Wisdom Gained From Eating Dark Chocolate

Wisdom Gained From Eating Dark Chocolate by Debra H. Goldstein

The combination of staying indoors (which I don’t really mind) and being frustrated by my work in progress (which I do mind) has forced me to take drastic steps:  I opened a bag of Dove dark chocolate pieces with almonds. Delicious and the fun thing is the wrapper on each piece has a message.

Because I had nothing better to do (remember, I’m frustrated with my work in progress --- and by now, I’d just thrown out seventy pages and was debating whether to change whodunit), I decided to let the messages guide me through the day. First, I thought it might be a fun experiment for the blog and second, it might give spur my writing in a new direction or at least give me the fodder for a blog.

The first message was simple: “Every moment matters including this one!”  Okay, it was time to stop playing solitaire and get to work.

I tried, but words and ideas weren’t coming to me with the ease I remembered from the past. It was time for more chocolate and another message: “Keep life moving forward, looking backward is only for time travelers.”  Well, that was a kick in the … that I needed. Instead of struggling with my novel, I decided to write my April blogs. Surprising the words flowed out of me.

When I went for my third and final piece of chocolate for the day, I was feeling pretty good, but I knew there was more that I could do. The third message confirmed my inner thought: “Don’t stop until you’re proud.”

I give you my word, I won’t.