Tag: Friends

This Is Why I Love Blogging

4 Comments

So, over at Kayla Olson’s blog, Owl and Sparrow, she asked, “Where have you been? Where are you going?” and since I was able to really look at my life and acknowledge that I have come a long way since last year, I decided to repost my comment to her, so that I can be reminded of my progress (in terms of mindset and motivation…word counts, mmm, not so much, but I am moving in the right direction!).

My comment was:

It’s so much fun to list all the things that have happened over a significant amount of time…it always makes me thankful for all the things that I have been blessed with and encourages me to chase after more! (Stay hungry, stay foolish, as ole Steve Jobs said…)

Over this last year, I really had one “A-HA” moment, and that one moment allowed for a cascade of events that has led me to now.  (This is why I believe that mindset is so terribly important: thoughts lead to changing behaviors, which leads to results.)

1. I’ve been recognized as a top-performing manager in my company.  The recognition only made me realize that I was tops in a field that at the end of the day, I have no passion for.  The passion that I put in my work to make me one of the best is just my unending drive to “do my best” no matter where I am.  This led me to re-evaluate and prioritize my life around my true life goals.  Plus, I turned 30 in January, which really lit a match for me to “do something.”

2. Part of my “do something” involved regaining my fitness level that I neglected in my 29th year, again for a job that paid the bills but did nothing to nourish my true passions (imagine realizing that I could have “sacrificed my health” for basically nothing. That was truly eye-opening). From Dec-Feb, I achieved my body composition goals, and have since maintained (even improved upon) it.

3. And, of course, as part of my prioritization, I knew, KNEW, that this was the year to stop “dreaming” about writing, and truly live it.  Funny knowing that “waking up” meant that I got to live my dreams.

I know I’m still in the beginning stages, but I am truly motivated to get this done and start living the life that I want to live.

And this is why the blog world is cool: not only do I get to meet a lot of different people, but I also meet people who are doing this crazy writing thing like me, and am encouraged to keep going whether by encouraging others or even just reading through how they have overcome obstacles.  And, I get to write out my thoughts without much of an internal editor and write long sentences that start with “and,” and be OK with it.

Advertisement

I Discovered I Really Hate Coming Up With Titles to Blog Posts

2 Comments

So, I discovered lots of things today!  So many things, that I should probably list them for ease of reading.  (Plus, I feel like I’ve been more productive on my day off from my paythebills job when I see it in list form…especially since I have the Friends’ influenced urge to say “check!” after naming each point in the list, thus further emphasizing how truly productive I am).  In no particular order of importance, relevance, or chronology here are Today’s Discoveries! (Exclamation points and Capitalization also imply things of Great Importance and Prominence.) (!)

1. I discovered that I find lots of Important Things to busy myself with in the mornings rather than write.  On an unrelated note, Twitter is shiny.

2. I discovered that I can’t write dialogue worth crap—argh!  [Excuse me, let me take the moment to write a positive affirmation: I write fantastic dialogue!  The dialogue is natural, smooth, and sounds just like two people having a real conversation in my living room.] * eye roll *

3. I discovered a little extra protein in the form of a grub in my would-have-been spaghetti squash lunch. (You can imagine me throwing up a little in my mouth right…here.  I also promptly threw it away right about…now.)

4. I discovered that 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil, dried garlic and other seasonings can really jazz up regular spaghetti (the aforementioned seasonings were my original toppings for the spaghetti squash; not as healthy, but I was having spaghetti one way or another!)

5. I discovered that I CAN tell someone about my Work in Progress!  I did it in email form, but it really helped me to sit down and think about it, and I’m so happy!  That’s like, half a query letter right there, see productive, ha!

6. I discovered that I found a great method of plotting out my story that I can stick with …but I have way too much procrastinating to do before I sit back down and play with said story.

7. I discovered that it’s hard to write about the bleak and depressing parts of the novel when I’m too goofy to settle down and compose my own thoughts.

8. I discovered that even though I’m a really goofy, silly person who can laugh at anything, when I sit down to write, I have a weird librarian voice going on in my head.  What’s up with that?

9. I discovered that coffee is such a joy and comfort to me in the mornings.  I already knew that but it’s always worth mentioning things I’m grateful for. (Is it ludicrous that I automatically edited in my head: “…for which I’m grateful.”  Really?)

10. I discovered that quite possibly the number one reason that I’m so distracted, and kinda goofy is the fact that I’m not listening to any music right now.

So, after getting myself another cup, I’ll flick on the Pandora Radio, and get back to The Novel!