No Stopping Me Now!

I'm in full writing mode now. The music's cranking, the fingers are moving fluidly along the keyboard and words are forming on the page. It's amazing. These folks at NanoWriMo say that you can have an outline for your novel, or you can just randomly type and see what happens. Well, I'm the latter. I tried to write an outline but I am not someone who can see the end. I can definitely see the beginning and I know some of the turns along the way, but the end, is well, daunting to me. I just don't know where my characters are going to end up.

Therefore let the adventure continue. I am just typing along and getting excited by the surprise of what starts to develop in front of me. I think this is going to be a good learning experience for me - the ultimate list maker and planner - in not only forcing myself to write every day (something, as a writer, I should just naturally do) but also to see what I can create on the fly and without so much pressure on myself to be perfect. To not have to map out, diagram and prepare for every situation, every event, every move I make, or even my protagonist makes, for that matter.

Maybe I will really amaze myself by the end of this month. Anyone else doing something in November that they are embarking upon for the first time? Want to share with me? I'd love to gain inspiration and hear those stories.

Inspiration Lives In Unexpected Places...

Or so it seems for me today. It's a rainy, dreary, damp day here in my neighborhood. I got up really early this morning and was ready to go out and take a walk. Might have been a good idea to check what the weather was going to be like.

But even still, as I looked out my window and realized it was raining and pouring "cats and doggies," I decided, "what the heck" and went for a walk just the same. I removed my "fun" umbrella, that I splurged on a year ago at a trendy little shop near Yale University, from its place on the floor of the backseat of my car, and packed up my camera and a few other essentials into my favorite vest and off I went exploring the hills and valleys of my area.

While I strolled along the streets, I became aware of the houses, the cats in the front windows, the dogs in the yards, the decorations on the front steps of various homes -- sights I rarely notice when I am running by these same locations on my daily jogs. The 3.1 miles seemed much longer but somehow there was so much more to notice, to see, to explore. I listened to the sounds of the highway traffic, the splashes from tires of passing cars, the barking of dogs I could not see. My senses seemed to be heightened.

With each step I took, each place I passed, I felt more invigorated to keep on walking, trying out new streets that I'd never gone down before. What an adventure! My usual half hour jog turned into a two hour exploration! I started thinking about how much more I want out of my life and how easy it really can be to find new ways of thinking and motivating myself to try new methods to achieve those goals.

Needless to say, when I arrived back at my home, umbrella still firmly gripped in my hand, unexpected inspiration in my back pocket and a few new photos snapped for my collection, I felt a little melancholy about leaving the raindrops. I think I'll check the weather forecast and the next rainy day that is predicted, I'll get out my trusty umbrella and go for another stroll.

Until that moment, I'm off to find other activities that will jolt my energy. I hope you all can find some of those same types of joys in your day and weekend!

The Bright Side of Life...Whistle With Me?

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now." - Goethe

A week of lying in bed and lounging on the couch drinking fluids and wishing I could breathe really gave me time to think. I guess that's what being sick can do. But I'm tip top now. And back to my 'ole positive self. Wait...hmmm...

Ok, I'm TRYING to be positive. The thing is, and if you've been following my blog you know this is my constant state of dilemma, I have my moments of uncertainty. Those times when I think I'm on a path, headed in a direction, knowing what I want and how to get there, and then there are moments, when I don't have a clue.

But, in my sedentary state, it occurred to me that I need to get moving. And even if things aren't happening as fast as I'd like or in the manner I wish them to, does not mean things are not going anywhere.

I just have to remember to stay positive. After all, "It's easy to wallow in the dark. It's a brave choice to be happy." I read that somewhere once and I think it's true. And here's one more: "As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live." - Goethe

No matter where you are today, tonight, tomorrow...just remember that your attitude is what helps you get where you want to go. And helps you along the way to getting there. I'll try to stay positive, if you will?

Here and Now

Why is it that we are never content with what we have? Why are we always searching for something else? Do we not know that we have talents we can use right now, we have dreams we can fulfill? I guess I say this because I've been doing a little bit of cleaning around my home and find myself ensconced in nostalgia.

Ah, memories. Of what we once wanted, of what we think we can never have. I find that I have not changed that much over the years, and yet I have changed a lot. Contradiction? Perhaps. Or possibly growth. The realization that we have parts of us that will always want or need certain things, and then there are those other sides to us, ones we may not let the world see, that are actually pushing us, secretly, further. Pushing us to explore and go where we think we cannot.

I'm hoping that I can use those hidden motivators, as they do sneak up on me, and burst out of my rut, and into the beyond. Into that future, that for now seems a little daunting, but when I look back in a few years, I will understand that it is what I needed, more than anything, at this time in my life.

And while I may be taking two steps forward, I might need to take one step back. But I will get there, wherever it is I'm supposed to be. Until then, I'm just going to remember that time waits for no one, and I will try to enjoy what I do have in my life, right now. That's very important. At least I think so.

What do you do to motivate yourself? How do you conquer the daily grind and still exlore your passions?