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Small Things, Big Differences

7/30/2018

So what can be changed? This one fundamental fact: Chloe’s death made a wreck of me, and it’s time to unwreck myself. Sure grief is natural, but so is recovery and moving on. The world keeps turning and life goes on for those of us still in this world. It’s time to get it together and get it moving in the right direction again.

Why do I say this? Because I see the compounding negative effects manifesting in my life, and that’s not how I want things to be. I know in my heart that the Lord wants better for me, and I need to do my part so He can do His part to make it manifest. It’s time to turn myself around. It’s time to get on the right track. It’s time for things to change for the better, and that can’t happen until I change for the better.

Small things do matter. I can attest to that by the way things have been sliding downhill in my personal life, and how I came to realize it was time to turn the tide because I was putting the wrong message out there. That’s the problem with feeling bad about yourself. Other people pick up on it, and try to take advantage of you. In a way this shouldn’t be surprising, because that’s human nature. People are naturally inclined to take advantage of others when they’re down, because respect and cooperation are work, and stepping on others is an easy and lazy way to build yourself up. It’s also a way that human nature is wrong, and I’m refuting that. I’ve pissed some people off by getting back on my feet, and I’m not sorry. I’m not the depressed personality type. Everybody should have seen this realization and breakthrough coming. I’m predictable that way. I don’t stay down. Eventually, I get frustrated and want to be happy and living the best life possible again. That happened in the past month. Thanks be to God.

I’ve also tremendously relieved everybody in my inner circle and a lot of other people who are glad to see me being “myself” again. Thankfully, that’s the majority of people I’m surrounded by. There’s one right thing in my life. The people you choose to be around matters in being a better person and building a better life, and my family and friends are definitely what I need to move forward. What an awesome group. Good people do exist, and I’m blessed to be surrounded by a lot of them! To them, I offer an abundance of love, gratitude, and grace for their support. You are the ones who helped me come to this place. Your strength became my strength to lift me back up. That’s how we’re supposed to live: in love and support of one another. I pray I’m of similar support to you in your times of need. You know how fiercely loyal I am to family and friends. I’ve got your back. You can count on that.

So here we are. It’s time to get on a better path. What is it? I had an interesting discussion with the pastor yesterday about how there are no “once size fits all” answers in life. Often, the answer is to live a day at a time, do the best you can, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to build a better today, and tomorrow. You take each thing as it comes. It’s frustrating to not have a “strategy,” but in another way it doesn’t get much easier than obedience and taking a day at a time. The important thing is knowing the goal, and making sure every thought, word, and action leads you in that direction. Accept what does, seize opportunities, sow good things, nurture right relationships, and reject the devil’s lies in people and circumstances that conflict with it. Ok, it sounds easier than it is. To simply stand isn’t so simple. But it can be done, and by the grace of God, I will. Small things. Big differences. Great results.

I don’t know what comes next, or what the “big picture” plan is, but I do know this in my spirit: it’s time for a change, and by His grace, change will come. There’s a better way, and I’m on that journey now. Thanks be to God.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

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Some Things CAN Be Changed

7/26/2018

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I’ve spent so much time over the past 8 months since Chloe died dealing with the fact that some things can’t be fixed, that I failed to realize that the key word in that truth is some. In life, there are always things that are beyond our control, and we have no choice but to learn how to live with them. But somewhere in the midst of rewriting Trigger and Convergence (and reworking some things with book promotion), I had the massive realization that some things can be fixed – and should be, promptly.

I don’t mean just mucked up manuscripts, or SEO on published books. It also mean my thinking and attitude. It enforcing my firm boundaries in every area of life. It means saying “no” to the ignorant, disrespectful crap that people keep trying to dump on me, and insisting on a higher standard in life. It means giving thanks for my blessings, and working them to maximum potential. It means opening my eyes to opportunities again, no matter how small, and finding the connections to the bigger things. It means doing what I can, and trusting the Lord to do the rest. His best work comes when I do my part. That’s true for every individual on Earth. I know that now, and I state my intention to claim and live by that truth.

It means taking dominion over things and doing my part to set things right, so the Lord can do His part to create a better today and tomorrow.

But it also means patient endurance to allow all things to work together for good. Hey, I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I’ve worked hard for what I’ve got, and that’s forced me to learn some wisdom and virtue to make life manageable. You don’t have to be a Jedi to learn these lessons. Any human being can do it. The question is, will they? I will. I see that it’s to my benefit, the benefit to others around me, and the greater good to do it.

