What I learned about the book writing and publishing process from climbing Pen y Fan

This is a photo of me (and the family) at the top of Pen y Fan.

It’s an “I can do hard things” moment.

My hips haven’t been in a great place because of the lockdowns. When I was exercising (yes, sadly this has recently become a when) I was just about keeping on top of my hip flexibility but my return to my go-to exercise of CrossFit hasn’t been kind to me – it’s stressed my body and hurt – so I put it on pause for a couple of months.

So you can imagine that climbing with a four-, eight- and ten-year-old (and a husband) up a mountain was not one of the wisest moves I’ve made this August.

I had to surrender to the pain.

I had to endure.

I had to keep on taking that next step.

And the next one.

My four-year-old turned out to be a little mountain goat. Skipping up the path, almost out of sight. Running up pretty hefty gradients.

A fell runner went by. (Why? I bet he does CrossFit too, visible abs for days.)

And then, when I reached the pinnacle, there was a photo op.

But there was no helicopter coming to pick me up and take me home.

So down I went.

Slowly.

Painfully.

Toes bumping against the front part of my boots.

Hips screaming with each step.

It took my body about four days to get over the hike.

I suppose it could have been worse.

I don’t how it’s been for you but times for me have been tough recently.

The last couple of years have been heavy. Really heavy. And then it’s absolutely impossible (in my opinion) to be a compassionate person and avoid the news at the moment. Afghanistan. Covid in Australia. Incels and the mental health of men (as the mother of a 10-year-old, it’s a worry). Personal stuff going on at home here. The school holidays.

And of course, when you choose surrender as one of your words for 2021, well, what should I have expected?

I’m currently in a season of stripping away.

But with the stripping away comes the growth.

And, luckily, acknowledgement of the journey that has come before.

It’s time to rebuild, hopefully stronger and better than before.

When I say surrender, for me that means to stop resisting.

To make the hard choices.

To endure (whether it is a season of stripping away and change and choice or a blinking long, steep climb up a mountain).

My body can be stronger (and I’m booking an osteopath).

Life can be confusing (and I’m journaling and reflecting a lot at the moment).

Kids can be noisy and demanding (but school starts again next week, although it’s slightly extended as the 4-year-old settles into reception with half days).

Beliefs can be reviewed and rewired (see journaling above).

Fun can be a choice.

People can be difficult (but I don’t have to please them all the time).

Conversations can be awkward and messy (and the next step is to see if they are worth it).

This surrender and re-entry stuff is tricky, hey…

Endurance is something you can learn.

I might not have made it up that mountain but I had learned to endure hard things at CrossFit.

Getting to the bottom of sorting yourself out takes endurance too.

And here comes the link to book writing and publishing…

That also requires endurance.

It requires surrender to the process.

It’s about taking the first step and the next step.

When it gets uncomfortable.

When it gets painful.

Sometimes you might want to be airlifted by a helicopter.

And sometimes you might painfully climb down from the first pinnacle of the first idea, stubbing your toes all the way, recovering for days (months) before you all the osteopath (or book coach) to help you get back climbing the heights again.

OK, maybe it’s not so tenuous a link after all.

Where are you in your journey to becoming an author?

Are you planning the first climb?

Are you trudging up the hill (or running head like a mountain goat)?

Are you at the triumphant summit, taking a photo and posting your achievement everywhere? (which you totally get to do, by the way)

Are you on the way down from your first attempt, wondering if you’ll ever recover for a second one.

Are you reaching out for help?

Where are you on the journey?