Talking Our Walk – October-November-2018

The October-November Autumn Issue: Transitions, Cycles, Death & Healing.
Change is good! Yeah, maybe…

Over the last several issues, my staff and I have marveled at how genuinely smooth and drama-free the process of getting this publication off to the printer has been. However, through many years of conditioning, we had grown accustomed to expecting a not always smooth ride.

So, all the while benefitting from this new-found relative ease, Andrea & I would mildly angst that something had to be wrong: an ad, a listing, a serious typo—something must have slipped by, somewhere. It couldn’t be this “easy,” could it?

Well, we have printed in these pages, and on the cover in fact, that we need to “Drop the Struggle.” It’s been said that our good flows to us naturally and effortlessly when we are open and trusting. So what else could it be? Logically, I concluded that, at least in terms of the magazine, I had mastered the practice of the “non-struggle.” Publishing ease and nirvana as far as the eye can see. Oh boy, I’m on my way to enlightenment!

Well…raise the curtain on the October-November Issue. Enter the devil (demanding his due). Change is good, eh? Maybe not always.

It started imperceptibly. A week prior to deadline, we had to scrap our completed cover. While it looked wonderful on screen, the photo just wasn’t working for print. Nothing crazy, but we had put in the time; paid for the image and design. Same day, we receive an email from my sister-in-law, Evelyn, announcing the launch of her new photography website. I promptly paid a visit; found a replacement cover photo. All good there.

The rest of the week was not so “good.” The prolonged rainy, dreariness outside mirrored the in-office conditions: stuck in the mud. Not much movement. Every task required considerably more effort than necessary, and we still weren’t getting it done.

Two nights prior to deadline, fully expecting to be in the final proofing stage, a variety of pieces go missing: multiple images and articles, three unresolved advertisements. The latter is particularly troublesome—just one missing ad would result in a sizable hole, and it’s really too late to find a replacement. Too annoyed, I couldn’t even bring myself to write my column.

In more frustration and disgust than I care to admit, I walk away from my computer and over to my other desk. Looking down with my hands on my head, I see the proof copy of this cover and read Alan Cohen’s quote at the bottom: Every negative experience holds the seed of transformation. I let out a huge laugh, not missing the irony of the moment. A cosmic slap upside the head. Perfect timing for the perfect reminder. Most interesting how I had suddenly “misplaced” all my acquired “enlightenment.” Mortified by my behavior, feeling like the complete fool and fraud, I had to laugh at myself. What else could I do? Still gotta get this issue off to the printer on time.

And as I write this on deadline day I’m still waiting for the last ad to arrive, but I, at least, got this column in. Change can oftentimes be very good. I just have to remember that while it’s happening.

Be Well, Be Peace,
Neil & Andrea

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