Your Mission, Sans Self Destruction

You know that feeling after a party ends? When the streamers are half dangling from the ceiling. Cake crumbs and frosting are mashed into the carpet. Half empty glasses spread around the room like a scene from Signs, and all that's left of the happy chatter is your own quiet breathing. Yeah. That's how it feels after a book is launched and the falderal dies down.

I confess. All the hoopla of getting a book published is entirely addictive. I'm a writerly meth addict, eager for my next contract hit. Oh, my teeth aren't falling out and my skin isn't all janky with open sores or anything, but I'm every bit as pathetic as a crackhead.

What's up with that? The obvious: it's great to be acknowledged. It grows warm fuzz on the heart and tingles in a nicer way than when you bite on aluminum foil.

The truth is that whenever you come down off a mountain peak, be it a published book or sales award at work or a freaking Mother of the Year badge of honor, it's always hard to transition back to the real world of cleaning the toilet and doing the dishes. It's like that for everyone.

So, here's my challenge...

Encourage someone today. You never know what kind of peak they might be hiking down, how sweaty their armpits are or banged up their shins. The bonus is that when you're busy looking for ways to uplift someone else, your focus is off yourself. This isn't just a silly suggestion of mine. It's a command.

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Lest you think this is a solicitation to shower me with "Aww, poor thing" or "Suck it up and move on" types of sentiments, think again. Yes, it was a fun Launch Week Party last week, but I'm already on to the next story, too busy to sit in a corner and weep.

Besides which, I've got to find me someone to encourage!