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July 27th, 2013 Should you? Maybe not. Not everyone should. In the blogs that I follow, I came across a very interesting topic. Should you blog? Should you become a plumber? A teacher? Write a book? Play golf? Not everyone should. So, why do we do the things we do?
I follow both Frank Viola’s blog and Michelle Shaeffer’s blog. Once again, coincidentally. I started following Frank’s blog about two years ago. Then last year I did my first blog challenge and Michelle was the co-host. This year Frank interviews Michelle on his blog. Again, two separate blogs I followed at two separate times, find each other in the vast universe of the Internet. This makes me sit up and pay attention. When Frank interviews Michelle on his blog, he asks her:
“How does a person know if blogging is right for them and if they should put their hand to that plow?”
I loved her answer:
 Not for money, but for passion. I tend to agree. If you start a blog with the sole purpose of making money, it probably won’t go anywhere. You’ll probably tire of it and view it as a chore and will eventually quit. But if you have a purpose that you are passionate about sharing, you will enjoy blogging a lot and it will come easy to you.
Blogging, teaching, plumbing – it doesn’t matter. What matters is what drives you to do it. I love blogging. I love sharing the tidbits of life that cross my path each day on the off chance it might help someone. Blogs have helped me along my path on more days than you know. I’m fascinated with the diverse views of the world that I come across reading my favorite blogs. There are people that think like I do, and I find myself thinking “Yes! Yes! That’s exactly how I feel, too!” Then there are people who take a whole different approach than me and I think “Wow. I never thought of it like that”.
What about you? Could blogging fuel a passion in your life? Thinking of giving it a try? Browse Michelle’s blog. She’s a pro and very encouraging. If you’d like some personal coaching, email me or leave a comment – my other passion is teaching. You never know – blogging might just be the “new thing” you need right now.
And so, as another day goes by, follow your passion and good things will follow you, and…I have written.
July 26th, 2013 I’m still involved in Diane Gilman’s book Good Jeans. I usually fly through books, but with this one I forced myself to slow down, digest, and savor. By savor I mean the book inspires me, which in turn makes me happy, and I want the smoke of inspiration to last. I don’t want it to be over.
I’m nearing the end and found the best parts of the book are the end and the beginning. I know this by my highlights. I highlighted a lot of parts in the beginning and even more in the last chapters. The part that hit me today was on dreams.
  
Dare to dream. Not only at 60, but your whole life. I always was a dreamer, spending many hours up in my bedroom throughout my teen years, rocking in my rocking chair, visualizing how my life was going to play out. Diane said something about dreams that really resonated with me. She said the partner to dreaming is entitlement. Not meant in the negative, self-serving way we might think, but the idea, for most successful people, that they won’t accomplish what they set out to do, never occurs to them.
And once you start with your first dream, that one works its way into another dream, and another,as they continue to build, expand, and wrap around one another.
I now realize that when I tell people I knew I wanted to be a fourth grade teacher at age nine, and wanted to marry my husband at age twelve, and wanted to go to college and come back to teach in the school I grew up in, and have a certain kind of wedding, and have two girls, which later lead to deciding I wanted to retire on Cape Cod and become a writer…people just shake their heads and say how did you know all that? I didn’t. I always dreamed and it never once, not even once, occurred to me that my dreams weren’t going to come true. Each dream intertwined with the others, until voila! – here I am today with everything I set out to accomplish, even though the odds were against me much of the time.
I used to look back and marvel at the wonder of it all, thinking how lucky I was. Now, I recognize from reading Diane’s book, luck didn’t have anything to do with it. It just never occurred to me I wouldn’t get what I wanted at each stage of my life, dream after dream. I always dreamed, visualized, made a plan, and possessed that sense of entitlement where it never, ever occurred to me these dreams weren’t going to come true. When I said I was going to do something, I did it, regardless of roadblocks. Roadblocks never deterred me from keeping on, keeping on. I’m the child who wanted things other kids had, but we couldn’t afford it. That never stopped me. I just figured out a way to make them, using whatever I had. I did the same thing with my dreams.
This is a fabulous book, even if you’re not sixty or near retirement. Read it. Then start dreaming. Start visualizing. Start planning. And don’t ever let it occur to you that it isn’t going to happen. Everyone deserves to dream at every age, so let’s get to it. What’s your dream at your particular stage of life?
And so, as another day goes by, don’t ever let it occur to you that your dream isn’t going to come true is a solid gem of wisdom/advice, and…I have written.
