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August 6th, 2013 Day two of the writers conference was a busy one. In between the two classes and running the bookstore, I had to sneak out and give some time to my new job of wedding planner. I made the complete circle from Hyannis to Mashpee to Sandwich and back to Hyannis again in time for my afternoon class, Writing for Children.
Day two of this class was fun. We had the writing exercise I spoke of yesterday. Yesterday I was glad we weren’t going to have to share it. Today, when someone suggested we share and the teacher asked for volunteers, I was among the first to raise my hand. Why do I do that? The best thing about the exercise was not having to share, yet when asked, I’m the first in line. This behavior might help me with today’s homework assignment.
For homework, we have to sit for a few minutes and honestly think about why we want to write for children. At first I thought my reason might be a little egotistical because I usually genuinely like what I write and want to share it, but in thinking about the homework question, now I don’t think so. I think it’s important to like what you write; to like what you create.
For me, a piece of myself is given in the art and writing I create. What fuels my passion for creating in the first place? Why do I write, not only for children, but why do I write this blog everyday? I think it’s for a connection. I connect with you, my blog reader, just as I would connect with a child or a group of children with a picture book I write. For me it’s touching someone and evoking an emotional response or nudging thought into a new direction.
Child or adult, picture book listener or blog reader, it’s the energy that passes between my words and the recipient that fuels the passion for what I create. The human connection formed out of laughter, sadness, provoked thought, questioning, the deeper understanding of life and/or the organization of one’s world is my reason for writing – for both children and adults. Liking my work is vitally important to forging that connection. When I give a gift, I always give the recipient something that I would like. Why would it be any different with my writing?
And so, as another day goes by, my teacher formed a connection with me by leading me to turn inward and provoking my thoughts, it was a good assignment, and …I have written.
August 5th, 2013 Ah…here we are again. The first week of August at the annual Cape Cod Writers Center Conference. I always call this week summer camp for adults. It’s a week to mingle and chat and learn and, this year, work in the bookstore. I love working in the bookstore. I get to reconnect with people I haven’t seen since “camp” last year and I learned to use a credit card machine.
I’m taking two classes; e-publishing, so I can get my books up on Amazon, and of course, writing for children. Adam Gamble, author of Goodnight Cape Cod and a whole slew of goodnight places books, is my teacher for the children’s writing class. I loved our first class. He took time to tell us the road he traveled to get to where he is today. I liked that. I always sit and wonder, as I sit in awe, of a successful author, “How did they get here?” He spent a lot of time talking about that spiritual spot where all authentic writing comes from. Writing from the heart is important to me so I resonated with a lot of what he said, especially the parts about writing everyday, finding the best time of day that you write best, and setting deadlines and getting used to meeting them.
He ended class by telling us to bring paper tomorrow and come prepared for a writing exercise. Awww…here it comes. Creeping in. That fear of a successful author looking at my work and thinking I’m ridiculous for even trying this. That fear of reading raw work in front of some of my most successful peers, etc. I wasn’t excited. Now I’d be nervous to come tomorrow. (I’ve been here many times before – some turned out well, other times not so well.)
Then Adam said something no other teacher said before. He said he wasn’t ever going to read it, nor were we going to read it to each other. We’d be free to write and change and rearrange things and see it from different viewpoints. Another words, we could write without fear in our own little box and really examine what we could do. Knowing we don’t have to share the piece makes me excited and open to learning instead of trying to craft something to please the teacher and the crowd. I think it’s going to be fun. Let “writing camp”, as my students would call it, begin.
And so, as another day goes by, check out Adam’s books and say goodnight to some of your favorite places, and…I have written.
August 4th, 2013 Today I read a friend’s blogpost The Salve of Heaven. It was about actively, consistently seeking peace. She reiterated how all of our days should be peaceful, even in the face of storm. I know. I said “how?” too. Her answer was simple. So simple I would’ve never thought of it. You choose peace – choose being the key word here.
