Escape Reality
By SherritheWriter
  • Home
  • Escape Reality (Blog)
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery/Suspense
  • Short Books
  • Non-Fiction

Beating the Beast of Transition

8/6/2013

 
Ah, back to school time! I have to be honest – this is the time of year when I don’t envy teachers or students at all. I don’t mean to sound snarky; it’s just the truth. I remember the “back to school” dread that would start as soon as the retailers would crank up the commercials in late July from my own school days. It was downright depressing to go back after a nice, long break and make that adjustment to the lazy days of summer to the crazy school days again. One advantage of having a year-round job is that my schedule doesn’t get disrupted like that any more. The disruptions are for much shorter periods of time. It’s easier to rebound from a two day meeting or a three day conference than the nine months on/three months off school schedule.  But I guess that’s a personal preference, and it’s all in what you’re used to. 

Still, we do all go through schedule disruptions from time to time, and everybody has busy seasons. Whether it’s rebounding from having three months off, a cross-country conference in a time zone three hours behind you, the explosion of activity during your busiest time of year, or covering for a colleague that's resigned or is on long term leave, there are tips and tricks to keep your balance through the transition. It’s not easy to move through these phases, but you can ease the burden by:

Not skimping on sleep. I know there are times when you need more hours in the day, and the easiest way to get them is to sleep less. Don’t do it. Your body needs time to rest and recover, and getting enough sleep is your best defense against the ravages of stress and illness. Trust me: You’ll be a lot more productive during your day if you get enough sleep at night. So don’t burn the midnight oil, or get up at 4 a.m. to “get a leg up.” It won’t work if the 3 p.m. crash fogs your concentration to the point where you can’t focus on anything at all. 

Taking your lunch hours and breaks and don’t do overtime unless it’s required.  I picked up this gem at an administrative assistant’s conference about 10 years ago, and it’s proved golden. Just like skimping on sleep, it’s easy to reason that you’ll get ahead if you skip your “off time.” And just like skimping on sleep, you’re cheating yourself by not allowing breaks that will refresh you and give you energy to get more done while you’re there. There might be times when it’s necessary, but keep it to a minimum and don’t make it a habit. Remember, work/school are there to serve your personal life – not the other way around. It’s a symbiotic circle where things are supposed to work in harmony. If your school/work becomes a parasite feeding on your personal life, it’s time to take stock and get things back in proper balance. I realize there are times when things or issues take over your life, but these should be for short seasons. If it establishes itself as a way of life, it's become a parasite and it's time for correction. Remember your priorities, and remember that time to yourself every day – even if it’s just 20 minutes – is essential for keeping you sharp and in balance to do your best at all you do. 

Learning time management skills. I was lucky to have a good instruction in one of my college freshman classes that made teaching time management skills her first priority of the semester. That lesson has helped me through all of life ever since. I’ve had some refresher courses and these are things that never change – if anything, they find more ways to save you time and help you be more productive with the time you have. Some examples of things you learn are how to group like tasks together, keeping a schedule and calendar, advance planning and preparation, and blocking out personal time. If you’ve never had a time management course and you don’t naturally have these skills, it’s worth your while  to fit it in your schedule. In fact, I’d put it on the “necessary for modern life” training list along with typing, computer/software training, and driver’s training. 

Keeping your home/car/office clean. What’s on the inside shows on the outside. I know that cleaning and organization take time, but it’s well worth it if you can find what you need without looking everywhere for it, or when you aren’t having sneezing fits from digging in a drawer or cabinet that’s full of three years worth of dust. Keeping your space clean is good for your mind, body and soul. Organization helps you to be more efficient and saves you time, and cleaning keeps you healthy by clearing out germs and things that can carry them or cause allergy and sinus problems. Plus, you just feel better mentally when things are neat and organized. Cleaning and organization doesn’t have to take a lot of time, either. Sure, you have to make the initial investment, but once you’ve done that then it’s maintenance. Put things back when you take them out, keep your systems going, and make Clorox wipes and your Swiffer mop and duster your new friends to keep things neat and tidy in a hurry. 

Staying on your medications. I know I’m going where angels fear to tread, but I feel it’s necessary to address this because it’s important.  I mean no offence, but it’s a simple fact that sometimes people get the impression that “I’m fine” and go off medication to save money, or because they don’t like the side effects. Don’t do it. Your doctor put you on medication to help you lead a normal, balanced life, and cutting that off will throw whatever needs fixing out of whack again. And yes, people can tell if you go off them too, because it shows in ways that you don’t notice, so don’t think you’re so clever that you can hide it. Your family, friends, and colleagues don’t believe that your sniffling and sneezing is “just an allergy attack,” that your frequent restroom visits are “something that didn’t agree with me for lunch,” or that your frantic hustling around the office and losing your temper is “just stress and a bad day,” especially when it goes on for a week. People might be dumb, but it’s never in a way that’s convenient. The one thing that smart and dumb have in common is that they always show at times that are darned inconvenient and frequently embarrassing for you. Plus, you will get sick and need it again all too soon. Someone once told me that stopping your medication because you feel better is like cancelling your pest control service because you don't see bugs anymore: you don't see the bugs because the pest control works, and you don't feel bad because the medicine works. Don’t play that game. Maintenance medications are a blessing that everybody should take advantage of. You don’t have to suffer and there’s absolutely no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed about needing it – in fact, if you take it regularly and the dosage is right, then nobody will know you’re on it at all unless you choose to tell them! Do yourself and others a favor and take your medication. If you have trouble paying for it or the side effects don’t go away in time, talk to your doctor about adjusting your dosage. Let them do their job by keeping you well so you can do your job of serving the world through whatever you do with good health and a clear mind. 

I’m sure there are many more tips and tricks for making life easier when life gets busy, but these are good, basic things to help you get started. So don’t fear that date circled in red on the calendar. This too shall pass, and if you work wisely and efficiently then it will pass with as little pain and suffering as possible. 

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

Bye!

You Can Never Go Back

3/13/2013

 
I was disappointed recently when I read that Star Wars: The Clone Wars has been cancelled. It seems that LucasArt thought it was time to move on in other directions. I say it was a heck of a time. Who knew that "The Wrong Jedi" was the final episode? To me, it was a sad ending. Watching Ahsoka walk away from Anakin and the Jedi order after being acquited of a false accusation of murder and sabatoge on the temple - I knew I was watching another chink in Anakin's armor. No wonder he turned to the dark side, I thought. He did everything he could to help Ahsoka and in the end he did find the true murderer/sabateur, but it wasn't enough. Ahsoka felt she had to work it out on her own and she walked away from the only life she knew.

Now before you read on, answer this question without thinking about it: Did Ahsoka do the right thing by leaving the Jedi order?

Tick tock, tick tock.

Okay, if you said no, then I'd say you've never been through a life experience that forced you to become a new person.

If you said yes, then you know what it's like to have your life turned upside down by something unexpected. You also know those motivational sayings that change is like going from a catepillar to a butterfly are total crap. It's more like Wolverine having the adamantamum grafted to his bones. And when you're torn apart like that, you either heal up and become stronger, or you bleed to death. 

