Occasionally in life, we come to a point where we begin to
feel stagnant. When the everyday becomes so routine that it ceases to be a
challenge or a learning experience. And like a crime investigation gone cold,
sometimes it becomes necessary to find a way to stir things up.
My husband (who is Chief of Police in our town) and his
detectives recently did such a thing on a two-year-old homicide case which had
almost gone cold. Recent changes in their department (including my husband
coming in as chief), particularly the detective division, prompted them to
start the investigation from the beginning, look at it with fresh eyes. Then
they started all over by calling in a search and rescue team, complete with trained
K-9s, to re-canvas the scene of the crime.
I think the same kind of thinking can apply to writing or to
other art forms, as well as any aspect of life. Stirring things up is how I got
my first book contract. And then again, stirring led me to my agent. Indeed, we
stirred our family by moving to Texas a little under two years ago. There is
extreme value in shaking things up, breaking patterns, accepting change. Change
is growth. And growth is always, always good.
So they stirred this investigation, and while initially, no
new evidence surfaced, the presence of the team was enough to start an
avalanche of new information that bled with old information, and three weeks
later…
An arrest. A strong case. Closure for the victims and their
families. A murderer off the streets.
Stirring the cold pot brought out information that led investigators
down the right path, just like stirring our family life to come to Texas led
our family into some incredible, phenomenal growth. I am still awaiting the
verdict on the progress with my career as an author, but big things are coming
there too. I can feel it.
I’m already holding the spoon, dipping it in the sauce. Once
again, it’s time to give things another little stir.
3 comments:
Very cool story about your husband's case, and I love the analogy. Stir things up!
I was so thrilled when I heard Gary got the job as chief here. And I love that you'll be back here in Utah.
Just. Wow. This post. Your husband. That case! And you are absolutely right. Stirring things up can really make a difference. I'm about to do it in my own writing career, so here goes nothing. :)
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