Obstacles

“To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles” — T.F. Hodge.

I think this is a good quote. I especially agree when your outcome is in alignment and it’s big enough to keep you going. However, I say that as a goal-oriented person. I like a clear goal. Sometimes I make too many and have to let a couple go, but generally I’m one to reach the finish line. Not everyone is driven that way.

How are you driven?

What do you think about this quote? Do you think being focused on the outcome helps conquer frustration?

Italo Calvino

“I am more and more convinced that literature is made up of works, genres, schools, discussions, problems, collective work in order to solve certain problems.” -Italo Calvino

I found this man. I love this story. You should see the smile that grew on my face as the story went on. Please enjoy, and if you feel as much as I do, please let me know. This is the type of writing where I just want the words teleported into my head immediately. It’s hard to wait, but wait I must if I want to hear the story. It makes me laugh.

Here’s a few words from the content creator. You can find a reading of the story below.

“Italo Calvino (October 15, 1923 – September 19, 1985) born in Cuba, raised in San Remo, Italy was an Italian journalist and writer of short stories and novels. His best known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy (1952-1959), the Cosmicomics collection of short stories (1965), and the novels Invisible Cities (1972) and If on a winter’s night a traveler (1979). I am partial to his sensual Under The Jaguar Sun a collection of three short stories. The stories were to have been in a book entitled I cinque sensi (The Five Senses). Calvino died before writing the stories dedicated to vision and touch. I have narrated the titular story set in Mexico where a man and his wife go to rejuvenate their marriage… it certainly got my juices flowing.”

A Better Direction

“Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to fight. It’s not winning battles that makes you happy, but it’s how many times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. Life is too short to spend it on warring. Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.”

So today, I had strawberry shortcake, and it reminded me of my grandmother. Instead of the traditional biscuit, it was pound cake. I prefer it with pound cake.

I’ve been to the beach twice this September. Both times brought me so much peace. I need a beach blanket in my trunk.

I have spent all summer stopping to watch the bees and looking for the ones who are napping. I haven’t found a napping one yet.

I am beginning to fall in love with my novel again. That always feels nice. It’s an on and off relationship. Lol

And I still love writing and all the complexities that come with it. I may be an over-thinker, but I’m learning how deeply psychological fiction writing really is.

Those are my little tidbits for the day.

How about you?

Powerful Beyond Measure

We are becoming more stable more aware and more in touch with ourselves as women, and I’m loving every moment of it!

You sometimes it feels like the world will really do all it can to make women think they have less power than we really do. Empowering women to step into their power is no easy task. I still make shrink. I still think of myself as small and voiceless at times. There are moments when I still want to climb into safe arms and be coddled. But I pull myself together. I work on that inner dialogue and reframe what I feel I need.

There’s so many great reasons for you to empower yourself, but the best reason is that you get to live in the now. You get to fulfill yourself without having to rely on anyone else. Validation? Unnecessary. You know why? Because you validate yourself. Once you master that, you get to love and accept all those little parts of yourself that you ignore. Ignoring parts of yourself leads to unhealthy habits, but when we bring awareness to ourselves, we get the opportunity to bring acceptance.

What’s your favorite part about yourself? Which part could use some extra love?

So Absolutely Free

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” -Albert Camus

I’m interested in Mr. Camus. I don’t know his works yet, which is strange because he is often grouped with existential writers. And I tend to appreciate existential ideas.

Anyways, this week I’ve relished my freedom. My freedom to find my own peace. My freedom to find calm in chaos and beauty in the ordinary. And especially, my freedom to do not a damn thing while I soaked in the bath and then slathered on 5 different scented lotions just because it was the sensory experience I desired. Believe it or not, two years ago I wouldn’t let myself do that because it was a waste. Today, I did it, and it was exactly what I needed.

Write Your Story

“If you want to change the world, write your story. If you want to heal the world, share it.” – Unknown

And that’s exactly what I do. Life can make you feel helpless. It can make you feel like browbeating is your only option. But the truth is the arts are always and will always be the best option. Sing, write, draw through what you can’t control. I can’t promise that you’ll change the world, but once you come out the other end, you will not be the same person. And that is enough.

Where Art Grows

I like your art.

I might not have seen it, but there’s a real good chance that I like it. I’d rather see it than anything else. Too much art dies with the people who were too scared to share. It could be the one thing that finally inspires a great mind to change the world. It could be the one symbol that keeps a sad man alive. It could find you love if that’s what you’re looking for, even if you aren’t. It could do a lot of things. But most likely, it could cause nothing at all. It could stir nothing but silence. But a wise artist knows that silence is where art grows.

How you guys feeling about AI?

How you guys feeling about AI?

I enjoy the perks of it. I am intentional about not letting it write for me, but I do use it as a daily companion; it’s good for gathering my thoughts. I have a lot of those, and they are all over the place! The new option to have folders lit my fire. I also use it to make my blog feature photos, but when I’m full-time writing, I take time to sift through all the stock photos or sometimes create my own. AI, as a little judgment-free companion, works for me.

A Little (or a lot) of Nonsense

“A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men.” Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Let things be weird and illogical. Let things go a little wonky. Take time to appreciate how those around you squirm in your strangeness. This is your wonderfully creative life. This is your chance to be something you never thought you could be. It’s wild, isn’t it? To think there’s something enormous out there that’s meant for you. Something that could swallow you whole could invite you in and ask you how many sugars you like in your tea. So many possibilities.

Possibility is different from hope because it’s the millions of micro and macro creative ways you can make it even better than you thought. That’s what makes life something special. Well, that’s what I think, at least.

Happy Blood Moon!

Time, but Not Too Deep

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” -Albert Einstein

But maybe it does happen all at once. People have said your entire life flashes before your eyes. But let’s not get too deep. I think the best way to go about time is to find ways to enjoy it. That means you get to give yourself permission to have moments of joy. It’s not always easy. Sometimes you have to do it in secret. Other times it can be more frustrating to find joy than it is to just let it go. But here’s the thing: finding or welcoming joy is never a waste of time. It’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to be sad, but don’t stop searching; don’t stop finding ways to welcome the things that might just make you happy.