It can be tough, because building a better life usually means working with changes that hurt like hell and require you to work harder than you ever thought possible to bring you to the Promised Land. I lived through it three years ago when my job was moved. Moving two licensure programs was more work than any of us bargained for. It took three years of legislative updated and changes and even more work at an administrative level. I dare say, I believe we're just now getting settled into the new changes as we wrap up our latest renewal cycle and implement the last of the changes. Yet as I help in training a new employee that started with us a few weeks ago, it strikes me how much I've changed in as many years. To say that I'm not the same person I was before would be an understatement. I didn't just move my job. I learned that the only way to better days was hard work and change, and I applied it to my personal life. And now one work move, two more adopted birds, and six books later - yea, I'm not the same person. Some think I've lost my fear of change, but the truth is that I traded it for a fear of stagnation. I realize now what a rut I had been in before and how detrimental it was to me. That rut was partly of my own making because I was afraid to stand up and pursue the change I need to. Now, I'm afraid to sit still for too long for fear of stalling out again.

It's funny. Yesterday, someone at my meetings asked me if I liked having the programs there as much as I liked it at the old department. I held back my reaction. I told them yes, it was working out great, and that's true. But I stopped short of saying the rest: that I could never go back to the old place and the old ways. I've changed too much. I've created a different life. I'm not the same person and I don't have any desire to go back to the old places or ways. In fact, all I really miss are a few friends and ham subs in the canteen on Fridays. And I had to laugh at myself. I'm still in contact with the friends and obviously, the subs I can live without. That old life is a memory of what brought me to where I am, but it's not a place I can live at. Not now. Not ever. Nor should I try.

I believe we all go through times when reality throws the Hammer of Thor through our  life, and we're stuck with the choice of picking up the pieces and creating a better life, or letting the sharp edges of loss stab us until we bleed to death. But they are times when we have to come to grips with the hard truth that we can't go back, and even if we do it would never be the same. Sometimes we do like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins and try to go back, only to realize we can't have the old life back and leave later. Sometimes we do like Ahsoka and walk away right then and there, realizing as she said, "I have to sort it out on my own." And sometimes, as in my case, there isn't a choice. It simply happens and you have to take it and wither on the vine, or start growing where you've been replanted.

I'm sorry we won't get to see how Ahsoka worked things out. My trial was different from hers, but I really wanted to see how she worked things out. But then again, maybe they left it open because it remains a story in progress. As I train a new colleague and face the reality of having a new supervisor this summer, I realize that I am a new creation. Now the task is how to make that new creation better, one day at a time.

That's all for today. Take care and have a great rest of the week.

Bye!

Let it Be (or Mind Your Own Business!)

1/4/2013

 
As we head into a new year, I ponder my resolution to have better balance in my life on a number of levels. One of those (very important) levels is in the area of stress reduction and reducing worry in my life. I think these are things we all struggle with, and recently I've come to realize there's a great deal that we impose on ourselves, especially when it comes to our relationships.

This realization came after having several people tell me things that other people said and/or did over the past few weeks and asked what I thought of it. I remembered that when I was under a therapist while going through my life changes a few years ago, one of the things she told me was that the secret to finding balance was realizing what was and wasn't my business. "You concern yourself with your responsibilities and what you control and let go of the things in the hands of others," she said. That's certainly true, and in fact remembering this advice upon being asked my opinion on these various situations and issues made me realize that people, in general, bring on a lot of their own stress by worrying about or fretting over things that other people think, say or do - things they have absolutely no control over.

Why do we do this? My first reaction was that it's arrogance. Frankly, we all have a tendency to beleive that everything is all about us - and that's wrong. The truth is that everything people think, say and do is all about THEM. It's a reflection of how they see the world. Even if they say that "others made me do it," the truth is that they made the decision on how to perceive things and on how to proceed. Nobody "makes" anybody do anything. Plus, by nature, people are going to do what's best for them and the ones closest to them. Why should they do something that benefits you 100% and them none at all when you aren't the center of THEIR world?

So there's one reason, but I don't think that's all of it, nor the major portion. In fact, I think if that were the whole reason, then it would mean that people in general are extremely selfish and short sighted, and I don't believe that such a narrow view applies to most people most of the time. Some maybe, but absolutely not all. Maybe not most. And remember, I said there's some truth to this. Maybe it's a small part, but I don't think that's a "once size fits all" explanation for it. Most people learn, grow, and gain a wider perspective on the world and as such, they aren't so shallow.

I believe another reason is that we want everybody to like us. The problem is, I recently read that there was actually some scientific study that at least 10% of people aren't going to like you. Frankly, I was surprised the percentage was that low. I thought it would be closer to 30%, but the latest study I read said 10% so we'll run with that. Why is this? Plain and simple, personality differences. Some types just don't play well together. If you don't believe it, ask any extremely emotional person I've come in contact with and they'll tell you I'm mean and don't give a crap about their feelings. I am, by nature, a person that leans more toward logic and reason in making decisions than emotion. I usually don't get along well with extremely emotional types that "just want peace" and "want everybody happy right now" because I beleive happiness comes from investing the time and hard work to do things right no matter how you feel about it "right now." If you do what's right, then it will work out in the end, and that's a happiness that last; not a vapor of high emotion that wears off when the party is over and the consequences have to be paid. In fact, since I've been working in professional licensing, I'd say my tendency to make decisions based on logic and reason have become a stronger  because by nature of my profession, I'm obligated to do what's right no matter how people feel about it. I don't think that's a bad thing (of course), but I've caught some flack about it because I'm female, and by stereotype I'm supposed to be all about feelings. While I'm ok to say "alright, forget the 10% and thank God for and enjoy the other 90%, well, some people get awfully fixated on that 10% and believe that if they work harder then they can get a 100% approval rating. It seems their effort would be better spent nurturing relationships with the other 90% but in fact, sometimes they turn on the ones on their side to gain approval they'll never have, counting on forgiveness from that 90% that might come, but not realizing that it will have a higher price than they bargained for because broken trust is a very hard thing to rebuild. But it happens, all the time. I've experienced it; I've seen it; I've written about it. Hey, I'm a writer. The ugly underside of humanity is a playground of inspiration. Expose it to me at your own risk.

Just kidding - maybe. And a sidenote on the emotion thing: I'm interested to see if the stereotype of "hysterical emotion" in  women downplays as more generations of women have careers.Working women don't have time to fret over every little wayward comment, rolled eye, questionable social media post, tear or tirade that comes their way. Or at least, me and my colleagues don't. But we'll see as time tells this particular tale.

So there's that. But not all people are emotional and out for approval ratings that would make politicians jealous, so reason #2 can't apply to everybody. But it does apply to enough that I believe it should be considered.

