I’ve been internalizing too much as of late. This most likely has to do with the fact that I’ve been home alone too much recently. It would probably do me some good to get out around people. A little separation from the overwhelming amount of steps that need to be taken as we head off in a new direction would also be good. So to start off this new week, here are a few quotes about focus and action.
I wish you all well! Have a wonderful week everyone!
I haven’t commented on the passing of Robin Williams, liked any comments, or taken part in any of the discussions regarding depression that have taken over my feeds. When a celebrity passes, I almost always remain silent for the simple fact that although they brought us joy, we did not know them. I did meet him once at a party years ago (a thank you to my sister for reminding me, hello bad memory) and he was extremely kind, and I have friends who did actually know him, and my sympathies go out to his family and friends, but I believe that some respect should be paid and hence, I remain silent. Except for today.
The death of someone of Robin Williams’ caliber is sure to strike at the hearts of many, myself included, but in today’s social media stream people say stupid things, tone is lost in translation, and it almost mars the memory and the feelings trying to be expressed. I grew up watching him. My sister grew up watching him. He has been a part of many people’s entire lives. His loss is tragic.
Depression (and a few other disorders) runs in my family. I have struggled at times, very recently in fact (and really, what writer doesn’t?), due to a lack of control. I wrote about this recently, about having to make some hard choices. Those choices have been made, and now it’s just a matter of time before I start a new path. This may sound odd, but the news of this particular death reiterated to me that changing courses is not a bad thing, or something to regret, because it is for the sake of my well being, and that of my sister’s. We have been struggling. I look at my life in its current state and I shake my head. This isn’t where I want be or should be at this point. And although I write stories where people get a second go around, we do only have the one chance and we shouldn’t waste it being unhappy, especially if we have the power to change that.
L.A. is a tough town. I suppose in a way it’s meant to be. And I was not prepared for it. Life is a journey, and a learning experience. And I have definitely learned a few new things. I suppose this is just another step, hopefully forward, even if it is slightly detoured.
I wish you all well, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek someone out who can offer you a helping hand. Remember, you’re not alone, regardless of how solitary a writer’s life is.
Best wishes, my friends!
*Maya Angelou’s quote, something I shared when I learned of her passing, seemed appropriate here.
I love an award. It’s not often as adults we get to enjoy one. Remember the days in grade school, or if you have kids now yourself, how many awards you could earn in a given year? Actually, from what I’ve seen, thanks to FB, I think there are more given now than ever, but I digress. Now think about your adult life. Depressing, right? So why not celebrate when you receive one?
The Wonderful Team Member Readership Award is basically a Big Thank You to fellow bloggers kind enough to spend time, like, and comment. I, myself, was nominated by the incomparable Old School Harlequin from the World of Harley. Stop by his asylum and be lured in.
Now, about the award…the nice thing about this one, it won’t waste a lot of your time when you should be writing. 🙂
So thank you, my friends. You encourage me every day, and in the life of this writer, it makes a difference.
The rules are as follows:
1. The nominee shall display the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award logo on his/her blog.
2. The nominee shall nominate 14 bloggers s/he admires, over a period of 7 days, all at once or little by little, by linking to their blogs and informing them about it.
See, fairly painless.
Here are all of my nominees, because the way my brain has been lately, it will probably go unfinished if put aside.. (Yes, I’m still having one of those days.)
Congratulations, my friends! For all the love they’ve shown me, they deserve the recognition! Again, thank you to all of you who continue to follow along with me as I walk the writer’s journey.
Happy Wednesday! (You’re halfway there 😉 )
xx, Rach
*Quick edit due to a total blonde moment – forgot the word Member in the title…it’s on the graphic. Ugh. *Shakes head.
I’m still a little scattered…not sure why exactly. I feel pressured, and a little anxious. It’s making me raise my eyebrow a bit too often. So I’m posting a few quotes on focus, as I’m probably not the only person struggling with this, in the hopes we will all get back on track.
Wishing you all well!
Last week I didn’t post a quote because I had lots of other things to share, and I hadn’t planned on posting one this week either…until I saw this:
It just immediately struck me. Let us be ourselves! So here’s to a productive week ahead!