Yes, there are things you can’t change and have to learn to live with. There are also things you can change, and you should. It takes wisdom and discernment to know what’s what. It takes boldness to act on it. That’s not a problem. I can be bold. Heck, nice girls don’t write sci-fi. You know that. Now it’s time to unleash that on the world. It’s time to take this to a broader world than my writing. It’s time to get started.

Wait, I already have. Perhaps that’s where the realization came from – taking positive action with my writing. I love it
when a lesson in one area of life spills over into everything, don’t you? And it doesn’t get much easier than being
obedient to the Spirit and allowing It to lead you.

That’s all today. Take care. Have a happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Bye!

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Deep State Problems?

7/19/2018

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I recently read an article on whether we, as American citizens, should fear the “Deep State.” Heck, I recently read a book based on the concept that all world governments are secretly controlled by a group of thirteen individuals who use money, power, and fear to ensure that only the people they can support and control can win elections.

Question: is this the new “New World Order,” or do I have my conspiracy theories mixed up?

What struck me about the article is the state of paranoia that we all seem to be living in these days. The left believes President Trump is destroying the nation. The right believes the liberals are destroying the nation. Well, at least we agree on the concept of national destruction. There’s no doubt that things aren’t what they once were. The world I grew up in is gone, and I think that’s the thing that’s really alarming us: the rapid rate of change, and no having a good handle on it. Thank technology for that, not the government. And furthermore, I think we’re all looking to the government to fix societal issues that we could fix ourselves without political intervention.

We complain about a decline in civility, but it doesn’t require an act of Congress to be a better person. I talked about five things in my last blog entry that would help us interact in a better manner and reduce the miscommunications that often get in the way of effective action and building strong relationships. It also doesn’t require a law to take your head out of your phone and listen to somebody. It doesn’t require a mandate to consider the opinions of others and not get offended because they don’t agree with you. It doesn’t require a protest to have a civilized conversation and compromise to come to cooperative agreements, instead of demanding victory or failure as an end result of everything. You don’t need an advanced degree to build friendship and trust with other people in every area of life.

I won’t deny that the government has plenty of problems. They often make decisions that make it clear that they don’t live in the same reality as their constituents. Nobody’s perfect, and the system breeds inefficiency in many ways. But I also don’t think they have the patience and organization to be influenced by a “Deep State.” If anything is controlling our politicians, it’s campaign funding. Money runs everything, except what it doesn’t like health, happiness, love and wisdom. And those are personal things that only the individual can control. I’ve discussed this in other blogs and in Joy on the Journey. But the power that runs society is definitely money. Every connection goes back to those fat stacks of green. Honestly, I fear infectious bacteria more than the Deep State. I’m pretty sure it could kill aliens, too, like in War of the Worlds. Perhaps some lab in an underground bunker is researching that. Or maybe it’s a good writing idea.

Conspiracy theories do amuse me greatly, but Hitler’s necromancer army during World War II is still my favorite. They may be the test subjects for a bacteria-based biological weapon. Aren’t they still supposed to be around?

That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a wonderful weekend.

Bye!

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Five Traits We Hate

7/17/2018

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I recently read an article on crucial life skills to teach children for success, and was floored at how much things have changed since my own grammar school days. My, how times have changed. It seems the focus is on soft skills now to grow “emotional intelligence,” instead of knowledge, thinking, internal motivation, and a strong work ethic. While I agree that the traits in this list provide some foundation for the future, I think it’s a mistake to neglect the more practical skills that build character, self discipline, and self control.

Today, I’d like to talk provide a similar list for grown-ups that will make life easier. I don't know if they'll lead to success, but I can guarantee that they will piss people off because they require people to rise above the their feelings to master their universe in a way that's realistic, right, and balanced in a world that is anything but that in this day and time:

Read and follow the instructions. I know your ideas are better, but the instructions exist because they tell you how it all works together in the fastest and most efficient way possible. The instructions tell you how things flow the best and will guarantee the best results. I know you’re smarter than they are, but they’re telling you how things get done the best, regardless of everybody elses’ bright ideas.

Stop and think before you ask a question. The thing I heard the most from my parents growing up was “stop and think about that for a minute” when I asked a question. People are too quick to use their telephone as a surrogate brain. There are even studies that imply a direct correlation between increased technology and decreased intelligence. There’s no doubt that common sense is on the decline. Reverse the curve in your personal life. When you don’t understand something, stop for five minutes and think about it to make sure the answer isn’t in front of you already. Do appropriate research (everything is on the Internet) and read the instructions before you ask the question. Nothing’s more embarrassing than to ask a question and find out that the answer was right in front of you the whole time.

