Reap a harvest: making ‘fallow seasons’ work for you

Photo by Isak Engström on Unsplash.

On a recent podcast, the guest talked about working through a “fallow” writing season. Fallow—meaning idle, unproductive or uncreative—describes the past five months of my life. In the article Why We Need to Be ‘OK’ in the Fallow Season, Ryan Fahey asks the question, “Are you in a season that doesn’t seem to be producing any results?” followed by, “Are you spinning your wheels…frustrated at not seeing the results you want?” Yet, the fallow season is actually the most important season of growth. In fact, it’s essential for producing something wonderful. Unfortunately, some of these seasons take longer than others to deliver the outcome we desire; i.e., not all fallow seasons are the same. But the good news: fallow does not equal failure. And if we focus on the process, rather than the outcome, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Are you in a fallow season? Let me know at chrismadayschmidt.com, and remember to sign up for my free monthly emails.

Time is running out: make it matter

There are three months
left in this decade.
In. This. Decade.

If you’re on social media, you might’ve seen the above words pop up in your feed. Now tack on the phrase: “Take that risk” or “I think you should go for it.” As humanity collectively stands on the cusp of a new season, I’m reminded of the patterns that accompany the inevitable changes, whether in nature or our own lives. A well-known Bible scripture begins: For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. Once trapped in a cycle of repetitive behavior and thinking that prevented me from moving from past to present, over the last year I’ve experienced both loss and gain—culminating in acceptance, forgiveness and blessed freedom from bondage. I’m ready, now, to take that risk. To go for it. To make it matter before time runs out.

Are you ready?

Image courtesy of krishna arts at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It never gets old

[Image credit: Detanan]

Recently, I read about an author who was told that self-promotion of her newly published novel was something akin to shameless. Her response oozed with class. Basically, if writers earn their — our — livelihood writing, why wouldn’t we market our own work? The other day two of my just-published articles came out in the premiere issue of Paradise Valley Lifestyle magazine (pages 26-27 and 34). Although I’ve had other commercial and literary pieces published, I was just as excited as if these were my first. It never gets old to see my name in print (other than for a traffic violation, of course) — to validate my passion and then to share my excitement with anyone who will listen (thanks, you know who you are). Because as a late bloomer, I spent the first half of my life weeding my garden and now I’m finally beginning to reap a beautiful harvest. Plus, Someday I’ll want you to buy my books.

What is one thing you enjoy that never gets old?