excited. It’s been a whirlwind journey getting that book from my head and heart to the page. It’s a fictional story but inspired by my experiences growing up with a brother with special needs.
I recently did a Q & A where I was asked if it was if this book was a challenge to write because of the personal connection. That question made me pause and reflect.
I always knew I’d write something about my brother because he was such a big influence in my life but his story stimulated many deep emotions and I was unclear how to share them. It took me a long time and a lot of inner work to get to that point. Once I had processed the difficult emotions – the heartbreak of watching a family member struggle, the emotional turmoil in a house where so much attention is focused on one person – I was ready to listen and see how that story wanted to be told.
The truth is, this story was always in me, looking for a way out. And I was looking for the understanding, objectivity and humour to express it. It wasn’t a challenge once I had walked that path, once I was ready to sit down and write.
When we are still caught in the grip of strong emotions, it’s very difficult to tell a story with clarity and peace. But when we’ve had a good long look at ourselves and digested some of the hard parts, it becomes easier to stand back from ourselves and get more playful. In this way we can turn our sadness, our anger, our disappointments into creative fuel for the fire.
We can allow those challenges to become steps on the ladder of our journey rather than obstacles in the path. This has been an important distinction for me.
Now when I work with women in my practice, I’m interested in their fire, in what is waiting inside them to be set free. And in what needs healing, in order for this to happen. I’m not suggesting everyone will be writing books, this is an individual journey. When we engage with our fire, we bring creative flow to everything we do – whether it’s a challenge at work, a meal for friends or an abstract painting.
I’m sure you know this feeling.
And maybe you also know what helps to light your fire?
And what keeps it burning when the going gets tough?
Don’t let your past get in the way, when you look closely, with compassion, you may see that there are diamonds in there, amongst the coals. Burn bright ladies and share your flames with others so we may all enjoy the warmth!
If you can resonate with this, ask me more about my work with women.
My book ‘No Ordinary Joe’ for readers aged 9-12 (and adults of all ages) is published with Little Island Books is available online and from your local bookshop from August 5th. Click here to read more about it or to order a copy.
https://littleisland.ie/books/no-ordinary-joe/
