The Adventure Begins

The Adventure Begins

It was just on the cusp of spring, and Rose was enjoying her window shopping with the sun warming her cheeks. What a great day to get some fresh air that had the hint of the promise of bud break on it she thought. Then she saw the stationary store and that slight thrill ran through her. There was almost a nostalgia to a stationary store now. Not many wrote letters anymore or even wrote down their thoughts with pen and paper. But she had always loved the look and purpose and even smell of a stationary store. Everything lined up just so with the colors chromatically done and all the organization gave her a slight buzz and then worked to calm her. Even thought the items were new, Rose’s mind always filled in the wonderful smell of “old library” anyways. It was as if all the paper and notebooks and pens and markers held the promise of a classic novel or poem or love story just waiting to be written. If the store was well organized being there could almost be like a walking meditation.

Rose entered the store and perused the aisles taking it slow and enjoying the space. Her best friend’s birthday was coming up. What a perfect place to get a special “real” card she thought. She still loved the giving and receiving of a handwritten message and the sentiment they carried. She carefully chose a card she thought her friend would be moved by when her eye caught a lovely array of notebooks and journals on display. All the colors and clean edges lined up together of the stacked Moleskine options excited her. And then as if by design, she saw on the easel display for personalized journals one that was embossed with “My Adventure Starts Here.” How perfect Rose said aloud.

“Can I help you?” The shopkeeper inquired.

“This is exactly what I needed to find today, thank you!” “May I please order this little notebook in black with that same personalized inscription? And I’ll take this card, too. You just made two peoples’ day!”

Strolling home Rose’s lips turned up into a sly smile as to what secrets she could keep in her new little black book. She had many that had been more like a diary of feelings when she was younger. Those were sweet and funny to look back on, especially the ones that detailed what boy she liked and how cute he was when she had kept journals as a pre-teen. The ones from early adulthood were more goal oriented and listed what she wanted to accomplish. Her mined strayed again to the message the journal would have on it: “My Adventure Starts Here.” Maybe there would be a secret message in the little back pocket of the little black book when it arrived to tell her about the adventure she giggled to herself.

When the little black book arrived, it was weird she knew, but she took a deep whiff of her brand new journal. Rose had always loved that smell. She flipped through the empty pages feeling the faint caress of air on her face that they made. She was struck with a thought that she always loved; that the empty pages held the promise of creation. Rose had always thought how cool it was to create “something out of nothing,” an idea in the mind suddenly springing to life. As she ran her hand along the golden message on the front, “My Adventure Starts Here,” she felt a powerful urge to write. Yet there was a niggling sense in the back of her mind that just her goals or a daily log would not be enough this time. Did she want to use the little black book for poetry or an attempt at a new children’s book? She used to like writing those. Something was there at the edge of her mind trying to get through. She place the pretty journal on her desk and tried to grasp the thought, but it wouldn’t come.

Later as she took a relaxing shower, it hit her. How funny that inspiration always came to Rose in the shower! Maybe the warm water softened her ideas so they could come out she thought with a chuckle. She would use her new find to create something she had been wanting for a long time. She just remembered a video she had seen about a process called scripting. Instead of a list of goals, it was one goal written over and over. The writing process and the repetition would help that one goal really infuse into her system so to speak. Using her little black book to script the goal would help it get into her subconscious and then from there it could flow out somehow into her real life. Rose had been a bit skeptical when she had happened upon that video, but intrigued none the less. I might as well try it she decided with a sudden clarity that felt good. What could it hurt? And besides, I did sign up for a New Adventure, right?

Rose waited three days to start trying to come up with the goal and the wording that felt right. What she really wanted was a better source of income and money flow. She had decided to move soon to be closer to the ocean she loved so well. But she also thought it may be a pipe dream. She had not been good with saving money lately, and living near the ocean was going to take some chunk of cash to get there. Could she set a money goal, she wondered? Her lease was up in three months and she did not really want to stay in her current town another year. But what would she really need to move? Rose wanted to have a nice downpayment for housing, moving expenses and enough of a buffer for a few weeks once she arrived at her new ocean home. And if she was being honest with herself, she wanted a good chunk to have for savings, something she never really had before. And she wanted a travel fund.

