
Funny how the universe works. Sometimes things just fall in your lap when you least expect it (or want) but exactly when you need it. In my last post, I mentioned I am on hiatus. I wrote about how I am burnt out from working, the stack, blah blah blah. Truth be told... I am also taking time off to take care of my terminally ill mother. In 2016, I came home from an overseas assignment to find her near death. Her condition, the result of neglect by her longtime companion. (Don't even get me started on that scum bag)
Ever since, every spare moment has been spent, with the help of my brother caring for mom in an attempt to help her recover. Guiding her through physical therapy, neurological therapy and more. She was completely unable to care for herself. I worked with her during the day, while my evenings and overnights were spent completing the film. Sleep was minimal. My husband and friends rarely saw me. Add on top of this, a career change for my husband and relocating our family. If this were not enough, I was also looking after my mother in law who suffers from Alzheimers. She is in a wonderful memory center, however I felt it important to check in on her regularly.
Unfortunately, mom took a turn for the worse after contracting sepsis. She was not expected to survive it. Even though she pulled through, I knew this was the beginning of the end.
So you see, I just did not have the time or the motivation to deal with the "stack". As mentioned in my previous post, the "stack" is composed of books, scripts proposals just sitting there waiting for me to tackle. On top of this stack was a little book that, well quite honestly, I never thought I would ever get to.
One day, a nagging voice just would not stop. It was in my head and directing me to read that book NOW. Why that book? Why now? I was still overwhelmed with everything and I had a few proposals that were much more attractive if I managed to spare the time. Why not read those first? So on a recent flight to visit my mom, I decided to silence that voice and read There's A Window To Heaven by Dr. Garrett L. Turke. As a journalist, I read everything with a critical eye and this was no different. Imagine my surprise when I found myself a crying mess within one chapter. Holy crap...That has NEVER happened before. Good grief! How on earth did this little book resonate so much with me? I could not stop reading it and I have to admit, I said a prayer asking that my plane would not crash so that I could see how it ended. I HAD to know.
Ever since, every spare moment has been spent, with the help of my brother caring for mom in an attempt to help her recover. Guiding her through physical therapy, neurological therapy and more. She was completely unable to care for herself. I worked with her during the day, while my evenings and overnights were spent completing the film. Sleep was minimal. My husband and friends rarely saw me. Add on top of this, a career change for my husband and relocating our family. If this were not enough, I was also looking after my mother in law who suffers from Alzheimers. She is in a wonderful memory center, however I felt it important to check in on her regularly.
Unfortunately, mom took a turn for the worse after contracting sepsis. She was not expected to survive it. Even though she pulled through, I knew this was the beginning of the end.
So you see, I just did not have the time or the motivation to deal with the "stack". As mentioned in my previous post, the "stack" is composed of books, scripts proposals just sitting there waiting for me to tackle. On top of this stack was a little book that, well quite honestly, I never thought I would ever get to.
One day, a nagging voice just would not stop. It was in my head and directing me to read that book NOW. Why that book? Why now? I was still overwhelmed with everything and I had a few proposals that were much more attractive if I managed to spare the time. Why not read those first? So on a recent flight to visit my mom, I decided to silence that voice and read There's A Window To Heaven by Dr. Garrett L. Turke. As a journalist, I read everything with a critical eye and this was no different. Imagine my surprise when I found myself a crying mess within one chapter. Holy crap...That has NEVER happened before. Good grief! How on earth did this little book resonate so much with me? I could not stop reading it and I have to admit, I said a prayer asking that my plane would not crash so that I could see how it ended. I HAD to know.