July 24th, 2013 Tonight a writer brought a story to our Cape Cod Children’s Writers critique group about a weasel trying to save two baby seagulls before the tide rolled in. The seagulls refused to cooperate, no matter what the weasel did because they thought he was trying to eat them. The weasel said to himself that he did all he could. Maybe he should back away and wait. When the seagulls still wouldn’t come out, he said maybe he should just leave.
There comes a point in a relationship when you realize you’ve done all you could. You can’t reach into another’s head and make them see through their fear. You know it’s time to walk away.
It is at this point that I always run to my tried and true “Let go, and let God”. For many years now I had a skewed perspective about “letting God”. I thought letting go and letting God meant waking away, free and clear, without further responsibility, just like the weasel. On the contrary. When it’s time to let go and let God you have to do your part. You have to remove all reminders that prevent you from letting go. You have to refuse to entertain thoughts of memories that will plague you and take days to rescue yourself from the pain they inflict. You have to practice gratitude for all the good you have been blessed with and refuse to let your time be spent on that which you’re supposed to have left with God.
Letting go and letting God is not getting off scott-free – you have to do your part.
And so, as another day goes by, never underestimate the power of a picture book, and…I have written.
July 23rd, 2013 Today was what I refer to as a “themed day.” A themed day is when everything that crosses my path intersects or connects somehow. Today that theme was aging.
I woke up to Facebook urging me to wish my husband Richard a happy 60th birthday tomorrow. Since we were born two weeks apart (in the same hospital), my 60th is creeping near, too. The morning news featured designer/author Diane Gilman talking about her book Good Jeans: Ten Simple Truths About Feeling Great, Staying Sexy, and Aging Agelessly. (She’s famous for her $24 DG2 amazing jeans on HSN) It was the aging agelessly that grabbed my attention and nudged me to download the book.
I spent some time reading it before leaving for fit club. Since today was my day at fit club to only do cardio, I was able to stay home an extra hour this morning. The Rachel Ray show played while I was reading the book. Of course – it was about choosing a swimsuit for our aging bodies.
After lunch I picked up the book again, and before I read even a page, The Talk comes on with cast and audience wearing T-Shirts with their age number on them. The subject of the day was “Loving Your Age”. They even said August 1 was proclaimed as “Loving Your Age Day”. Needless to say, Mrs. O, at age 60, was in rare form today.
Back to the book. Diane Gilman found herself approaching 60, 60 pounds heavier and unrecognizable in the mirror. She had just come off of what she calls a “Lost Decade” where she lost her best friend – her husband, her fame, her money and mostly herself. But here she stood on that stage today at 66 looking gorgeous and successful. How DID she do that in six short years?
Her story, what I read so far is an amazing “how to” one of reinvention for those us in this 60th decade. I’m really hit hard with the topic because for the last four years that has been me – (minus 30 of the 60 pounds). Also I hang with a lot of writer friends in this decade of life that say they need to hurry and finish their books because they haven’t got much time left. Time left for what, I had to ask. Dying they replied. What? Dying? No, no, no. I don’t ever think of having to get my books done because I’m going to die soon. Whoa. I HAVE thought of and made peace with leaving this earth when my time comes – but to have to finish my books because I’m in my 60’s and I might die soon? Uh…I don’t think so.
I look at finishing my books and starting my iTeach business as the beginning of a whole new career. A reinvention of myself. Not something I have to hurry and do because I’m almost done with life. If anything, reading Diane’s book is just causing me to say “Hell, yeah!” in reaction to each step as I read it.
This fear of aging causes depression, uselessness, and obesity, leading to a host of other roadblocks keeping us from enjoying this wonderful time of life. We treat, as being all-washed up, a part of life that is absolutely inspiring and exciting. I came across a great quote the other day, but I don’t know who it’s by. It said:
Fear is just excitement in need of an attitude adjustment.
I can’t state it better than that. And to end the day…right now, on Entertainment Tonight, a 92 year old woman is the oldest McDonald’s worker with no rocking chairs in sight.
And so, as another day goes by, I need to finish this book, and…I have written.
Good Jeans by Diane Gilman
July 21st, 2013 This is the first weekend in almost a month my husband and I have been alone. We had some great things planned. Last night we went to the Cape Cod Art Bar. We took a bottle of red and two glasses and painted the Bourne Bridge amid lots of fun and laughter. We were pretty pleased with ourselves and the paintings now adorn the walls of my office/yoga room.
Today we went to Titcombs Bookstore for an author signing. Ronald Lasko, author of Tale of Two Rivers, was signing his book and giving a book talk. Lasko is an avid fly fisherman so this little experience was for my husband’s birthday, book included.