$20,000.00 popped into her head. Was that even possible she mused? She had always been told: “You have to work hard to make money. Money doesn’t grow on trees you know! Money won’t just fall into your lap!” Could she somehow raise the $20,000 she wanted in just three months?

Well, new adventures, right? Rose told herself. I have to try!

She felt silly at first, but she opened the unblemished journal and wrote: I now have $20,000 cash for my move to the ocean, rent on a house, savings, and a travel fund. Rose wrote the same sentence out in her little black book three times. She then read them aloud.

Later in the day she wrote it six times. At night before she went to bed she wrote the sentence out nine times and read it aloud. She got excited to picture a cute house near the beach and having money to pay for it. She pictured herself on a fun trip as she ran her fingers over the words she had written in the journal. She imagined the feeling of freedom she had knowing she had money in the bank. She like writing in the journal three times a day and focusing on her goal. It all felt so good. The act of writing made it feel more real to her.

Could it be real or am I crazy she would often think. But the pull of the ocean was strong. She didn’t know how to get there without some funds, so she made an intention to let go and just try. It seemed crazy, but what if she believed it could happen. She was enjoying the confidence it gave her and the power she felt in her written words upon the pages. She loved the feel of the pen in her hand and the looping look of her script as she wrote her declaration over and over using the ribbon to mark the pages she filled.

Rose made sure to script in her journal everyday, three times a day for a month straight. Then she suddenly had a powerful feeling to stop. She would give her creation time and not worry so much.

A few weeks later Rose took a weekend away in the countryside. Spring was in full bloom now and the air smelled green and fresh. Colorful flowers dotted her path. She loved to relax, and it felt good to unwind. She had left her phone at home on purpose so she could really let go. When she got back her phone immediately pinged several messages from an out of state number she didn’t recognize. “Walker and McLean Law Offices” she heard upon connection of her call back. Rose was taken a bit off guard. She said who she was and was connected to an attorney.

“Did you know an Evie Young?” he inquired. Rose had to think for a moment.

“Oh yes, she was a dear older friend of my mother,” Rose exclaimed.

“Well I’m sorry to say that Evie has passed away a few weeks ago. But you are mentioned in her will.” Rose was hit with sadness and confusion all at once.

“Oh I loved Evie, she was so sweet, but you must have me mistaken with someone else. I didn’t know her terribly well.” The lawyer confirmed with Rose where she used to live and some personal details.

“You are indeed the Rose named in the will,” he stated. Also, there is a short letter to you enclosed in Evie’s papers that may shed some light. May I read it to you?”

Dear Rose,

I have always wanted to thank you more for that weekend you spent with me when I needed help fixing up the house. I loved your sweet company and the talks we had. I was surprised you loved tea as much as I did! You spoke of your mom and how you loved spending time together. I had always had a slight jealousy of your relationship with your mother as I was sadly estranged from my own son. I was bitter and resentful and had a hard time reaching out to him. During one of our drives, you said that you had been struggling with a coworker, and your mom had told you to “Be The Change You Seek.” You told me how it turned the situation around and that stuck with me. I began to realize that I had wanted my son to reach out, to want a relationship with me, and to show me he cared. But had I been doing that for him? I had kept him at bay due to feeling hurt. Then I decided to lead by your example and be the change. I reached out to him. I focused on giving him the love and attention I wanted him to give me. And it worked! We found our way back to each other and have enjoyed a much closer relationship ever since. This has meant the world to me like you would not believe. I have been fortunate enough to do well in life. But the extra time with my son was my greatest gift and joy thanks to your words and examples of wisdom. I want to leave you this gift to express my extreme gratitude.

With love and thankfulness, Evie

The lawyer finished reading and Rose was moved.

“I’m sure you heard in that letter that Mrs. Young has left you a gift.”

“OK, “ Rose heard herself say through the slight nervous fog she was staring to feel. “And what would that gift be?”

$20,000.00 dollars the lawyer replied.

The Adventure Begins.

-Author- Renée M. Douglas