Iran, writing a TV series and walking around the world with a teddy bear: the perks of being a writer
“The only book that will change your life is the one you write yourself.”–A quote from my new book (it debuts later this year)
On my list of top three things I love about being a writer is that I get emails from readers. These joyful notes that show up unexpectedly in my inbox come from all over the world, constantly piquing my curiosity with, “How in the heck did that nanny from Iceland find my breathing book?”
I have dozens of Facebook friends from Iran. Not that I can read what they post—it’s in Persian. But I was finally able to ascertain that these friend requests are the result of somebody pirating the English version of my book, Jumpstart your Metabolism, and translating it into Farsi. Not exactly legal, but certainly a giant compliment.
I became close friends with a wonderful woman who lives on a tree farm in California, even writing a TV pilot with her and sharing a trip to Mexico. We had a blast and completely defied the old school conditioning that you should “never trust a stranger.” Now, it seems impossible that Heather and I haven’t known each other forever.
Another favorite request came from a reader in New Jersey. One of my books had an experiment that involved carrying around giant stuffed animals. It proves just how friendly and funny people are, a discovery I made after bringing back a monstrous moose from a travel-writing gig in Montana. This reader offered to walk to my house all the way from New Jersey (I live in Kansas) with a four-foot teddy bear. With that guy, I didn’t book a trip to Mexico.
I’m home for just a quick stop so I’ll end with this butterfly story that recently popped into my inbox.
“There I was driving down the highway, listening to your audiobook both there and back, from the long trek visiting my majestic Arabian horse, Trucco, at my horse trainer’s place.
“I remember thinking, “ Yeah, and I want to do the one with the yellow butterfly. I have to look at that experiment and use the yellow butterfly as the object to bring into my reality.” And I let those “intending to do” thoughts go.
“Sometime later, after listening, not sure exactly when; I do recall it was during silence while driving and your audio was no longer on. I was still traveling perhaps about 55 mph or so, absorbed in my head, focused on the road ahead and nuthin much. There it came, a cloud of yellow butterflies fluttering magically from the left of the drivers side windshield, right in front of my eyes, barely inches from the glass, announcing their presence.
“The group continued towards the passengers side of the windshield, still all part of one expedition, flying in glorious synchronicity, commanding my attention as the procession rose up and over my car, disappearing as mysteriously into the wind as they had appeared, as I gaped in awe and repeated in wonderment, “ Wow, it’s the yellow butterflies, the butterflies… Oh, Wow, butterflies ”… and I was so amazed I got busy counting. I think there were about 30 or so, laughing out loud.
“Thank you for your teachings and learnings. Thank you for the opportunity to tell this story. The manifestations are coming fast and strong. I am on a creation roll now…”
Oh, and what the heck..here’s another story:
The other day, at my Spiritual Entrepreneurs group, a photographer, who I’ll call Sherry because that is not her name, told us that last week she was bemoaning the fact that she didn’t have a clear bead on what she wanted. “I know setting an intention works,” she said, “But I don’t really know what I want. I just want people to knock on my door and bring money.”
Not four hours after making that statement, “Sherry” was sitting on her couch when the doorbell rings. It was a friend, who she hadn’t seen in a couple weeks. She was evidently on her way to an appointment.
“I don’t have time to chat,” the friend said. “But here’s the money for those pictures. Enjoy.”
Pam Grout is the author of 18 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the recently released, Thank and Grow Rich: a 30-day Experiment in Shameless Gratitude and Unabashed Joy.