This Is The END.

I passed one thousand days of my writing and creative journey a few weeks ago.

I had mixed feelings about reaching Day 1,000 and became overwhelmed on Day 1,001. 

Once Day 1,002 came along, I felt very MEH. I started writing less. I also skipped a newsletter publication date.

Add to this the end of another October-pocolypse, lack of sleep and a new weekday routine. My morning mojo was shot and I could have taken this opportunity to call it quits. 

I did not. I chose to re-learn a few lessons learned along the path:

✨ Looking for inspiration is a continuous task, and

✨ Your gut knows. It really does. 

To recap:

Day 999 of my writing journey came and went on October 26. I recalled a whacky and vivid dream as soon as I woke up (score another one for dream journaling!). I was under the weather yet still motivated to write, which I did.

Day 1,000: Blessed and grateful to make it to “quadruple digits” (is that a thing? I’m making it a thing.) I had another dream but didn’t write this one down. I craved Wavy Lays chips all day. It’s weird to say “1,000 consecutive writing days.” Why was I not more excited? Why is this milestone less “whoo-hoo” than reaching 100 writing days?

Day 1,001: A pair of 1’s squeezing two 0’s together. I felt this squeeze. A self-imposed pressure to make it look like it was all coming together on the outside when I didn’t know what was happening inside. I held on to an upset about not writing down a dream from the night before. Thinking about writing made me tired. And I was running short of gel pens. I wrote regardless.

Day 1,002: Writing, I love you, but… MEH! A few words escaped the limited number of pens onto a blank page. I was thinking too hard… about the gel pens.

“A few words” continued for several days. Because of this shift, I decided not to force myself to publish a newsletter (which would have been on Halloween, Day 1004). A second draft was completed but I struggled with the final edits. It was a mental setback to miss this date on purpose, even though my body thanked me for the extra rest.

I hope I do not give the impression of losing joy in writing and journaling overall. I love writing. LOVE. I won’t stop anytime soon.

I kept to my daily writing ritual as best while ignoring the feelings of change taking place. I reached a peak, not knowing if I should continue or move on to something else.

Day 1,010: Something within my journey was shifting. Was this an ending or a beginning? Loving the patterns in numbers, I researched the number 1010.  Two 10s together have multiple significances.  Most summarized about an end and a beginning, a death and a rebirth. It is a number that represents both closure and new opportunities. 1010 can be related to a change or shift in thinking. The number 10 is seen as both individual (1) and infinite (0). Some sources mentioned how seeing 1010 repeatedly is a sign that you are on the right path and to trust (in the universe).

I contemplated the significance of this number, recognizing the experience of multiple deaths and rebirths in various areas of my life this year. Maybe parts of me died that I was unaware of, which turned into doubt and confusion. I survived and sought more clarity on the next path(s) to take.

While I was consumed with all the metaphorical deaths around and within me, I overlooked the passing of a brilliant creative a few days prior.

There are times when I read or hear something and its earworm sticks inside my brain for days or weeks. This week’s earworm belongs to the legendary Quincy Jones.

Day 1,015 (November 11): Unaware of his passing on November 6th, I ran across an article about Quincy Jones and his relationship with Michael Jackson while recording the albums “Off The Wall” and “Thriller.” The story pulled me into a research rabbit hole where I learned more about Jones’ life (and death). He was a talented creative who found his spark at an early age and followed his instincts throughout his career. 

The more I read about his life - how he discovered his calling, survived two aneurysms, and other moments - the more it gave me goosebumps. A lightbulb went off when I found the quote below. This was an excellent reminder that I am exactly where I need to be now: writing from my gut.

Also, note to self - find Quincy Jones music to listen to while writing…

October-pocalypse came and went this year with a loud thunderstorm rather than a massive hurricane. Thankfully there is no November-nado in sight. Reflecting on this new milestone meant rediscovering what brought me to Day 1,000 and beyond, removing the bad habits and thoughts no longer serving me, and discovering various new ways to remain motivated while on the path. 

Life is constantly changing, and so is your creative journey. Listen, learn and don’t be afraid of these endings and beginnings. And as Wayne Dyer said, “Don’t die with the music still in you.” Quincy Jones sure didn’t.

Thank you for supporting my journey these past 1,018 days. I am still writing from my gut, allowing the music to take me where I need to go.

Enjoy the day. Get out of your own way and allow it to flow, fellow creatives.

Nadine