For the Love

Every now and again a writer comes along and makes everything you're going through completely normal and almost (gulp) alright.

Every good thing.  Check.

Every bad thing.  Check.

Every embarrassing thing.  Check.

Everything you wouldn't tell your best friend.  Check!

Reading this book is kinda like sitting down and talking with your best friend.  The chapters are basically essays on love, marriage, friendship, motherhood, balance, all wrapped in faith.  Her honesty and logic are refreshing at a time when I seem to need them most.

I've needed someone to tell me (for a while now) that everything is as it should be.  I had a feeling it was, but it's nice to hear it from someone else.

It's funny - I've always believed in book karma... When you receive a book that you need at that very time.  Many times books can speak to us and teach us more about ourselves.

This is that kind of book.

Do yourself a favor and buy this book.   You won't regret it :)

Happy Monday!!

Time

If wasting time was a full time job, then I would get paid over time.

Possibly every week.

I could write books, train for marathons, and have a clean house if only I took my time more seriously.

Now this isn't supposed to be a guilt trip to get you to stop watching the Bachelorette.  Nor will I try to stop you from flipping on Facebook for the tenth time today.  

Just notice it.  Notice the time slipping away every single day.  How many times do you see someone post photos of their kids asking where the time goes?  It happens all the time.  

So, just for today, commit to stopping for one minute and just paying attention to what is going on around you.  Don't try to change or fix anything, just notice it.  The one thing I've notice this past week is that the problem isn't that I don't have enough time... I don't make enough time.  

I don't take my priorities seriously and haven't for a long time.  I'm too busy trying to comfort myself from daily life instead of getting on with what I'm supposed to be doing.  

The best thing about a birthday (or any big event) is the clarity that comes along, and I really try to make each year better.  I know this year's focus is going to be on time management and paying attention to what makes me feel good and what things can go.

It's a little like New Year's Eve for me tonight, without all the winter and regrets.  I look forward to 47 29 again this year and looking forward to making it the best one yet.  

Happy Birthday to me :)

Back to the Beginning with Grace

“Like a blinking cursor on an empty page, it was just the first thing. The beginning of the beginning. But at least it was done.”  ~Sarah Dessen

Back in 2008 I started a blog called Words to Live By, and it was one of my favorite things I had ever done as a writer.  I wasn't writing for anyone in particular - I don't think I even shared the link with anyone - I just wanted to start writing consistently for myself.  

And then something happened along the way.  People started reading, and seemed to like it, and suddenly I was feeling the pressure of writing for other people.  While I was flattered that others liked what I was doing, I also started to doubt the content I was posting on here.

Insert inner critic (I call her Sap after my incredibly mean high school lit teacher.)

Well, that's stupid.  Who wants to know about that?

You just did a post like this last month.

WHY CAN'T YOU COME UP WITH ANYTHING CREATIVE?

Fun fact about myself... I am only driven by positive words, so when I start listening to Sap, I completely and creatively shut down.  When I start writing for other people, even my people, I suddenly become the writer with nothing to say.

So I gave myself a time out and tried to figure out if I even wanted this anymore.  Is it worth the extra time and hassle of putting my heart on the internet for anyone to read... and even worse, judge?

The answer is yes.  The answer is always yes.  

Yes, please!

"Grace is available for each of us every day - our spiritual daily bread - but we've got to remember to ask for it with a grateful heart and try not to worry about whether there will be enough for tomorrow.  There will be." ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach

I bought this necklace in Nashville this past weekend to remind myself to make my writing habit a privilege and not a chore.  Being my birthday week, I often go back and see what's working and what's not.  This past year was one unlike anything I could've ever imagined (or maybe I did), and good, bad, and ugly, I am here now, looking forward to starting a new year and filling it with more words.  Should my words inspire you, well then I am grateful for that.  If not, that's okay too.

Feel free to share :)

Have a wonderful Monday...