There is one more reason, and I think it applies to most of us. I believe the reason people get tied up in what others think, say and do is because they don't want to be alone in how they think or feel. They want to know that others agree with them. They want others to have an opinion with them, or to get mad with them, or to be sad with them, or to take up the cause with them because they don't want to be the only freak swimming against the tide. They want to know they're like everybody else and what the other person is doing is wild/selfish/stupid/crazy/nonsense/whatever. They don't want to be alone in their opinion or feelings because they don't want to look in the mirror and ask "is it them, or is it me?" We all want to be right. We all want the world to understand that our opinion is just as important as everybody elses'. We all want respect. Nobody wants to be a nobody. They want people to know that they're here, that they have value, and that they are just as important as the other 7+ billion people in the world.

Here's the thing, though: Going about it by getting tangled up in other peoples' business is a sign of insecurity. If you truly walk in faith and you're confident in yourself as the authentic human being you were created to be, then you don't need to beg or scream for attention. You humbly go about your own business, believing that the life God set before and the purposes you serve speak for themselves. 

That's the cure.
That's how you break free from this stress. You get busy living your own life and tending to your own businss and have the grace to accept others and the decisions they make without intruding into their lives with your opinions.

Does this mean you ignore others and don't care what they do? Of course not. You should always do your best to help people in need and if there's something you can do to help others on their life path, you certainly should. The key is to use common sense and discernment. Yes, we all have opinions on things, but we don't need to share them all the time. Everything that flies through your head doesn't need to fly out of your mouth. If you aren't asked for your opinion or advice, assume it's not wanted or needed and keep it to yourself. I'd even go so far as to say that you should still use caution in giving advice even if you ARE asked for it. As one of the elves said in The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring, "elves don't give advice because all paths may run ill." Think before you speak. If in doubt, don't. And realize that advice is a take it or leave it thing - and in many cases, people leave it, so be prepared to have your advice or opinion rejected just in case and be prepared to not get offended. And please, for the love of God, if it won't make any difference and you have a thought - don't. Stop right there and go no further. If it's done and/or there's no way it's changing no matter what anybody says and you really need to get it out, set up a private blog or buy a journal to work it out, but don't go off on tirades and complain to everybody in the world about things you can't control involving people close to you. And don't ask or expect people to take sides with you unless you want to do the equivalent of renting a billboard that says I'M THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. It makes you look bad and it makes other people run like hell from you when they see you coming. If it's something so big that you can't live with it, find a way to either deal with it or distance yourself from the situation. Just because a war's going on doesn't mean you have to be a soldier in it. Other people might want you to have their problems, but they can't draft you. You don't have to accept them and if you choose not to accept their problems, well then, it's over.

The point of this mile long blog is that I'm coming to understand that balance is something that we have to strive for in every area of life, and personal relationships are certainly a big element there. We do live in the world, with people, so having good, balanced relationships is an extremely important thing. And one way we can achieve balance in our relationships is by not being a busybody, minding our own business, and having the grace to let it be.

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one. I hope you had a Happy Friday and that you have a great weekend.

Bye!

The Holiday Wazzup Letter!

12/23/2012

 
Dear Friends:

We hope this digital letter finds you safe, healthy, happy, and enjoying a wonderful holiday season. In the spirit of the annual holiday letter, I thought it would be fun to share some of the highlights of the past year with you.

I know, this is a blog. You've been keeping up. But for the sake of those that don't like to log in twice a week for my ramblings, well, here's a summary:

Rick just wrapped up a 3 year term on church council at Mt. Tabor. He was heading up the IT committee and did a great job updating the website (which was his major project for his first year on council) and with keeping up staff technology needs. It did get to be a bit of a challenge this year, though. We lost both of our pastors this year - the head pastor left for a higher position with the Synod in March, and the associate pastor left to head up a congregation in Charleston, which is where he's from. It was tough losing them - and then major changes at Rick's job drastically altared his work situation, which has required more overtime work and made serving a bit more challenging. But he stuck in there and was determined to see his term through. We're very proud of him for hanging in there despite the challenges of the past few months, and for all he's done for the church. You can check out the church website that he designed at www.mttaborlutheran.org .

Unfortunately, I had to quit both of my church committees. I had always planned to step down from the IT committee when Rick's term ended, but major changes in my own work situation and my writing picking up cut significantly into my spare time for volunteer activities. There are some things and events that I do hope to continue participating in, but right now being on a standing committee isn't something that's practical for me. It's a shame, too, because I enjoyed it and hated to give it up. Maybe in another season of life.

My work has picked up with additional duties. I'm now working with 4 licensure programs, and recent staff shortages have put more of a burden on remaining staff. I do finally have a window office, which is good (although I got the workload that came with it), and I'm also required to travel twice a year for the landscape architect program. Last year I attended the spring meeting in late February in Miami, and the national meeting in September in San Francisco. That trip to Miami was the first time I've ever flown! It's not bad, either. And while I'm not a big fan of travel, well, I'm hanging in there to see how it works out. The next meeting up is the regional meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona in March. We'll see. That's all I can say for now. Overall the job is good, although it has been very stressful lately. Our workload usually peaks in December (exam deadlines, plus people in a rush to get licensed to get projects in the new year), and being down a person has been hard. Hopefully, we'll fill that open position soon and things will level out. I'm off work until January 2, so hopefully some time with family, friends, and at home with Rick and the birds will do me some good.

My writing is also making progress. I published my second fiction novel, Anywhere But Here, through Whiskey Creek Press in April. They offered me a contract for my third fiction novel, a sci-fi apocolyptic novel titled Splinter, last summer. I'm already working on two writing projects now that I hope to wrap up in the spring. One is another mystery novel titled Move. It's about a young woman that unknowingly makes a deal with a djinn (genie), but unfortunately his help is rather radical and leads to more problems than solutions. The other is a non-fiction book titled Feathered Frenzy. It's basically a "quick reference guide" to give people tips on making their home and lifestyle bird-friendly. And believe it or not, I ALREADY have an idea for my next project. That one is still in a very early brainstorming stage. I'm not even considering working on that one more until I get my two current projects finished. I'm building an audience and working on many promotional things for my published novels. It's slow work, but worth it. I enjoy writing and I think going the "independent author" route was the right choice - especially with the traditional route going into decline as e-publishing picks up. I hope I hit the e-book wave at just the right time!

The birds are doing well. They'll be doing their own Christmas letter to you on their blog over at http://conurecorner.weebly.com soon. Santa has big plans for them and I think we're going to have three very happy birdies in a couple of days!

Our families are doing well. Mom and Dad are staying busy, as usual. Mom had surgery for carpral tunnel last summer and I tell you, that's the fastest surgery recovery I've ever seen! She was back up and running in no time! Dad is still working. Retirement talk comes up from time to time, but no definite plans or timeline yet. I tell you, those design professionals - they love their work and don't like to retire! Stephen and Nicole are doing well too. Stephen's still keeping them straight as a department head at Public Safety, and Nicole is working at home in medical transcription. She graduated from a medical management program in the spring, but unfortunately she had to have surgery for diverticulitis shortly after graduation, so that was an unexpected hiccup in her life. But she's doing fine now and moving forward again.