How many times have all of us reacted to the latest storm with kicking and screaming? How many times have we grabbed that phone or keyboard and unleashed a tirade that left us exhausted and upset? For me? Too many times. During my three year pursuit of peace and healing I’ve shut down that kind of behavior. In disagreements with my husband and kids, when I feel that angry response to something I deem unjust, I stop. I have learned to become sensitive to that “incensed” feeling and when it strikes, I immediately stop. I don’t give in to the person. I don’t back down if I feel I have a legitimate point to make. I just stop. Stopping has saved me from slinging out that cutting or hurtful comment that would just deepen the altercation. Stopping enables me to proceed in a calmer, more rational manner. Stopping has kept me from jumping in and solving a problem my child has, when they are more than capable of solving it themselves because I stopped and listened. Both of my daughters will call me and rant for thirty or more minutes, and then just say thanks for listening and hang up.
My friend, in her blog, put it very simply:
For once we have tasted the heart benefits of peaceful response to any and every situation we might encounter, once we choose peace rather than agitating passions, once we step out on the authority and absolute reliability of God’s word and surrender to trusting in Him unconditionally – we have placed ourselves on the path of eagerly pursuing that continuous state of peace that will nurture us, sustain us, and utterly defeat any attempt by “the world, the flesh, and the devil” to shatter that “heart calm”! ~ Merrilyn Grodecki
The part of this quote that resonated with me was: “choose peace, rather than agitating passions.” When I read that I thought “Yes, yes! That’s it exactly!” Stop, and CHOOSE peace instead of partaking in incensed agitation, leaving you stressed, and in most cases, so sorry you said what you said.
And so, as another day goes by, let us learn to exercise our option to “choose peace, rather than agitating passions,” and…I have written.
August 3rd, 2013 My author friend, Melinda Lancaster,
has a daughter with Rett Syndrome. Up until now there were no trials to enhance communication done on older children and adults. There is going to be one done this fall in Texas. Melinda has been doing garage sales to help raise money for their plane tickets to get Katelin down there to see if she qualifies for the trial. The next garage sale is going to be next weekend, August 9. If any of my Cape Cod friends have anything they would like to donate to the sale to help Katelin, see info below. Just contact Melinda and she will come pick up your items. Also, if you’d just like to help, but don’t have any items to donate or who live off cape, but want to help, email me for donation information both by check or credit card. Thanks in advance for all you do to help a child.
Thanks to all my friends who donated to the last sale. We are halfway to the goal. Let’s get Kate to Texas!
And so, as another day goes by, lending a helping hand (or item or dollar) to help a child is the essence of this life, and…I have written.
Meet Katelin:
 And a bit about Rett:
August 2nd, 2013 This week I had the pleasure of teaching a Young Authors Workshop to five fine writers at Firefly Moon in Arlington. They were a lively group – we shared much laughter and fun, along with many serious moments and quiet writing times. It was the best balance for inspiration to bloom into the wonderful work that was shared at our reception today. Here’s a sampling of our time together:
Working hard!
Brilliant work!
What a group!
Super sharing!
Prize time!
And so, as another workshop goes by, once again children inspire and amaze me, and…I have written.
For more info on Young Authors Workshops visit the iTeach website.
August 1st, 2013 This morning I was greeted on Facebook with the unexpected and shocking loss of a friend out here on the Cape. I’ve known her for over twelve years. She was a vibrant woman in her fifties and she should not be gone from this earth. She had one grand child whom she watched a few days a week and loved dearly. This, coming so close to the loss of my dear sister-in-law, another woman in her fifties with a grandchild she loved dearly, taken way, way to soon.
I don’t know what to do with this. When faced with people who mean a lot to us passing, we naturally look inward at ourselves. We get stopped in our tracks. We start looking at our own lives. I am a woman in my fifties with a daughter about to get married. How do I relate to the passing of these women I closely related to? I went about my teaching and exercising day, but the shock of losing them hung there in the back of my brain all day. My morning with the children was wonderful – teaching children always transported me out of my own life for awhile. When they left and I headed off to fit club my mind settled right back on the message I got this morning and I began reeling again.
