In life there are times when you must let go of the comfortable and familiar. It may be that ratty flannel gown you love, the butter containers with no lids or the old manuscript you carry around like a pal. Even friends and lovers are targets for The Goodbye Kiss.

How do you know when to break up? First, there is no vow, “till death do us part” for what we write. You do not have to suffer in sickness and in health with a story, poem or halfway writing project. It could be it’s draining your time, or your constantly making changes but not really changing anything or it’s just no longer fun for you. It’s tired. You’re tired and most likely, scared.

What if you quit your torturous writing schedule on your novel? What will you write? Indeed! What will you write? The world is waiting to see!

Don’t worry. I know you won’t throw it out. Put it in a drawer or file for safe- keeping and start writing a new story. If you don’t feel inspired right away, write about breaking up with your writing. Talk about the guilt you feel about making, what you know to be, a good choice.

So, put on your lipstick and plant The Goodbye Kiss on your manuscript.

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Dr. Patricia Brawley maintains a therapy and consulting practice and is a university professor. She has always been deeply interested in mind-body interaction, health psychology, creativity, consciousness and dreams. She is strongly influenced by mindfulness meditation practice, Buddhist philosophy, yoga, and humanistic values and beliefs.

Dr. Brawley, a published author, enjoys writing and leading writing groups. She lives in McComb, Mississippi with her husband and three cats, Kwan Yin, Nightmare and Goldilocks.