The Best Use of My Time

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot” – Michael Altshuler

The end of year is looming at break kneck speed. Smell the roses? Put up a Christmas tree? Hurrying past the people in our lives, all but yelling “get out of my way”. Don’t these people know how busy we are?

And yet…

Once it was important to make time for family and friends. Not to rush to the next place. The next job. The next…whatever has our attention.

At the start of each year, do you set goals? Possible covering all the important areas of life:

Career and business
Finances
Education
Relationships
Health and fitness
Personal growth
Spiritual growth

When was the last time these were reviewed?
How are these goals tracking?

What if we squeezed ten minutes to take a look, now.

Celebrate the wins.

What if the order of these goals were reversed?

My goals have been partially realised, but I’ve been wondering what the outcome would have been if I’d begun with spirituality, personal growth etc.

A long time ago, we decided to get ready for Christmas a week early. And go camping.
Hardly anyone else was wherever we went. They were jostling shoulders with the maddening crowds while we soaked in the sun, read a book, played board games and splashed in the water, enjoy a campfire. Carefree. No hustle. No hassle. We returned home relaxed and ready to enjoy Christmas and our Christmas traditions.

Take time to chill out and celebrate this year’s wins. Its been a tough one very few people would have known to plan for. That makes all you have achieved special.

Go you!

Size Matters Not. Look At Me.

I don’t know why, but this little fur baby reminds me of Yoda.

So here are some fav Yoda quotes.

“When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.”

“Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things.”

“Wars not make one great.”

This cute little fur baby is the last of the ragdoll cross litter. (The neighbours tom cat bet the breeding program). I’m so tempted.

“Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering.”

Enjoy Thanksgiving weekend. Even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand, its a great reminder to remember all we’re thankful for.

Nanowrimo
It looks like for the first time ever, I won’t meet my 50k word goal. But the mystery will be solved.
But I’m still writing, just not as fast.

Children’s Book Update
The book is with the editor and the printer is creating a mock up of the textured paper books. We’re in a holding pattern.

And the best Yoda quote:

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

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Don’t Plan to Write – Write!

“Don’t just plan to write — write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.” — PD James

Nanowrimo:
Day 10
Writing, writing, writing. Time to revise goals? Yes. Thank you Black Wolf Editor for your wise insight.
I write six days a week. Its been my habit for four years. But this year’s Nanowrimo I’ve put unnecessary pressure on myself. Not helpful.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
If its not working, find out why.
Then write.
Don’t just plan to write — write.

Quietly, in the background there’s been something very special happening, that I’ve been privileged to be a (small) part of.
Obstacles have been overcome and just maybe in time for Christmas…

The background photo – is part of the very special project.

Nanowrimo Day 6

Quote for Today (From Nano 2015)

“Begin each day from the last sentence you wrote the preceding day. This prevents those cringing feelings, and means that you have a substantial body of work before you get down to the real work which is all in editing.” — Will Self

Nanowrimo:
Day 6
Keeping the momentum going. And today there’s a bonus. A wedding. A real live, real life one. And it was beautiful and heartfelt and joyful. Ah, the romantic in me sighs.

The background photo – a pretty rhododendron while on our walk.

Favorite Quote – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is favorite quote, but this would have to be one of the hardest challenges. I LOVE quotes. They often form the basis of what I post. My favorite quote changes as I grow and stretch along my journey.
The quote that I have lived my life by is “And it came to pass.”
No matter what happens in our life, it will either come to pass or the way we look at the challenge will come to pass.
When we change under the pressure of what burdens us, we move forward. I confess, sometimes the pressure was on for sometime before I was able to move forward.

Quote for Today
“And it came to pass.” – ubiquitous biblical quote.

Meditation
Whatever is troubling you, hold it out. Think about the worst scenario. Now think about the best possible outcome. Whatever happens, you will find a way to cope as you accept this thing has happened or, will happen or may happen. Hand it over to God. Stand in his amazing presence. You are not walking alone. It may take time. Acceptance is the first hurdle.

Writing
I have found a name for my fictitious town. Volcano Harbour and the closest city Te Taone (Maori for The City). I’m hoping this will be an acceptable name as Maori give the name of a place as a precious gift.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. Excitement and fear are building among writers. Look at it this way. If you don’t make the fifty thousand word challenge, whatever you do write is more than you started with. One time my story stopped at thirty two thousand words and I discovered it was a novella, not a full blown story. My characters refused to budge, no matter how hard I tried.

The background photo is from a wall of T L Travers Mary Poppins, from when we visited Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.

Character Flaw – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Todays challenge is about truth. We are all flawed and fall short of the person we want to be.
It’s hard for a writer to give their hero flaws. Or to give the villian a save the cat moment (a humane and kind gesture).
But perfect people don’t exist in real life and would be boring to read about.
Thank goodness for The Negative Trait Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi.

Quote for Today
“Stop trying to ‘fix’ yourself; you’re NOT broken! You are perfectly imperfect and powerful beyond measure.” – Steve Maraboli

Meditation
Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins. Eccl 7:20

Writing Today
I woke up with the plot for Book 2 of The Cosy Mystery Trilogy, but it was several hour later when I arrived early for yoga, before I could scribble it down.

Nanowrimo is nearly here. It isn’t too late to think about writing a book. My first book was written with a rough idea, no plot whatsoever.
Authors show no one their first draft. It’s always the 2nd, 3rd or 22nd before its good enough to share.
But you can’t edit a blank page, whether it’s a manuscript or life.

The background photo is of the pretty Azalea’s in the Millbrook Reserve, Christchurch.

Be very kind to you today.

Writing Rituals – Nanowrimo Instagram Challenge

My day starts with the alarm – Matt Redman singing 10,000 Reasons. Because when I lost Geoff, I really needed a reason to crawl out of bed. Water. Coffee.
On to prayer and a Bible reading, water, and meditation. Coffee. Turn on laptop. Coffee.
Tune into the O’Dark Club. Water. Write 1500 words in 20 minute sprints. Coffee.
Okay, thats the dream morning.
It happens once or twice a week like that.
I do start with the alarm, prayer, and then I get side tracked several mornings a week.

Quote for Today
“Put your butt in the chair and write 1000 words a day.” – ubiquitous writing quote.

Meditation
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Prov 16:3 God feeds the birds, but he doesn’t throw their food into their nest.

Writing Today
89 words. 89! Then school run and childcare while Mum went to dentist and completed messages.

Nanowrimo is all about encouraging writers to fulfill their dreams.

The background photo is of the pretty tulips my daughter planted in her garden around the Golden elm we planted in Geoff’s memory.

Your Favorite WordNanowrimo Instagram Challenge

Love
Love is one of my favorite words. Wear the garment of love because it goes with everything else you wear.

Love is the answer to so many questions, even the big ones like world peace and caring for our environment.

Todays quote is the essence of every successful love story.

Quote for Today
“I saw that you were perfect and I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” – Angelita Lim

Meditation
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. … Love never ends.”

Writing Today
Exploring brother – sister relationships, one I never had the privilege of having.

Nanowrimo is digital for the second year in a row. Prior to that, writing groups met locally.