My friend and a writing mentor, Diane April, interviewed Pico Iyer. Excellent questions and responses, but one comment by Iyer really resonated with me at this time. In regard to Covid global uncertainties, he said, “I always like it when the Dalai Lama points out that we have to fashion our hopes and determination in the light of an awareness of how little we know. As he [the Dalai Lama] says with characteristic succinctness. ‘Uncertainty is possibility.’”
In one way, I was drawn to this phrase because I thought, exactly. That’s the way I’m finally feeling as I attempt to come out of this morose Pandemic fog. Not only have I struggled with the uncertainties of this last year, as everyone else has, I sent out the manuscript of my memoirs, Mountain Girl Makes Waves, to agents and publishers. The waiting has been agony.
According to my editor, the responses so far have been typical. Eight agents responded, four of whom requested the full manuscript. Several pleasant rejection responses with good lucks. Many no responses. But I was hopeful about the four requests.
And then, nothing. Still nothing.
My editor says this process can often take many months. One of his clients received a contract a year after the agent received the manuscript.
“Maybe I should try plumbing,” I said with a laugh.
“No. Just be patient and go about your life,” he said. “Start another writing project.” Really? With the uncertainty that this one might not be publishable?
With only part of the global population vaccinated, and new variants of the virus emerging, the uncertainties that flattened us this past year persist. Not being able to plan ahead toys with our sanity.
But with this equivocation, we do need to get moving, “…we have to fashion our hopes and determination in the light of an awareness of how little we know,” as the Dalai Lama says.
So, absorbing this, I realize I need to start writing another book. Right? Easy to say.
It makes me think back to many years ago when I first started to write every day. Writing was one of the suggested remedies for the grief that I experienced when I sold the company I had owned and presided over for thirty years. I missed the employees. I missed going to work every day. I missed the challenges. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
For a few years, near the end of my being President and CEO of Moss Inc, I was invited to speak around New England at various business conferences. By that time, we had become a successful company and had the reputation of getting profitable by doing good. What we now call “socially responsible.” At one of these gatherings, it was suggested that I write a book about the Moss story.
So, I got started only to get distracted at graduate school when I began to write my memoir. Then, another distraction happened. I wrote and published the book, Bill Moss: Fabric Artist and Designer. After completing that, I went back and finished my memoir.
Why not soldier on and take advantage of a possibility? I have returned to the Moss story, Barefoot to Boardroom. This will differ from the Bill Moss manifestation. This will be the story of how the company became what it did at a time when there were few female CEO’s. Of the incredible, loyal Maine employees who grew into a trusting, respectful and caring work community. Of my disintegrating marriage and the raising of two small children on my own. Of learning the hard way, by trial and error, with no business education or experience. Just leading with the intuition and the values I learned growing up with my grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains. Of encouraging and supportive stockholders. And of three mentors who guided me in the right direction. One to create a mission statement, one in marketing and the other developing quality into the production process.
Most new companies begin with uncertainties and mine with more than a few. Another example wherein lies the truth of theDalai Lama’s statement.
Stay tuned.