In 2015, I went to see a psychic.
My mother had gone to Jamie a few years ago, and this woman became a ‘life psychic’ to her – few were saying ‘life coach’ back then, but I guess that’s what their relationship was like.
My mom was very earth-based, but she was also a seeker who wanted to understand and untangle her life and was open to anything. We are the same.
After a big chunk of grief subsided as a result of my mom’s death in 2010, I went through a period of just wanting to be near anyone who had known her. I know this is very common – looking for a way to connect with a loved one and fill a gap. It’s comforting. So I sought out Jamie and booked a time to see her – simply because she knew my mom and they had a special relationship.
You’re going to write a book….
I went to the appointment on a Saturday afternoon and sat down on her sofa. The first thing Jamie said was “You’re going to write a book”. Well, you know what my mind did? Snapped shut like a steel door. I replied that I wasn’t a writer and didn’t have a book in my head. She said she had been writing a book for years. I thought, “So that’s it – it’s her book writing she’s projecting onto me”. I like writing, but I’ve never had any interest in writing a book. I wasn’t going to be rude and tell Jamie this, so I just nodded and let it go, figuring her psychic skills were just off that day. We went on to have a charming conversation about my mom and, though she rightly never revealed the content of their sessions (and I would never ask), it made me feel close to my mom in the way that I needed. That’s all I was looking for – a connection. I left feeling good – along with a piece of paper that Jamie had jotted notes on – the first note being that I was going to write a book. Super annoying. Crossed that off.
I never picked up that piece of paper again and couldn’t find it now if I wanted to. But wouldn’t you know that at the end of that year, a few of us were talking and came up with an idea for a book. Well to anyone who knows, an idea for a book is far from a book. Many great ideas alone do not create a book. We left it alone for a few months until one day I realized how much I enjoyed talking and discussing things with colleagues and business partners. Out of our conversations came the idea to write a book about topics we thought were interesting and make them conversational – easily understandable and short to read. So we started. By September of this year, we published our book on Amazon. When we got the final proof copy of the boo,k it hit me that I was told I was going to write a book. Of course, you know that I had forgotten entirely about Jamie’s off-base prediction. I smiled – a big smile.
Flexible thinking…
In the last 3 years, life has been about so many things that I never thought it would be. I have stepped out of my comfort zone in many ways, and although I don’t always like it, I’m getting used to not being completely relaxed, if you know what I mean—constantly having to toss out old ideas and old absolutes because they are no longer helpful. In every way, I have had to learn to be flexible in my thinking. I did not want to write a book, could have cared less about writing a book, but I wrote a book. Even though I never envisioned writing a book I did it and published it and people have bought it. How great is that? No one is more surprised than I. Jamie was right, I was wrong, and I learned yet again that simply because I can’t see it doesn’t mean I can’t do it, or something unexpected and extraordinary can’t happen. Another great life lesson – the life of a newly minted “flexible thinker”.
Did I tell you I wrote a book? Check it out on Amazon
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About the Author
Dana C. Arnett, Founder and CEO of Wicked Bionic, spent 30 years in the entertainment business before starting the agency in 2015. The Los Angeles-based multicultural communications and advertising agency works with government and private-sector clients on strategic marketing and engaging media campaigns. Dana has always loved learning from other cultures, and that curiosity became the foundation for how Wicked Bionic approaches culturally responsive marketing – building authentic connections between organizations and the communities they serve.