Rick's parents are also doing ok. You know his father has dementia, so there are good days and bad days - that's just how it goes with that. They joined the Methodist church up the road last month. Our nieces and Rick's sister and brother-in-law are also doing well. We just got back from our Christmas visit with them in Greenville this morning. They stay busy with work, school, and activities - much like all of us.

And yes, in case any of you are wondering, I did complete my New Year's resolution of reading through The Bible again this year. I actually finished it in September!

Well, that's pretty much it. We are truly blessed and thank God every day for all that He has done for us and allowed us to do for others. We hope all of you are doing well and that life is being good to you. You know that everybody is welcome to visit this website and blog. I strive to update it at least twice a week. Some people have themes for their blogs and while the theme of this website is my writing, the blog isn't limited to that. In fact, I believe all of life inspires my writing, and this blog is open to anything and everything happening in life. Feel free to read, share, and pass it along to anybody interested, whether it's family, friends, readers, other writers, or anybody that's interested in how one writer's life inspires her tales!

Merry Christmas everybody! I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season and that your new year is filled with joy, peace and prosperity.

God bless and best wishes,

Rick and Sherri

Editing Hell

11/12/2012

 
Hi all, sorry to not update for a while. Life seems to naturally get much busier for me in the fall, and I've been trying to squeeze out one more draft of Move before the holidays. Thank God, I finally managed to finish draft #4 last night. I tell you, I struggled with this one. I found out that both of my publishers now require a minimum 60,000 word count for mystery novels now, and the last draft of Move came in at a little under 50,000 words. I had to add over 10,000 words. It resulted in six new chapters and adding a lot of detail. I beleive the changes are well worth it and make it a much better novel, but this wasn't easy. I have done three read throughs to make the additions and make sure that everything is "plugged in" and fits together correctly. I'm happy with this draft, though. The plot is much stronger now and I feel the story benefitted from the additions. I hope to have a final draft of this done and submitted to one of my publishers by May 2013.

Oh NaNo participants, this is what you have to look forward to. Yes, writing that rough draft is the hardest (and most time consuming) part, but the rewrites can be a pain too. But don't worry about that now. Just get that draft out there and you can worry about editing hell in 2013.

I also managed to squeeze in a revision of Feathered Frenzy this morning too. That's a very short work - I actually call it a guide because it's more the length of a novellette (at 15,500 words). I'm going to self publish that one, so it will get done when it gets done. Maybe I'll have it ready in late winter or early spring 2013.

But for now, my current writing projects are caught up and I'm putting them on hold for the holidays. Life is just too busy now. We're doing a major housecleaning to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and that season is always a whirlwind of activity. There's just too much to do and trying to squeeze in time for ongoing writing projects with family activities, social activities, and work is more stress than it's worth. So I've decided to just do promotion for my published works and blogging for the remainder of 2012, and I'll pick up my ongoing writing projects again in 2013.

In other news, Rick's term on council is drawing to a close. He and the other three members had nominees put forth to replace them next year, and the congregation will vote on them December 2. Rick has one more thing to follow up with on his committee and he's helping with the congregational meetings for the elections, but it's winding down. Only one more meeting in December and he turns in his office key and goes back to being a regular member of the congregation. I say yay. He's done a lot the past 3 years. We all have (meaning the fellow council members and their spouses). I wish the nominees luck and blessing as they take over the reigns.

You know I left my committees? I'm helping Rick with his through the end of his term, but I had to come off the other committee. They're planning ongoing activities on weekdays and I just can't do that with my work schedule, so I had to quit. It's too bad because I did enjoy being more active in church, but my writing is building up and my workload is increasing since one of my colleagues resigned to go work for another section in the agency. The good news is that she has a window office and I'm moving in it when she moves out in a couple of weeks. So for the first time in my almost 15 years of working full time, I'll have a window office. The bad news is, I'm also getting her Board - so there are more meetings I have to put on and disciplinary actions to deal with until a replacement is hired. *Groan* And we all know that can be a slow process. But I'll survive. If the Lord brings you to it, He'll bring you through it. It just meant that I had to quit my church committees. Too bad really, but hopefully I'll be able to help out with activities here and there in the future. There are a couple of things I really enjoy helping with like greeting and our free thrift day, and I'd really like to continue helping with those things.

So that's where it's at for now. Things are coming along and I'm happy for that. Thankfully, I have today off for Veteran's Day, so hopefully I'll be able to get even more in order and on track. I've already made great progress today, but now I need to log off to deal with other matters, like holiday shopping and housecleaning.

Thanks to all the Veteran's that fought and gave their  lives so we're free to live our crazy, hectic lives under the blessing of freedom. God bless all those who have served and continue to serve our country and to protect our freedom. We do appreciate you and pray for your safety and well being every day.

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

Bye!

Office Politics - In Fiction and Reality

10/9/2012

 
Picture
I’m often asked if the things that happened to Jana Lanning in my recent novel, Anywhere But Here, actually happened to me. For those of you that haven’t read this novel, Jana Lanning, the protagonist, is denied admission to graduate school, finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, helps her best friend get married and move out of town, and has to settle for a job that she’s overqualified for – and all of this happens within two weeks of getting her undergraduate degree. Then to make things worse, the office where she works starts a merger with another firm and Jana finds herself on the wrong end of office politics that are the final straw  in her battle with depression. The thing people seem the most interested in are the office politics. People want to know if the happenings at Dixon Financial are reflective of my job before it was transferred to a new agency a couple of years ago. 

In response to that I’d say not entirely, but I can’t deny that some things that happened to me early in my career are reflected in people and events that take place in the book. I know that’s cryptic, but bear in mind two things: The people and events are fictionalized and that was accomplished through a mixture of my personal experiences, experiences I’ve seen and heard of from other people, and instances I’ve read about in books, magazines, news and other media. It came from a vast pool and I’ll admit that I had experience with being on the wrong end of office politics – heck, how could you write about it even from a fictionalized perspective unless you lived it in some way – but it’s also a universal issue that anybody working in an office environment is going to be on one end or the other of. And sorry folks, but there are probably going to be times when you find yourself on the wrong side, at least from the perspective of the majority.  

My purpose in both writing Anywhere But Here and this entry isn’t to bash my former workplace. These things happened a decade ago, and I must admit that I said and did things that weren’t wise and didn’t lead to the best resolution in the situations I faced. I certainly learned from those experiences and in retrospect, I’m glad I learned those lessons early in life or I certainlywouldn’t be where I am now. The purpose is to share lessons learned, because this is something that I believe everybody in the workforce faces at some time. It makes you feel isolated and lonely when it happens, but the truth is that you aren’t alone. Lots of people face it but few talk about it because frankly, it’s embarrassing. 

