Day of Hope #93
Sunday September 13 – Day of Hope #93
Goal: Write, break, eat, write, break, eat, repeat
Quote: “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
This Day of Hope was a full-on writing retreat. A weekend completely devoted to my book. I checked into my favorite hotel, the Residence Inn in downtown Boise. It’s my go-to space when I need to focus without distractions.
After a much-needed chance to sleep in, I sorted through my notes, grabbed tea from the Starbucks drive-through, and got to work. I spent the entire day hunkered down, writing. No drama. No interruptions. Just the page and me.
I wrote ten pages back-to-back, nearly 20 in total. It felt amazing to be in the flow. Later, I started transferring everything into the computer, watching my manuscript grow stronger and more complete. I’m down to just a few chapters left and it’s finally becoming real.
Throughout the day, I took short breaks to eat and stretch. At one point, I walked over to the smoothie shop and grabbed one packed with flaxseed and spinach to sneak in my daily fruits and veggies. Writing doesn’t just drain your brain, it drains your body too, so the fuel matters.
I was writing on a strict rotation: Write for 1 hour and 13 minutes, take a 13-minute break, repeat
It kept me disciplined but also gave my mind space to breathe.
Writing is hard. It’s so easy to find something else more exciting to do. Especially today. It was the opening day of football, and I was so tempted to turn on the TV. But I stayed true to my commitment. The 13th is sacred to me, and I was determined. I want to finish the book by November, and that means sticking to the work, even when it’s tough. Even when there’s football. Even when the world outside is a little smoky.
Speaking of smoke, when I walked out for a break, the sky was thick with it. You could barely see the Boise skyline. But I reminded myself: better to be looking at the smoke than be in the middle of the fire.
My lesson of hope: Writing a book is exhausting, but it’s also deeply healing and incredibly exciting. I’m proud of myself for not giving up, even on hard days. Passion requires persistence. And I’m learning that showing up for my dream, over and over again, is the greatest act of self-respect I can give myself.