After the signing we went to get ice-cream and spent a lovely hour on the canal watching the boats come in and out of the marina. I remarked to my hubby that it felt like we were on vacation.
Upon arriving home, we settled in for the end of the British Open and the news with a Mojito. Sipping my drink, I perused Facebook to see how Sunday was shaping up for my friends. I have one friend who is recently retired and she and her husband are cycling in France. This was her post:
A description of appreciating life, just as it is, so beautifully depicted that I had to save it. I took the screen shot because I wanted to keep her words for a day when I didn’t feel so great about something in my life.
Today was not that day. Reading her post made me stop and realize that today I feel that very same way. I, too, don’t know how I came upon the sweet side of life, but I’m going to embrace it. I, too, just had a wonderful weekend with the love of my life; my best friend. We had a vacation weekend here at home. We are blessed to live in a vacation paradise, with so many cool things to do right in our own backyard. This is truly “the sweet side of life.”
And so, as another day goes by, thank you Shirley for your words, they made me stop and appreciate what I have right in my own backyard, how sweet it it to share it with the love of my life, and …I have written.
July 20th, 2013 Tonight my husband and I painted the Bourne Bridge and the Railroad Bridge at The Cape Cod Art Bar. We had SUCH a great time. Here are the results:
 Can you tell which one is mine?
I got my “twin bridges” to hang in the house.
And so, as another day goes by, stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new makes for an awesome “date night”, and… I have written.
July 19th, 2013  The five participants in this week’s Young Authors Workshop at Firefly Moon in Arlington MA made me ultra proud today. These children worked very hard for three hours each day and produced some of the best writing I’ve ever seen. I enjoyed getting to know them and help them hone their writing skills. We ended a wonderful week by holding an Author Reading in the store for parents and relatives.
Below Annika is sharing her Paint Chip Storytelling piece. One color on the chip was peppergrass and this is the picture of it.
Me helping Elsa share her cover from illustration day.
Here is Naveen sharing his Nutsy News Story.
Jiya sharing her Haiku.
And Gemma sharing her Paint Chip Storytelling.
It was a great week and I’m looking forward to meeting a new group of Young Authors at Firefly Moon on July 29th. I’d like to thank Jim & Stephanie Donovan, owners of Firefly Moon, for hosting us and providing such a beautiful space to study our writing.
For more information on Young Authors Workshops for children in grades K-5 please visit the iTeach website.
And so, as another day goes by, I return to the Cape happy and satisfied after a week of doing what I love, I’m blessed that I get to teach once more, and…I have written.
WE LOVE TO WRITE!
July 18th, 2013 I’m in Arlington MA teaching my Young Author’s Workshop to five superb young writers. The first part of each class works on developing a working writer’s notebook, since the focus of the class is learning to “live a writer’s kind of life”. Each day’s topic deals with observation and noticing the world around us. Yesterday’s topics were “snatches of talk” and “mind pictures”. The children were instructed to “look and listen” throughout the next twenty-four hours and come in this morning ready to record some “snatches of talk” and a “mind picture” they encountered. We had talked about sitting in the midst of strangers at a restaurant or playground or pool or wherever their day happened to take them, because listening to people we don’t know provides the most interesting “snatches of talk”.
Tonight I was supposed to have dinner with a friend, but she had to cancel. The family at the house where I’m staying was going to be out and busy for dinner also. I was all by myself. I decided to take my own writing advice and make it an evening to collect ideas for future stories. I ventured into the town of Lexington and went to a restaurant I ate at with my friend the last time I was here in April. I remembered they had great grilled chicken salads.
I entered the restaurant and told the hostess I’m only “one” so I’ll sit at the bar and eat. I spied an end seat, by the wall, where I could write and eat without being noticed or in the middle of things. I climbed up on the barstool with visions of a crisp white wine and Caesar salad floating through my brain. Glancing at my surroundings that were to be my dinner company, a scrawl across a chalkboard opposite the bar read: Owner’s Reserve and on that list was a 2012 Frog’s Leap Sauv Blanc.
Cool. I’ll try that. While ordering, my very accommodating bartender rattled off a list of specials that I told him my husband would order every one of if he were here. (They all dealt with clams and trout.) I told him to wait on my dinner. I’d just like to enjoy the Frog’s Leap first.
To my left, one seat over, a couple was conversing. They were discussing wedding plans. But….what if she suddenly leaned in, grabbed his arm, and said, “You do know we have to make people believe this wedding is real, don’t you?”
“Yes, I know, I know! Calm down and get your claws out of my arm.”
“How can I calm down? The “event” depends solely on everyone believing in this wedding and us being the “happy couple”. I get a little nervous having so much weighing on the two us.”
