So, I’ve been working on a novel about a cast of characters who meet at a dog park and one of the main dogs in the book is a Dachshund named Choco. He is actually a combination of a few dogs I’ve known, all the best traits, the perfect dog. I’ve hired an editor friend and she is looking over the manuscript presently.
Recently, I attended a workshop at Greenville Yoga and the teacher, Liz, led us in a visualization exercise where we imagined something that would bring us joy. I imagined Dog Park being published. After the exercise she invited people to share, but no..I couldn’t possibly. I always feel shy in groups I don’t know, and especially insecure about my writing. With close friends, I’m not shy…but anyway. I kept my mouth shut.
Then, the woman on the next mat shared that her happy place would be a job where she was a doggie matchmaker. She joyfully described being the one to connect foster dogs to new families, imitating Oprah, she said, “You get a dog! You get a dog! You get a dog!” Everyone laughed and shared in the joy of her vision.
Was it a sign? Should I share? I almost put my hand up, but didn’t.
Then, the next person said, “I have a Dachshund, and I want more of them. So my dream was to have about six of them and I saw all these little joyful stubby legs running around in my visualization.”
What were the odds both women would share about dogs? And about Dachshunds specifically? I took the hint.
Raising my hand tentatively, I told the group (about 20 people), “I am writing a novel called Dog Park, and I imagined it being published, and I almost didn’t share, but it is about a Dachshund named Choco, and I sort of felt like the last two who shared cued it up for me, and I decided to be brave enough to say it out loud.”
Sighs, and laughter, the room was so happy for me, and Liz said, “Okay, all of us are imagining Dog Park being a New York Times best seller!”
She suggested we find a way to keep our visions close to us, to be reminded of them every day. I thought of getting a Dachshund keychain, and when I got home I went straight to Etsy to find one.
In my book, Choco loves to run with the big dogs. I found this keychain and it arrived quickly. I experience joy every time I look at it. First, I mean, look at that dog. Second, I put my dream out there, and had total strangers get on board, root for me, and support me so lovingly. I feel that energy whenever I see it, and I see it every day.
I sent a Liz a photo of the keychain, and thanked her for the inspiration.
She wrote back saying she knew Dog Park would be a best seller, based on the workshop.
From her lips to God’s ears, and Choco’s.
Michelle O'Neil,Writer 