My first thought when I got to the store this morning to open up the classroom was to give gratitude for such a wonderful place and opportunity to continue teaching. On my drive to fit club I gave gratitude for the health and strength to be able to be going to work out. This afternoon as I sit writing this, I vow to enjoy every minute of this year planning a wedding with my daughter and her sister. Tomorrow when I drive back to the cape I’m going to be thankful that I have new car to make the drive in and if I sit in bridge traffic I will absolutely thank God that I have the opportunity to do that. Tomorrow night I’m going to wait for my husband, pray he has a safe trip, and when he gets there just revel in being able to sit across from him with a glass of wine and chat about our week. Next week I’m going to immerse myself in the writers conference and soak up everything there is to learn.
I’m done with wishing the rain would stop or the humidity would go away. I’m done with letting the daily frustrations of life zap time and energy that I should be putting into to experiencing difficult or uncomfortable moments. Life’s too short. Life’s too short. Everyone says it over and over. It’s written all over Facebook. I read it and I hear it, but today I felt it – and it scared me. It shook me to my core. Yesterday I wrote about how I was glad we all have different paths and learn and progress at our own rate. I can’t reconcile how the life paths of these two women are over, but I can stop and appreciate that mine isn’t, and vow to do everything I need to to stay healthy and able to participate fully in the path that I have yet to walk.
This was my Amazing Find yesterday on Facebook. The short video is an inspiring one. One that helps me see we can all help ourselves if we care enough to love and value the time we have left on this earth.
And so, as another day goes by, I’m going to slip on my gratitude bracelet that I got from another dear friend and then go meet her for dinner, sip some wine, enjoy the conversation, and give thanks for another day, and…I have written.
PS – You can paint this at the Cape Cod Art Bar! Experience LIFE!
July 31st, 2013 When I first accepted my illustrating project the excitement wore off as soon as I started to begin the actual work and fear set in. Fear that I couldn’t do it fast enough. I had a lot of learning to do. Learning that had to be done at my own pace. So I set a deadline back in January to have the illustrations done by June. As soon as I gave myself all that time, the fear subsided and I was able to begin the project.
Today I came across a great blog post on The Steve Laube Agency Blog. It was written by Karen Ball and entitled When You Don’t Do Anything At All. She dealt with us writers who are always thinking “When is it my turn?” She’s talks about the unfairness of some who writes a story in a matter of months and suddenly they have an agent and a contract. And if that isn’t enough, their books shoot to the top of the best-seller list. Here’s what Karen had to say about “watching someone else rise when you feel you are on the decline”:
The Creator of the universe, Almighty God, is not bound by what we do or don’t do! He’s not controlled by fluctuations or shifts or seemingly depressing changes in our market, or in any market. He is here, with us, active and at work. And He has his hand on us, on our careers, on our writing. He knows exactly what we need, be it overnight success or long years of perseverance. But His goal isn’t for us to be published. It’s far greater! It’s for us to be used by Him. To show a weary world what it is to be watched over by an “ever-caring” Father. To be His ambassadors, through not just our writing but through our actions and words as we follow this call to write for Him.
I loved the part about “His goal isn’t for us to be published”. Even God knows it’s all about the journey, not the destination. And the journey is where He puts us to the greatest use, which for me, is the goal of life.
I find great comfort in the fact that He has a different path for each of us. It eases the despair when I get the “Why can’t it happen to me?” blues about anything. After reading this post, I’m going to remember that it’s okay if I’m not moving as fast as others – or in some cases, as fast as others think I should be moving. My journey is designed specifically for me. When I taught kindergarten I had a quote on my door that said: “Childhood is a journey, not a race.” Well, so is adulthood, especially when learning something new, or moving on a career path. It’s not a race. It’s the time we give ourselves to get there that is most important.
And so, as another day goes by, I relax in God’s timing, and…I have written.
July 30th, 2013 …is the tune floating through my head late this afternoon. It’s been a busy day, teaching in the morning and working out in the afternoon. Now…it’s about 4pm and I’m the only one home. I have things to do, and the quiet time to do them. What do I want to do? Nothing. Nothing that has to do with thinking or figuring things out, that is.