Manage your emotions. I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but yelling at people is the fastest way to lose respect and credibility. It doesn’t inspire a fear of crossing you; it says “I’m an insecure spoiled brat!” It’s a psychological fact that people who keep their cool keep control of conversations and maintain the upper hand in every situation. Use the “stop and think for 5 minute” rule above not only to figure out questions, but to reign in anger, frustration, or tears that will leave a permanent impression that’s detrimental to your character and can’t be overcome.

The days of getting trust and respect based solely on age or position are over. You have to earn it now, and people aren’t forgiving when you’ve put them down or made them feel bad. Yes, you need to set boundaries and stand up for yourself, and there are intelligent, calm, respectful ways do this. As they used to say back in my high school days “check yourself before you wreck yourself.”

Take personal responsibility. There’s an epidemic of failure to take personal responsibility in the world today. Nobody is ever wrong; it’s always somebody elses’ fault; and consequences aren’t fair. People have become lazy and complacent. Be an adult and take responsibility for your actions, and you’ll find that life is much easier. Find the internal motivation to do your best, to be honest, and to treat others with the same respect that you expect to receive from them. I know life gets in the way sometimes, but be realistic about your abilities and be honest with others about what you can, cannot, did, and didn’t do immediately, without excuses. Owning your choices and failure with the same confidence that you own your success is the fastest way to earn respect and credibility. Life still won’t be fair, but it will smack you in the face a lot less when you take control of what you can control. It’s your responsibility get your crap together and to take care of it. Just do it, and you’ll be amazed at how much you reap when you sow a measure of grace and humility.

Get comfortable with computers. People told me in college that I’d have to get comfortable with computers if I wanted to have a decent job and be successful as an adult. That’s certainly true. What shocks me is how many people are still “technology holdouts.” Folks, we’re nearly two decades into the 21st century. Computers are everywhere now, and you have to be comfortable with them if you’re still alive and functioning in society. You don’t have to be an expert, but you do need to have basic knowledge of how to use a debit card, credit card, cell phone, and computer for daily living. Take a class at a local technology college, and buy a reference book on the basics of computer use. Don’t stay trapped in the 20th century. It’s downright dangerous to do so.

These are probably the five traits that we hate the most, because they require people to stop whining and actually do something to change their reality. People have deemed these things “unrealistic” or “old fashioned,” but the truth is that produce amazing results if you aren't too lazy to take up the challenge to live by a higher standard. That’s also why they’ll make you stand out against others. The good news is that they aren’t dependent on intelligence, talent, or special abilities. Anybody can do it if they’re willing to commit to higher principals, and those are the people who really rise above the rest.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great week.

Bye!

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Writer At Work!

7/11/2018

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The busy season at work is over, and it’s back to writing for me. I’ve done major rewrites on The Tenth Dimension over the past week, and gave it a new title. Its now titled Convergence, and has undergone major rewrites over the past week. I’m actually going through it again this week to make sure everything lines up and is consistent in the new draft. It’s a much better novel now, and I’m happier with it. The beta reads were extremely helpful in making this a better draft. This novel takes place 129 years after The Earthside Trilogy.

Once that’s done, I’ll immediately move on to rewrites for Trigger based on the beta read. That novel takes place at the same time as Metamorphosis and Emergence, and is connected to the events in The Earthside Trilogy. I don’t think it will need extensive rewrites, but it definitely needs some “tightening up,” and a new title.

I’ve also been batting around ideas for another scifi/mystery novel that I’ve tentatively titled Domino. I’ve written some bits and pieces and hoped to develop a full rough draft soon, but I think that might have to wait until the fall, or even next year. The other 2 scifi novels in progress came back from the beta readers needing more work that I anticipated, and I feel in the Spirit that I need to finish these two writing projects before I get involved in another one. I’ll keep taking notes and writing what I can on Domino, but it looks like this project will have to wait for a while. That’s alright. I need to stay balanced to make sure everything I write is the best it can be. I can’t produce good quality if I’m juggling too many novels-in-progress, especially with the whole rest of my life happening!

I’m just happy to be writing again. A self imposed hiatus is one thing, but being forced to take one due to a full schedule was frustrating. I tried to combat that by promoting and entering contests or submitting for reviews, and it helped. I think all writers get cranky when life gets in the way of our writing. It’s inevitable that it will sometimes, of course. Very few of us can do this full time and have to balance it with a home, job, family, and all the other things that make up a life.

That’s all today. Take care, and have a great rest of the week.

Bye!

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Small Things, Big Differences

Some Things CAN Be Changed

Deep State Problems?

Five Traits We Hate

Writer At Work!

Escape Reality

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