Celebrating Thanksgiving by Loving

Thanksgiving is here. Holidays can be extremely tough, as people attempt to cope with losses, covering a wide range, from not being able to afford basic necessities to having trouble dealing with difficult losses. That is not merely something I can fathom or imagine but have experienced on an intimate level. Disappointment, sadness, and betrayal have have been lingering, a most unsolicited extended visitation.

In the midst of this ongoing trial, I have been blessed and loved by people around me.

My hope for Thanksgiving is to love others, to let them know they are truly loved, for who they are. For some, showing love might involve checking in to see how they are doing. For others, some sort act of service, such as cooking and hosting a meal, might be more helpful.

No one should feel alone, insignificant, or unloved.

Good riddance to fear of failure

If I could bid a forever farewell to a worry, that would be the fear of failure. I want to do what I do well, but yet, there is this annoying, stifling fear of failure. Fear of failing at the endeavor placed before me and failing to be fruitful in the endeavor.

If the fear were gone, I'd have more energy. More energy to devote to the task or endeavor at hand. Less concern about what others think. More excited about what challenges before me.

Humor, a Wonderful Spice to Life

I was fine leaving the house in a jacket early this morning. Temperatures dropped quickly. By early afternoon, it was extremely chilly outside; I was shaking and shivering when outside even for just a few moments. By late afternoon, with snow falling steadily, roads became slick and dangerous.

I saw a post on my feed, from the following address: http://www.buzzfeed.com/christianzamora/problems-every-coloradan-faces-during-the-winter. The final 'problem' (of 21 problems) had me laughing.

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And the winter actually lasting all the way until summer.

reddit.com

What is this season you call “spring”?

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I am not normally one to suggest that dialogue must include profanity and cussing to be  humorous or comical. But, this was very funny. At least to me.

Snow blizzards have been known to occur in May here!

Autumn Foliage

Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. I am thankful I live in a place where the leaves change colors and there are four distinct seasons to the year. Such beauty.

A Matter of Perspective

The weekly attendance cards are not printed on the same color paper every week. The individual who had been making announcements and encouraging the attendees to fill out the attendance cards would oftentimes ask, "What color is the card this week?" "Is it salmon colored?"

I thought he was trying to be funny. Or appeasing those who split hairs in color differentiation - salmon-colored versus pink, pinkish-orange, corral-colored, or some other color.

Turns out he is color blind. He genuinely cannot tell the difference in certain colors. Lacks the ability to differentiate certain colors.

In a manner of speaking, we (all of us) are color blind in our perspective(s) of life. How we see and interpret life is colored by our experiences and other factors. When hungry or tired, for example, life can appear more cruel and mean.

It's too early to feel defeated

It is day 4 of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), wherein those who are taking on the crazy challenge will complete 50,000 words in 30 days (November 1st to November 30th).

I've been outlining the chapters for this book since early August, working on characters, and developing the plot and subplots. Through the support and offerings of scholarship and friends, I was able to attend a fiction writer's workshop at the end of October. I had been thinking about the contents for the book for a couple of years. Inasmuch as someone could prepare for such an intense writing challenge, I did my homework.

But, I have felt naked and exposed in this challenge. Ill-equipped. Unprepared.

Up through yesterday, I made my writing quota, only by the skin of my chin. And it wasn't pretty. On night, I was up until 3:30 am; and another, until 4 am.

Most days, I do not have time to write until 8 or 9 pm, and by then, I am spent. Busy people who keep hectic schedules find my daily grind exhausting, just hearing about my day's work and responsibilities. It is now 9 pm, and I am only now sitting down to eat dinner. And, I haven't written one word for the challenge. Not one.

I haven't shared the really crazy part. I'm risking a lot by focusing all my spare energy on this endeavor. I am not just hoping to take a hobby to uncharted territory. I am taking a huge risk in my approach to this, and my livelihood sort of depends on it.

My obligations over the next few weeks is even more insane than this week.

I need a miracle. I need help.

Setting Up for Successful Writing

I am not about to offer an all inclusive list for successful writing.

Rather, here I sit, after sleeping only 2-3 hours last night and I have a headache that cannot be ignored. My writing goal for the day is at least 2,000 words (the words used to write this blog post do not count). Though I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning trying to meet my goal for yesterday, I was around 200 words shy of complete yesterday's goal. Merely three days into my thirty day challenge and I am already 200 words behind. I am determined to make up for that.

I don't have time to nap. That option is out.

Instead, I am attempting to set myself up for fruitful writing today by -

• Stay away from distractions. My house is full of distractions: dirty laundry to be washed, vegetables that need to be cooked, clutter that needs tending, a bed that is lonely for company, kitties that need attention. For me, the coffee shop is the perfect place to work. I cannot concentrate in any space that is quiet, such as a library. A coffee shop is just enough noise to keep me content, and I can tune out (the noise) when needed.
• Do not analyze my writing. Given I have little time in a day to devote exclusively to writing and that my daily writing goal is not small, I need to put the petal to the metal. Or, rather, I need to keep my fingertips moving along the keyboard. Successfully completing this 30 day challenge, NaNoWriMo, will give me a complete first draft when all is said and done on November 30. I am certainly no Goethe. My first draft will most likely NOT be my final draft. Getting the ideas on paper is more important than having everything perfect the first time.
• Stay hydrated. Thankfully, today is a caffeine day. I'm not sure how I would be alert or clear-headed enough to write otherwise. Need loads of water to counter the caffeine. Even on non-caffeinated days, hydration is important. Lots of caffeine. Even more water.
• Eat well. Eating is important; it is fuel for the brain. When I tell my students that part of exam preparation involves sleeping well and eating well, they are shocked. Yes, the brain needs nourishment to function well. Providing nourishment for the brain does not mean eating junk food. Eating foods high in protein are helpful. The food I packed for working this morning include: mi-fen (rice noodles) with shrimp and greenery - pictured below, yogurt, and fresh fruit (strawberries, blueberries, a banana).

• Set realistic goals and give myself accolades for the progress I make (instead of being hard on myself for not accomplishing more - which is what I tend to do).

Looking for a Rhythm or Routine that Works

It is nearly the end of day 2 of NaNoWriMo and NaBloPoMo, and I have yet to find a rhythm or routine that works or helps me stay consistent. I need momentum. Or maybe I just need more energy.

Befuddled

Befuddled. Not a state I proudly wear like I would wear a badge of honor. I wish I could say my muddled mind is due to some enticing or delicious drink, but alas, I have no such wild adventures to chase.

Perhaps I could use some quiet and stillness.

Especially after a non-stop, action packed week. However, duty calls; I must write. Where, oh where, can I chance find lucidity, creativeness, and intriguing words to pen?