I used to think that people playing office politics were selfish jerks that like to hurt people, but experience has shown me that it actually grows from a root of fear. People that play with power are insecure and doubt their own ability, so they create an elaborate game of turning people and things to their advantage. I’ve found that there are 2 good ways to identify a person that is likely to use power to their advantage:

1.They cling tightly to cliques that are made up of people that are higher on the chain of command than they are; and

2.They don’t associate with anybody on the chain of command below  them unless it’s absolutely necessary - and those people better give them what they want immediately or it’s insubordination.  

It’s the people in category #2 that usually find themselves on the losing end of office politics because any wrong word or deed will be met with fierce retaliation. I won’t say that I never see office politics anymore, but I have found that I find myself in these situations a lot less since I’ve been reclassified to a mid-level position. I’d like to think this is because I’ve proven that my knowledge and abilities are valuable, but it’s more likely that I learned valuable lessons on how to deal with these types from previous experience – and people know it. 

So what’s the secret to dealing when you’re the victim of office politics? If you’re right, stand by that. Don’t ever cave in and take the quick and easy way out because that’s a temporary end. If they’d turn on you once, they’ll turn on you again. Caving in only shows that you can be taken advantage of, and they will milk that dry, plus the consequences of doing wrong will follow you a lot longer than standing up for what’s right. They might not like you, but they’ll respect you and at least know not to let you catch them with their hand in the cookie jar again. If you aren’t right, correct yourself immediately and stick to your guns in walking down the right road. And whichever situation you’re in, it’s imperative that you have patience. Truth will show itself in time and it will be end game then.  It might take months or even years for things to come around, but they will and you’ll be better off for it. The reward will come in patient endurance, and it will be something that nobody can deny. Sure, there are people that are so stubborn that they’ll refuse to change their mind no matter what happens, but don’t worry about them. Leave them in their ignorance and move on because it’s highly probably that they’ll be gone in time themselves.

I believe Jana Lanning in Anywhere But Here is a good personification of office politics gone wrong, because she’s the one in the weakest position. She didn’t do anything wrong and in fact suffered for doing right, but recent personal losses kept her from taking a stand in the right way and the right timing. The people that create these situations are masters at turning things against you even if you didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s exhausting to constantly defend your own character. Unfortunately, she found this out too late and suffered the consequences of crossing the wrong people simply by being who she was and not deferring to people doing things wrong. She  was right and had proof of it, but she didn’t know how to present that truth in a combative work environment. That happens sometimes, and it’s awful. I think the worst offence in the world is to have to suffer for other peoples’ mistakes, and office politics are the ultimate example of that. 

I think this is why eople tell me that they find Jana Lanning so likeable. She’s a good person that doesn’t deserve the hard knocks that come her way from people taking advantage of her shy nature, youth, and inexperience. She makes the same mistakes that all of us made in our early adulthood and we understand her confusion at why life is kicking her around.  Reality is a hard teacher, and it’s the only one that can do the job once school leaves off. Remember the movie “St. Elmo’s Fire” from the 80’s? That strange, new world opening up is the exact thing that Jana faces, and we understand exactly where she’s coming from. She, like the rest of us, has to learn to find those gems of opportunity in the rubble of defeat to rebuild a new life from shattered dreams. In some ways, we may even relate to her right where we’re at, because life is always teaching us lessons.

So no, I didn’t start out in life exactly like Jana did. I  actually did marry my college sweetheart, but I never made it to graduate school because I found other things that I believed were worth more in my life than higher education. I never struggled with depression, but I knew (and still know) many who do battle that demon, and I hope Jana’s struggle helps people with depression understand that this is a battle they can win if they stay in the fight. But yes, I did go through an office merger in my early years in the workforce, and I found myself prey to the power plays, albeit in much different circumstances. All I can say is that wisdom comes from experience, and I gained plenty in those few years.

 And lest you think it’s impossible for poor Jana to face so much at one time, I call your bluff. Too much smashing my life to bits was the catalyst for my next novel, Splinter – but that’s one for a future blog entry. I’ll address it closer to the release date in mid 2013. Until then, enjoy Anywhere But Here and my other books - information on them and links to buy are on the other tabs of this website. I hope you find entertainment and inspiration in them. 

That’s all today. 

Bye!


Out of the Past, Into the Future

1/25/2012

 
There was an incident today that I feel needs to be addressed once and for all. It's time to clear the air. So here we go.

I had a House committee meeting today on regulations for one of my programs. As some of you know, my job moved from one department to another on July 1, 2010. Moving two registration programs is a massive effort - so massive that we've spent the past year and a half trying to get things settled. We have our last bit of work in the legislature in  hopes of wrapping up this transition for once and for all and getting settled in a nice, peaceful routine.

I was sent to this meeting in order to observe and note what items the committee discussed so we could prepare for anything that needs to be addressed as it continues through the legislative process. Unfortunately, the plan I was sent to execute was disrupted when a former associate of our program (who is also a former colleague that worked closely with this program before my time here) showed up. Even though he is  no longer on payroll or associated with the program or my department in any way, he felt it necessary to use his clout to intervene when the committee was discussing my program's item. The intervention resulted in the natural progression of the conversation to derail into areas that caused the committee members so much confusion that they referred it back to the subcommittee in hopes of getting the questions cleared up. Translation: we took a step back today, which means a delay, which means that my department and the representatives for my program are not happy.

I'm not either, and this mess forces me to attend to an unexpected situation. There are, obviously, some issues with my former colleagues and associates that need to be addressed. And so I have decided to use this blog entry to address them in an open letter to clear the air and set the record straight, for once and for all.

Dear Former Colleagues and Associates:

I understand that transition is tough. Lord knows, I've been through my share. I went to hell and back between my job move and my in-laws moving to town at the same time in the spring/summer of 2010. By the grace of God and the support of some great, stable people in my life (meaning my husband and immediate family), I was able to not only survive two concurrent life changes, but to thrive as well. I openly admit that my old life is dead. There's nothing of it left behind. I actually came to it recently in what I call a "Frodo Baggins Revelation." Just as Frodo realized that his adventure changed him too much to return to his old life, I also realize that I'm not the person I was. You see me out and about and you recognize my physical appearance, but if you talked for me even for a few minutes, you'd realize this isn't the Sherri you knew 18 months ago. Great change has that effect on a person. In fact, I'd say that if it didn't then there's probably something wrong because it should. While the fundamental basics of who you are remain stable, a major life transition (or two) SHOULD shift your paradiam so much that it changes how you see the world and apply those fundamentals to your life. I've moved on and learned so much more than I ever thought possible in a relatively short period of time. It's shocking, but I also see that it was necessary. I needed to change. I needed to grow up more. I needed to lose my fear and to live more boldly than I was in the past so I can fulfill my life purpose now and into the future.

