Publisher's Synopsis
THEATER ENTRANCE: You are walking up to the theater. It looks somewhat typical from the outside, maybe just a little non-descript. As you walk in you feel only the usual anticipation of going to a good movie. You have come to this theater on an impulse so you have no expectations as you enter, but now you find that this isn't exactly the usual theater. You are surprised. Inside you find no seats, but rather you can just walk right into the screen and feel as though you are joining into the action on screen. You know this can't be possible. It has to be some kind of mind trick. The theater must in fact be the work of your own mind, yet the movie proceeds as you turn the pages of the book in your lap. At this point you realize that you are developing expectations. It is indeed a marvelous adventure. The characters that you are observing have lives that are in progress. They are building lives that aren't exactly planned but even as you watch they are working out plans that fit their characters. It looks like this could be an exhausting process, but even now you notice buttons that will allow you to fast forward.You have now moved into the burgeoning part of the characters in this movie in your mind. They have obviously figured out parts of their lives. Possibly teachers and mentors have done their part in this family's lives and they are successful. You watch as they live a good life. They are finally going on weekend excursions and long vacations. You watch as they enjoy the fruits of their labors. They are obviously going to get into more extensive plots and growth patterns. It begins to look like this story must begin at the beginning so you quickly rewind. You find it delightful that you can now pick up the story at the beginning with the realization that the characters will succeed because you have watched the preview. You can watch the youthful romance of a lovely couple. You meet the mentors and cheer them on as they work their way out of difficult but valuable experiences. You laugh with them, cry with them but often your tears are tears of joy.You find that you want your life to have the value that you see the characters' lives have along with the value and excitement that these people are enjoying... but you don't know how. As your mind watches the movie you have yet another realization. You can just follow the twists and turns that occur as you turn the pages of the book. It's your movie and your mind creating it but it is being guided as you turn the pages. You don't have to know the ins and outs, you can learn with these actors in your mind movie. Is it possible that you are growing and learning along with the friends you meet on the pages of this book? You begin to write yourself into the movie that you are directing. You learn lessons and facts along with them. You are beginning to form a love for yourself that is focused on love, happiness, and an expectation of good things to come...for you. You now know that if you want to you can have the life you want for yourself just as successfully as the people in the 'theater of your mind'.
