Hm-m-m... Your story, Sallie, sounds kind of familiar. You sure we haven't met? What would you advise for a person on these boards who described the same life position? Would you suggest... ...Evaluate? Notice the
degree of various feelings, including both interests and obstacles? ...Prioritize? And, notice exactly where, when, and why, interest flags? (I like Scrooge's explanation that Marley's ghost was simply a bit of undigested mutton from Scrooge's supper.

) ...Start with 'who's around'? (Uh...'older ladies' can be pretty hot stuff, often, in my experience. You might want to ask your mom's opinion.

) I love the 'scale of 1 to 10' system. It's quite simple, and easy to adjust when feelings change. I really like applying it to just the most basic questions, and very rapidly. (Saves bogging down in the 'deep' stuff.) I also like 'putting more men on the job'. Could you call a tea party of your lady friends, and ask for their quick, instinctive opinions? (Oh, sugar. Got to run to brunch. Back soon.) *** Okay. What I'm trying to ask, Sallie, is - are you out of 'crazy time'? You sound as though you are, or are nearly. You sound as though you are looking ahead, deciding the where, what, and when's, and getting ready to move on. Maybe the depression you feel is just a bit of remnant from the past. Would a bit of help in evaluating your position be useful? ...Or, a kind listening ear while you bounce around ideas? ...Or, a team? I know you like to be 'in charge' of projects, and that's a perfectly legitimate desire, especially when co-ordinating. Could you see yourself as a 'project', a client? If so, who would you bring in to assist the client? It could be simply a one hour task per day. Then you could schedule walks, and any other enjoyable pursuits. (I find I get the best results with myself, if I just relax my need to 'progress', and put myself out in the world. Great things and ideas begin to appear, like magic. At home, by myself, I tend to 'concentrate' too much.) Would you enjoy doing the Wishcraft exercises once again? ...
www.wishcraft.com ... You could just do them for a lark. Curiosity and comparison might be good incentive. You could even do each three times, just to see if you can vary the scenarios and outcomes. I know M.O.N.E.Y. can be a huge hammer, whamming down on dreams. But, what if you set Sallie the exercise of creating $1, or $100, out of thin air? Would that be an interesting task? Knowing her, I think she'd find it child's play.

(How about picking something from 'The $100 Hour'? Or, sit in the park, and figure out a life's path for a passerby or two?) I'm just guessing, but I think you are carrying around a mighty fine 'fixer', which is currently under-used. I bet you could write, too. I bet you could dream up messes that your characters could get themselves into, and out of, from a high altitude, and with amazing accuracy. Scribblers don't cost much, and you could end up with a super novel, or several. And, you could dream up a great pseudonym. Agatha Christie, writing as Mary Westmacott, wrote six 'romances', but that is the most understated description of the last couple of centuries! I couldn't begin to describe them here. They must be read for oneself. (My favorite is the one about a lady travelling across a desert, after visiting her daughter and new grandchild in the Middle East. It took my breath away.) (Another that may rivet you to your reading seat is 'Child of the Morning' by Author: Pauline Gedge. Find it second-hand. It's one of those rare finds you'll want to re-read every few years.) (Take a peek at
http://www.barbarasher.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000439.html There's stuff there that inspires me.) You're going to be a star, Sallie, however anonymously you choose. You've just got too much talent not to be. I want to watch! Mahara [This message has been edited by MDG (edited May 02, 2004).]