Feel free to watch the short video below and/or read the 2-minute blog post. Enjoy and Share!

Welcome to the end of week five of my seven-week journey to regrasp my sanity in the civilized woods. Only two weeks left, with this last focus on the mind and one more on the body before the final post. Should this experience become a short article for a magazine or a 50-70-page book? Leave a comment and let me know!

Meanwhile, there is a lot to learn in these woods. Having grown up in New York City, it took me a few months to accept a neighbor’s dog randomly wandering through my yard. When I complained, my husband patiently explained, “he’s not the only creature sniffing around and pooping in our yard you know.” I had to learn that deer also poop.

Speaking of deer, I got to know them well during COVID. My office windows look directly out to the backyard where they like to hang out. It did not take long for me to feel as though I was on display in a museum. Every day, the deer walked up to my office windows and stared at me, clearly wondering what I was and how I got in there.

After losing interest in their daily observation subject, they sat around and basked in the sunlight that fell on the grass. Sometimes facing each other, other times facing opposite directions. As the lockdown wore on, I learned to seek comfort in their peaceful presence. A sign that all was safe in my surroundings. Have you seen the way deer bolt when someone gets close?

Anyway, learning is a big part of focusing on the mind. It should not always come from books though. Most of it should come from direct experience. Take this blog, for instance. I am no “expert” at blogging and social media, but I am learning something new with every post. I listened to a few “experts” before getting started but learning by doing is just so much fun.

My journey to publishing has been similar. For two years, I have been reading books, articles, taking courses, attending conferences, and expanding my network in the writing and publishing world. I have learned a lot from others. But the most valuable lessons came from my own experience. Hence, my decision to start self-publishing in 2025. Stay tuned!

There are true experts in each field. Just this week, I learned about book trade shows in an article written by someone I respect as an authority figure in publishing. Even though her advice for self-published authors was to not expend resources toward trade shows, I plan on learning more about them and deciding for myself. Now that I know they exist.

The most valuable lesson I’ve learned about writing over the last two years? Like most things, you learn the most by doing. Nothing beats making your own mistakes and training yourself not to repeat them. As best as you can. Presentable is much more rewarding than perfect, because it can always be achieved. Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: This content is neither advice nor instruction, medical or otherwise.