What surprises me is to find that obviously, you are having some problems letting go. To intervene in the affairs of a program that you gave up 18 months ago, knowingly and willingly, is stark evidence that seems to say you still haven't severed your own ties to the past. Honestly, it was the last thing I expected. You played it so cool during and after my move that frankly, I thought you were relieved to be rid of the programs and to move on without them and me. Yet today I (and the full House committee) saw evidence that you are still following our progress and seem to feel some sense of obligation to "look after" us. I can assure you that this isn't necessary. Really it isn't appropriate and I won't lie - there are some folks on my end of this that are furious about what they deem as an unwelcome intervention. Their ways aren't your ways, and the fact that they didn't send an entorage to this meeting didn't speak of negligence - it was strategy for future planning. And you blew up that strategy because you inserted yourself into business that really isn't even yours to look in on because you believe in "making things happen" instead of letting them progress.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not here to cast blame. I understand that it can be hard to let go when something has been your responsibility for a long time. These programs are as old as I am, so it's natural to feel some attachment to something that was under your wing for over 35 years. I also understand that I was very young when you hired me to handle these programs. I was a 23 year old recent college graduate and newleywed in 1999 when you hired me - but that was 13 years ago. I grew up, folks. I don't know if you realized it, but in the years I spent there I did grow, I did learn, and I did outgrow many things. I won't deny that I still have much to learn, and I can be my own kind of fool from time to time. But please, grant me the grace to be the igit I am, not the igit you assume I am because you know the 23 year old me but not the 36 year old me. And believe it or not, there's a great difference between those two people. The girl I was is gone. I'm a new creation now. You may or may not like it. I don't know, and it doesn't matter because I'm gone so it's pointless to ponder.

Likewise, the programs have grown. As I said, the department where we are has a very different way of doing things, but different isn't bad or wrong. In fact, it's been very good for them and they've come a long way in a little time themselves. They're evolving by leaps and bounds but once again, by God's grace we're making it. We're working with great people that work in a very efficient team and have dedicated themselves to learning these programs inside and out. We have daily support. And frankly, it's refreshing for me and for the Board members to be in a place where everybody knows what we do and understand the issues we face, day in and day out. I have met so many good people. I moved to a smaller agency and learned that the world was so much bigger than I ever realized. It's a paradox I know, but an interesting one that I find delight in.

You said when the legislation was drafted to move me that it wasn't personal, it was just business. That's ok. Now please, maintain your professional demeanor. Today was awkward. Let's not do that again. If you wonder how I'm doing or how the programs are doing, please do it right. You know where to find us. Swallow your pride and call or e-mail. Please, let go of the past and entrust us and yourselves to the present. Believe, as we do, that everything happens for a reason. This move went through because the Lord willed it to go through. For whatever reason, He deemed this the time and place for our program to pass from one place to another and change isn't bad. It just provides the tools for moving forward. We do appreciate all that you did for us in the past, but we aren't your responsibility anymore. It's been 18 months and it's time for all of us to move on.

So please, let go. It's not personal OR business anymore. It's just reality. And I know from cold, hard experience that's something that always catches up with you. So make life easy - accept it sooner before it kicks your butt later.

I wish you well in your future endeavors. If we meet again I sincerely hope it will be under better, more friendly circumstances. What I said when I moved still stands: I wish you no ill will as our paths diverged - just respect for what was and the grace to allow us to grow in our respective directions.

Sincerely,

Sherri


A Special Shout Out

6/30/2011

 
I wanted to take this time to give a special shout out to my current employer and colleagues. Tomorrow will be a year since I was transferred to your Department. Words simply can't express how much I appreciate your kindness and patience. It takes a tremendous leap of faith to accept two licensure programs that have been in existance for 35 years, and an even greater leap of faith to accept an employee with those programs that you did not hire and had no choice but to accept with the programs.

I thank you not only for this, but for the way you have unconditionally accepted me. You accepted me for who I was and have worked to discover my talents and to work with them. You have never put me down or made me feel bad for who I am. You have never made me feel like an outsider. You have never tried to hammer  a square peg in a round hole - in fact, I haven't  felt like a square peg since I moved here. You have done the one thing that my former colleagues couldn't do in over 12 years - you accepted me for who I am. Because of that, I feel I have accomplished more in the past 12 months than I have in the past 12 years combined. That's what happens when people have the right attitude and they care about doing things right for the benefit of all.

I know that my licensees, Board members, and council members thank you as well. You've been great. It's not perfect but we are committed to greater goals and never forget that. Our eyes are on the goal of providing the best we can. It's not about power trips or "putting people in their place." It's really and truly about what's best for all and helping people. That is what I signed on for all those years ago and it's so good to finally see it, at long last.

It's been a tremendous amount of work, but well worth it - and very successful with your help and guidance. We still have a way to go, but I have every faith that we will get there.

Thank you and bless you.

    Escape Reality

    By day, I'm a program assistant. By night, I'm an independent author. My fiction offers an escape from the reality of day-to-day life. See how my experiences lead to creating new worlds! 