Best wishes everyone!
Every time I come across an article that may be of use to us all, I save it to my computer and mark it with an asterisk so I can find it later. The other day I decided to take stock of that list, which I then broke down into other lists according to subject matter, some of which require more reading, deleted a bunch that seemed fairly useless after a second go around, and came up with an immediate share list of 15 articles.
Here’s one of them, entitled Why Creative People Make No Sense. I’ve saved this for some time, actually forgot about it until the other day, then remembered why I saved it in the first place. It’s a great article, and may settle arguments you’ve had with yourself. We are definitely a breed unto ourselves. We are full of contradictions and those who are not creative will never understand what it’s like to be us. In a way, that’s a reassuring thought. It also unites those of us that are alike.
I was talking to this person the other day who really has no creative outlet. They only read non-fiction, usually relevant to their field, they rarely watch tv or films, let alone anything with any sort of “fantastical” or escapist facet, and they have no other source of interest like art or even music. I find this one of the most perplexing people I’ve ever encountered, because what do you do? What joy is there in your life? I may be struggling at times, but I have passion for my work, hobbies and interests, and a desire to enjoy what the creative world has to offer, in addition to my love of history, travel, and all my other little fancies. I just see this person as incomplete, living a half life. And this made me even more thankful for my creative tendencies.
So embrace your creative side. Revel in your weirdness. Love the things that make you unique.
Best wishes, my friends!
Some days are just…a struggle. I’m having one of “those” days. I’ve had a few circumstances that I would normally shrug off, but have somehow compounded and now I just feel blah. I’ve also been doing some life re-evaluating. That is a slippery slope. But it did put a few things into perspective…that’s for another day.
As we have all heard the phrase that happiness is a choice, I had to remind myself. We choose our mental state every day, and as aspiring writers that is key. We have to maintain the positivity in the face of adversity in order to keep us moving forward toward our goals and dreams.
So on that note, here is this week’s quote:
Have a wonderful and productive week!
I like quotes, as I’m sure you’ve noticed. Some people just say the right thing and why not share their words of wisdom? So here is this week’s quote, something as writers we probably all need to keep in mind…because we all have those days. 🙂
Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. – Joyce Meyer
And not to leave it at that, I thought I’d share this article from the wonderful people at The Write Life, 3 Ways to Train Your Brain to be More Creative, which is designed to help freelancers in particular, but from which we could all benefit.
One trick is to get into a routine. And we all love that. I write my screenplays primarily at night when the house is quiet, the courtyard of my building is quiet, it’s dark and I can’t see how lovely it is outside, and when my phone won’t ding. I’ve always been this way. I switched to writing my blog and doing “homework” during the daylight hours though, so I feel there’s a separation in my work.
One of the other tricks is to do something fun beforehand in order to warm up your brain. The author references Pavlov. On my old laptop I used to play a few hands of solitaire, now I play a little Tetris on my computer, because my original Nintendo system is old. Yes, I still have it. I don’t need to do this all the time, not anymore, I’ve trained myself. But when I get stuck on some facet in my writing, I will play a little Tetris, which doesn’t take any thought process, my hands just keep working, and I can usually work out the problem. I think it has to do with not trying to force the solution. I allow my brain to work it out without concentrating solely on it; it keeps working even though I feel like I shut it off.
I hope you find this helpful.
Have a wonderful and productive week!
Recently I was talking with someone about goals and dreams, and I realized how mine have changed over the years. When I was in my early twenties, trying to figure out what I wanted to do with myself, a screenwriter was nowhere in the vicinity. I’ve always considered myself a late bloomer; where I thought I’d be, and where I am now…life can be funny that way. I had the following quote on my graduation announcements, when I finally decided to go back to school and finish on my own terms. I graduated two months before I turned thirty (*Shh, don’t tell!). See, late bloomer.
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. – Thoreau
Watch out world, here we come!
This is a good one…and a great reminder.
Be who you are, not who the world wants you to be.
Have a great week everyone!
A Writer's Discrepant Memoirs and Other Tales 