Haha! Fun, isn’t it? I think I’ll order my Caesar now – with steak tips – and…maybe…dessert?
Have you ever gone out with yourself? Try it sometime. You just might find you enjoy your own company.
And so, as another day goes by, I practice what I teach, and…I have written.
Info on Young Authors Workshops for children can be found at:
iTeach
July 17th, 2013 My car was eleven years old when I traded it in for a new one. I remember driving it very cautiously because the shocks were well-worn. I drove around potholes and avoided bumps of any kind. I didn’t want to hit a hole and crack a shock on the Mass Pike. When I got my new car I caught myself doing the same thing – being wary of potholes. After awhile I inadvertently hit one and noticed how softly the car bumped over it. I didn’t hear it and I barely felt it.
Driving home from fit club today I hit a few more bumps in the road and realized it took eleven years to wear out those shocks on my old car. My new one is barely three months old. It is going to take a long time for those shocks to get to the point where I have to baby them like I did in my old car. Cars, clothes, and ideas, wear out. The thing is, they take a long time to wear out to the point where they must be discarded. This is the crux of letting go of something.
I have done a lot of writing in this blog on the topic of letting go. I figured out that even if I wanted to let go of someone or something, even if I knew it had to go out of my life because it was bogging me down, I couldn’t do it. I’d constantly keep going back to it. People would keep reminding that I need to let it go. I’d wander in circles wondering why, even after deciding to let it go, it’s still here. I didn’t realize this was the wearing out process. Each of us, must, on our own timeline, wear out that which we must shed. If the threads aren’t bare and it’s still in working order, limping along with a touch of usefulness, we will hang onto it until we wear it out. This is not only true for cars, clothes, and even jobs, but for people and relationships, too.
How many times have you seen someone hurt in a relationship and you could just shake them for holding on? To you it’s so apparent they need to let this person go and move on, they even agree with you, yet they’re still clutching for dear life. It’s because they haven’t worn it out yet and no amount of egging on from you is going to hurry the process. One day, in their own time, they will notice the tatters and just quietly let go. No big fanfare. No declarations. They will just silently discover it’s worn out. Ironically this wearing out business comforts me. I now see it’s okay to not be able to let go, even if you decide to. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s all part of the wearing out process necessary to letting go.
And so, as another day goes by, I look around and notice the tatters, quietly put out the trash, feel a bit lighter, and…I have written.
July 16th, 2013 An art bar? What is that? I thought one day when I was walking past it in Mashpee Commons. I peeked into the windows. Wow. Tables all set up with paints and easels and a sign advertising have a cocktail while you create. What could possibly be more fun than painting while sipping a cold glass of Chardonnay? I had to investigate this further.
It turns out that this is for everyone – no experience necessary. All the materials are included in the price and everyone paints the same painting, step by step, with the instructor. At the end of the evening everyone takes home a beautiful painting. It’s BYOB. They do not serve alcohol so the price is much lower than other “art bars”. (I didn’t even know there was such a thing as an “art bar”.)
This sounded so cool and I knew it was something I’d love to do, but I was not sure my husband would share my enthusiasm. (I envisioned this as a cool date night.) I walked away and thought we’d probably never get around to it.
This morning I was perusing Facebook and the Cape Cod Art Bar added new photos of some of the paintings. One was of the two Cape bridges. I fell in love with it. How cool would it be to have two paintings of that to hang in our house – one by me, and one by my husband – but yet totally different? I looked at the post again and discovered they were doing The Bridges this Saturday night. Do I dare ask him? Hey, why not? What’s the worst he could say? No? I texted him the post and the info. Just as I suspected, he was hesitant at first, then said, “Let’s do it! Sign us up!” Yay! He really wanted to jump in with both feet and have an adventure. He wasn’t dragging himself there to just please me.
After signing up I got to thinking how, as we grow from children to adults, we lose that sense of artistic play. Our play as adults consists of concerts, football and baseball games, family dinners, etc. All fun stuff, but all situations where we sit and are entertained by others. Here is a venue that brings us back to that childhood, immerses us into creating again, and puts a drink in our hand as we do it. The best of both worlds. I have to commend my husband for throwing caution to the wind, and with a “Hell, yeah” diving in. Thank you dear, I can’t wait until Saturday night.
What about you? Would you do it? Would you throw caution to the wind and step out for an evening of child’s play?
PS – Calling all Cape Cod Mommies – they also offer a wonderful array of sessions just for children and families too! Check it out!
And so, as another day goes by, I’m glad we’re rediscovering our inner child – together, and…I have written.
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