As you read this, the MBT staff is hard at work at the ACFW conference (if you’re there too, stop by the MBT booth. I’d love to say hi!!).

I’m sure you’re hard at work as well. You’ve been repeating your elevator speech a hundred times, not realizing it was to the hotel staff. When you finally got across the table from your dream agent, you forget everything… even your name!

Conferences are enough to make you feel you insignificant. Like you’re a little tadpole in a great big ocean. If you’re not careful, you let some things go that really need to be attended to.

That’s why I want to encourage you to stop! Relax! And… don’t forget to breathe!

Whether you land that contract or not, you’re writing journey will NEVER be the same as it is right now. So take time to enjoy where you are on your journey right now. Look around you. Enjoy the view.

Don’t get so hung up on the destination you’re trying to get to that you forget to enjoy the trip. If you do, you’ll get where you’re trying to get to, only to be disappointed. Why? It’s not about the destination, it’s about the trip!

Right now, as you’re reading this (umm, yes, I mean right this very instant), stop and take a deep breath. Take in the aromas of where you are. Look around you. Take in the colors, the sounds, the people. You’ll never be in this moment again. Never.

Now, count your blessings. Did you get a good roommate, or did you get away from a bad one? Did you get enough food to eat? Did you learn things that will help you develop as a writer? Did you make connections?

Yeah, now you’re getting it.

Your writing career is important and writer’s conferences play a huge role in that process. But don’t get so caught up in the hectic pace that you neglect yourself or you fail to enjoy the blessings of being with so many like-minded people who are on the same journey you are.

Please don’t forget to breathe. Breathe in the wonders of the genius of authors and teachers. Inhale the encouragement of others and exhale your own at the perfect moment to help someone else.

Take it all in. All too soon it will end and you will be back at home in your real world.

Enjoy yourself. Lighten up and get all the goodie out of it. You’ll be very glad you did! I promise!