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    Categories

    All
    10
    109
    125
    2
    2011
    2012
    2012 Election
    2013
    5
    9-11
    Ability
    Abundance
    Abuse
    Accent
    Accept
    Accident
    Accountability
    Accountable
    Act
    Actions
    Adapt
    Adjust
    Adjustment
    Administrative
    Admissions
    Adult
    Advertise
    Advice
    Affairs
    Age
    Aggrivate
    Airplane
    Airport
    Alarm
    Album
    Aliens
    Alive
    Allergies
    Allergy
    Alone
    Am
    Amazon
    Amazon.com
    Ambition
    America
    Anger
    Angry
    Ankle
    Anniversary
    Anonymity
    Answer
    Answers
    Antibiotic
    Anxiety
    Anywhere But Here
    Appreciate
    Apps
    Area
    Argue
    Arizona
    Arrogance
    Arrow
    Art
    Artist
    Arts
    Ascend
    Ask
    Associates
    Assume
    Attack
    Attention
    Attitude
    Attitudes
    Authentic
    Authenticity
    Author
    Authority
    Authors
    Automobile
    Automobiles
    Autumn
    Awesome
    Awkward
    Bacteria
    Bad
    Balance
    Band
    Baseball
    Batman
    Battle
    Battlefield
    Battleground Earth
    Beach
    Behave
    Behavior
    Behind
    Believe
    Benefit
    Best
    Better
    Bible
    Bills
    Binge
    Bin Ladin
    Bird
    Birdhouses
    Birds
    Birth Control
    Birthday
    Birthdays
    Blame
    Bleed
    Bless
    Blessing
    Blessings
    Block
    Blog
    Blog Hop
    Blurry
    Body
    Bold
    Book
    Books
    Book Sense
    Bored
    Borrow
    Boss
    Boston
    Boston Bombings
    Boston Marathon
    Box
    Boy
    Boyfriend
    Brain
    Brainwash
    Break
    Breaking Bad
    Breaks
    Brother
    Budget
    Budgies
    Build
    Burn
    Burnout
    Bury
    Business
    Busy
    Calendar
    Call
    Camera
    Camp
    Cancel
    Cancer
    Captain America
    Car
    Care
    Career
    Cars
    Cat
    Catalyst
    Catching
    Cd
    Celebrate
    Celebration
    Cell Phone
    Cemetery
    Challenge
    Challenges
    Chance
    Change
    Changes
    Chaos
    Chapter
    Character
    Characters
    Charisma
    Cheer
    Cheerleading
    Cheeseburger
    Chess
    Children
    Chloe
    Choices
    Chore
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Church
    Circumstance
    Circumstances
    Civilized
    Classic
    Clean
    Cleaning
    Cliques
    Clock
    Clown
    Cold
    Colleague
    Colleagues
    College
    Color
    Colorado
    Colorado Massacare
    Colorado River
    Combination
    Comedy
    Comfort
    Commandments
    Commercials
    Commitment
    Committee
    Common
    Common Sense
    Competition
    Complain
    Complaining
    Complete
    Computer
    Computers
    Con
    Conditioning
    Confederate Memorial Day
    Conference
    Confession
    Confidence
    Conflict
    Conform
    Conformity
    Confused
    Congregation
    Consequence
    Consequences
    Console
    Conspiracy Theories
    Constituant
    Contect
    Contentment
    Continues
    Contract
    Control
    Conure
    Conure Corner
    Conures
    Conventional
    Cook
    Cool
    Cope
    Copy
    Coral Gables
    Cough
    Council
    Courage
    Cover
    Cover Art
    Craft
    Crafts
    Craft Show
    Crash
    Crazy
    Crazy. Odd
    Create
    Creation
    Creative
    Creativity
    Creeper
    Crisis
    Cross Stitch
    Cross Stitch
    Cross Stitching
    Cross Stitching
    Crowd
    Cry
    C.s. Lewis
    Curses
    Customer
    Cut
    Cw
    Cwp
    Cycle
    Dad
    Damage
    Dance
    Dark Side
    Date
    Day
    Day Off
    Days
    Dead
    Deadlines
    Death
    Debate
    Debunk
    Deceive
    Decision
    Decisions
    Defeat
    Defend
    Delimma
    Deliverance
    Dell
    Demanding
    Democracy
    Demon
    Department
    Depression
    Derision
    Desert
    Design
    Despair
    Destruction
    Details
    Detox
    Devices
    Devil
    Devotion
    Devotional
    Devotionals
    Diamond
    Die
    Diet
    Difference
    Different
    Digital
    Directions
    Disappear
    Disbelief
    Discernment
    Discipline
    Discount
    Discourage
    Discouragement
    Discover
    Discretion
    Disruption
    Dissociation
    Distracted
    Divas
    Divide
    Divine
    Division
    Djinn
    Doctor
    Doing
    Done
    Donkey
    Door
    Doubt
    Downswing
    Dragon
    Dragons
    Drama
    Dreams
    Dreary
    Drive
    Dud
    Dvd
    Early Bird
    Earth
    Earthquake
    Easter
    Eat
    Ebb
    Ebook
    Ebooks
    Economy
    Edit
    Editing
    Editor
    Edits
    Effect
    Effective
    Efficient
    Effort
    Elect
    Election
    Electric
    Electricity
    Electronics
    Email
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotions
    Empathy
    End
    Endings
    Enemy
    Energy
    Engagement
    Engineer
    English
    Enjoy
    Entertainment
    Envy
    Epiphany
    Epublish
    Ereader
    E Reader
    E-reader
    Errands
    Escape
    Escaping
    Etiquette
    Evil
    Evolution
    Evolve
    Example
    Ex Boyfriend
    Ex-boyfriend
    Excerpt
    Excitement
    Exciting
    Exclusive
    Exercise
    Exhaustion
    Expect
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experimenting
    Facebook
    Facets
    Fact
    Facts
    Fail
    Failure
    Fair
    Faith
    Faking
    Fall
    Family
    Fanily
    Fantasy
    Fast And Furious
    Fate
    Fault
    Favorite
    Favorites
    Favoritism
    Fear
    Feathered Frenzy
    Feature
    Feed
    Feedback
    Feel
    Feelings
    Female
    Feminine
    Fiction
    Fight
    Finale
    Financial
    Finding
    Fire
    Firearms
    Firestarter
    Fish
    Flash Fiction
    Flickr
    Flinch
    Flow
    Flu
    Flu Shots
    Flu Shots
    Fly
    Focus
    Follow
    Followers
    Food
    Fools
    Foot
    Football
    Forecast
    Forgive
    Forgiveness
    Forum
    Found
    Foundation
    Fracture
    Frankenstorm
    Freak
    Freakout
    Free
    Freedom
    Free Will
    Fret
    Friday
    Friend
    Friends
    Frustrated
    Frustration
    Fun
    Fundamentals
    Funeral
    Future
    Galaxy
    Galley
    Gamecocks
    Games
    Generation
    Generation X
    Genre
    Genuine
    Geology
    Georgia
    Gift
    Gift Card
    Gifts
    Girl
    Girly
    Goal
    God
    Good
    Goodreads
    Google+
    Gossip
    Government
    Governor
    Grace
    Graduate
    Graduated
    Grammar
    Granddaddy
    Grandmother
    Grandparents
    Gratitude
    Graveyard
    Grief
    Grinch
    Grind
    Gripe
    Ground
    Group
    Grow
    Grunge
    Guide
    Guilty
    Gun Control
    Guns
    Habits
    Hair
    Halloween
    Happiness
    Happy
    Hard
    Hard Work
    Harry Potter
    Haukannah
    Haven
    Head
    Headache
    Heal
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heart
    Heat
    Heaven
    Help
    Hero
    Hiatus
    Higher
    High School
    Hiking
    Hobbies
    Hobby
    Holiday
    Holidays
    Holy
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Home
    Homeland Security
    Honest
    Honesty
    Hope
    Horizon
    Horror
    Hospital
    Hot
    House
    Housecleaning
    Housework
    Human
    Humble
    Humility
    Hurt
    Hvac
    Hypocricy
    Hypocrite
    Hypocrites
    Ice