In fact, I’m going to sit and read a book, a novel, not something that makes me think. I want to disappear in someone else’s world for awhile and think about their problems – those in which I have no responsibility to solve.
It’s good to take a life break once in awhile when the opportunity presents itself. A cup of tea, an apple, and few almonds complete the time-out. Below is poetry written by my yoga buddy. Today I’m like the fog – I just want to “idle motionless”. Thank you, Gaile, for sharing your beautiful words and photo.
What about you? When is the last time you had a quiet break from life? What did you do? Read? Walk? Did you enjoy your company?
And so, as another day goes by, those quiet times are so fleeting, we must grab them before they’re lost, and…I have written.
July 29th, 2013 My schedule for the last three weeks and the next two, kept me from doing any Bikram yoga classes. I was out of town for most of that time and there were no studios within reach. The weeks I spend up here in Arlington are only doable exercise wise because I have a Koko Fit Club up here. I go everyday. I do cardio and mat work on the days between strength training, so all exercise is not forfeited by being away.
Today was a cardio day for me. After my elliptical workout I unrolled my mat and began my regular ab work and stretching. After the stretching I found myself enjoying a nice savasana with my eyes closed. Suddenly I felt my right leg bend up and my hands grasping my knee for wind removing pose. I thought I might as well do two sets. Then I settled back into another savasana. After the savasana I did a sit-up and laid on my stomach for the floor series. Before I knew it I completed the whole floor series, complete with savasanas.
It was like my Bikram deprived body was Bikram possessed. On the drive home I was coughing and my head hurt. I realized my sinus problems came back and just that little bit of Bikram was moving them again. Thinking about it more, over the last three weeks my sleep has been off – waking at 3am. I’m also craving bad food over good food.
I’ve got two weeks more to be away from the studio. I’m going to be a “hot mess” when I return. I’m not looking forward to that day. I’m going to suffer because my body has to repair all that has gone out of sync these past weeks.
I consider this an experiment. I can say with conviction practicing Bikram has to be a consistent, life-long practice to reap the benefits. Yes, it’s hot, it’s hard, it’s not fun, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. And I miss it. My body misses it. It truly does fix a lot of things that get knocked out of whack by living daily life. We abuse our bodies and its systems by sitting way to much, driving, bending, eating bad food, etc. and a consistent Bikram practice straightens all of it out.
The thing is, the straightening out is terribly uncomfortable. As with most things in life:
Often the worst of times are what lead us to the best of times because all we go through inspires us to grow into our very best self. ~ unknown
And so, as another day goes by, I plan on returning to class on Monday August 12, it won’t be pretty, but it’ll be necessary, and…I have written.
July 28th, 2013 Just a quick thought tonight because I’m back in Arlington preparing for another week-long Young Authors Workshop at Firefly Moon. I set up the room, grabbed dinner, came back to my host home, and sat down with two-day’s worth of the Cape Cod Times.
I was quickly scanning the advice columns when one story caught my interest. A woman was attending her ten year high school reunion and said that she always kept up with her classmates on Facebook. At the reunion she was able to congratulate births, marriages, etc. One person had posted she was leaving for a trip to Europe the following month. The woman told her that her trip sounded fun. The person replied how awkward it was that she knew her personal business when they hadn’t spoken in ten years. The woman asked if she was being rude by commenting about the trip, even though it was on Facebook.
Obviously she wasn’t being rude, because Facebook posts are meant to garner comments, written or otherwise. What stuck me about this story is how different our perception is when we’re posting something on Facebook or saying it face to face. This person wouldn’t think of sharing her personal business face to face with someone she hasn’t seen in ten years, but yet posting it publicly was fine.
When we talk face to face we are cognizant of what we say to people, but it seems we lose some of that cognizance when “writing to the masses”. Just another way social media has altered our thinking with regard to communication.
And so, as another day goes by, I try not to speak differently on Facebook or here in this blog than I would face to face, but it definitely is different when you can’t “see” the audience, just something to think about, and …I have written.
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