    Idea
    Ideas
    Identity
    Idjit
    Ignore
    Ill
    Illness
    Imitation
    Important
    Improve
    Incursion
    Independent
    Independent Author
    Indepent
    Individual
    Infection
    Information
    Injury
    Inner Circle
    Innovation
    Insane
    Insanity
    Inside
    Inspiration
    Inspirational
    Instructions
    Insurance
    Integrity
    Interest
    Internal
    Internet
    Intervention
    Interview
    Introduction
    Intuition
    Invitations
    Invite
    Ipad
    Ironic
    Iron Man 3
    Irritate
    Islam
    Issues
    Jack In The Box
    Jana Lanning
    January
    Jealous
    Jealousy
    Jerk
    Jesus
    Jesus Sacrificef62d61ad05
    Jewelry
    Jihad
    Job
    Joueney
    Journey
    Jovan
    Joy
    Joyful
    Jrrtolkeinee9d04cba9
    Judge
    Judgement
    Jupiter
    Keeper
    Kids
    Kill
    Kindle
    Kindness
    Know
    Knowledge
    Kvetch
    Labor Day
    Landmine
    Laptop
    Laundry
    Law
    Law Of Undulation
    Lazy
    Lead
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learn
    Learned
    Leave
    Legacy
    Legal
    Legislation
    Legislature
    Lent
    Lesson
    Lessons
    Letter
    Level
    Licensure
    Lie
    Life
    Lifestyle
    Light
    Limits
    List
    Listening
    Little
    Live
    Local
    Logic
    Lonely
    Look
    Lord
    Lose
    Loss
    Lost
    Love
    Luck
    Lull
    Lunch
    Lurkers
    Maccacare
    Mainstream
    Management
    Manhunt
    Manure
    Marriage
    Martin
    Maturity
    Me
    Mean
    Meaning
    Media
    Medication
    Medicine
    Mediocrity
    Meditation
    Meeting
    Memorial Day
    Memories
    Men
    Mental Health
    Mental Illness
    Mercies
    Mercy
    Merit
    Mess
    Miami
    Mid
    Middle
    Middle Age
    Middle Class
    Miliatary
    Mind
    Misc
    Miscellaneous
    Mischief
    Misconceptions
    Miserable
    Miss
    Mission
    Mistake
    Mistakes
    Mobile
    Mobile Devices
    Moderate
    Mom
    Money
    Mood
    Moral
    Morning
    Mother
    Motion
    Motivation
    Motivator
    Motive
    Move
    Movie
    Movies
    Mt Tabor04c6ab0850
    Mundane
    Muse
    Music
    Musings
    Must
    Myrtle Beach
    Mystery
    Nano
    Nanowrimo
    Nasty
    National Novel Writing Month
    Nature
    Necromancers
    Needs
    Needy
    Negative
    New
    News
    Newsletter
    Newspaper
    New Year
    Niche
    Nighmare
    Night
    Night Owl
    Noaa
    Noah
    Non Fiction
    Nonfiction6aa2962efc
    Nonstop To Nowhere
    Normal
    Notes
    Notice
    Novel
    Novella
    Novels
    Novelty
    Nurture
    Obama
    Obedience
    Observe
    Obsidian
    October
    Odd
    Office
    Oliver
    Ollie
    Online
    Opinion
    Opportunity
    Opposition
    Organize
    Original
    Overwhelmed
    Own
    Pagan
    Pain
    Pajamas
    Palmetto Beach
    Panic
    Paper
    Parable
    Paradigm
    Paradise
    Paradox
    Paragraph Planet
    Parallel
    Paralysis
    Park
    Parrots
    Party
    Passionate
    Past
    Pastor
    Paterno
    Patience
    Patient
    Patterns
    Pay
    Peace
    Peanuts
    Pedestals
    Penance
    Penn State
    People
    Perception
    Perfect
    Periphery
    Perseverence
    Persistence
    Person
    Personal
    Personality
    Perspective
    Pessimist
    Petty
    Phoenix
    Phone
    Picket
    Pink
    Pintrest
    Pita
    Pizza
    Places
    Plague
    Plane
    Plans
    Plant
    Plot
    Pm
    Poinsettia
    Point
    Polar-vortex
    Political
    Politicians
    Politics
    Popular
    Positive
    Post
    Potential
    Power
    Powerful
    Pray
    Prayer
    Prayers
    Preference
    Preferences
    Pregnancy
    Preparation
    Present
    Pressure
    Priorities
    Privacy
    Pro
    Problem
    Problems
    Process
    Productive
    Programs
    Progress
    Project
    Projection
    Projects
    Prologue
    Promotion
    Protect
    Proverbs
    Pruning
    Psychologist
    Psychology
    Publication
    Publicity
    Publish
    Published
    Publishing
    Pure
    Purpose
    Quality
    Quarantine
    Questions
    Quiet
    Quit
    Quotes
    Rachel
    Radar
    Radio
    Rain
    Random
    Rant
    Rave
    Reaction
    Read
    Readers
    Reading
    Real
    Reality
    Realization
    Realize
    Reap
    Reaper
    Reaping
    Rearview-mirror
    Reason
    Reboot
    Recipes
    Recover
    Red
    Reform
    Reformation Sunday
    Refresh
    Refreshing
    Regift
    Rehab
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Relax
    Release
    Relief
    Religious
    Remains
    Repair
    Reputation
    Rerun
    Research
    Resignation
    Resist
    Resistance
    Resolution
    Resolutions
    Resolve
    Resonance
    Respect
    Responsibilities
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Retire
    Revelation
    Review
    Reward
    Rewrite
    Rewrites
    Rhythem
    Ride
    Right
    Rise
    Risk
    River
    Rock
    Romance
    Roses
    Routine
    Routines
    Royal
    Rude
    Rules
    Rut
    Sacred
    Sacrifice
    Sad
    Safe
    Sale
    Sales
    Salvation
    Sample
    Sample Chapter
    Sandusky
    Sandy Hook Elementary School
    San Francisco
    Sanity
    Santa
    Satan
    Satellite
    Save
    Saving
    Say
    Sc
    Scandal
    Scapegoat
    Scared
    Schedule
    School
    School Shooting
    Science
    Science Fiction
    Sci Fi
    Scifid764c6b008
    Scottsdale
    Scrooge
    Season
    Season Finale
    Seasons
    Secret
    Security
    Self
    Selfish
    Self Publish
    Selfpublishee5d5de0ab
    Senior
    Sense
    Sequel
    Series
    Service
    Setbacks
    Sex
    Shadow
    Shapeshifter
    Share
    Shatterpoint
    Shenanagins
    Shift
    Shifting
    Ship
    Shoe
    Shoes
    Shopping
    Short Stories
    Short Story
    Shovel
    Show
    Shull
    Sick
    Sidekick
    Sidekicks
    Signs
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Sincere
    Sinners
    Sins
    Sinus
    Sinus Infection
    Situations
    Sleep
    Slow
    Smallville
    Smart
    Smartphones
    Smashwords
    Sneeze
    Snow
    Social
    Social Media
    Society
    Socks
    Solitude
    Solution
    Solutions
    Sorry
    Soul
    South
    Sow
    Sowing
    Space
    Speak
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Splinter
    Spouse
    Spring
    Square-pegs
    Stand
    Standards
    Start
    Star Trek
    Star Trek Into Darkness
    Star Wars
    State
    State Fair
    Stayathomeaa1b1506e7
    Stereotypes
    Stories
    Storm
    Story
    Strange
    Strategy
    Streaming
    Strength
    Stress
    Strong
    Struggle
    Stubborn
    Stuff
    Stupid
    Subcommittee
    Succeed
    Success
    Suffering
    Suggestion
    Suggestions
    Summer
    Sunglasses
    Sunny
    Sunrise
    Sunshine
    Superhero
    Superheros
    Supernatural
    Superstitions
    Support
    Surgery
    Surprise
    Surprises
    Survival
    Survive
    Surviving
    Suspension
    Symbols
    Tablet
    Tactics
    Talking
    Tanger Falls
    Tarnish
    Tax
    Technology
    Teenage
    Telephone
    Telephones
    Television
    Temptation
    Ten
    Tendinitis
    Tennessee
    Terms
    Terror
    Terrorism
    Terrorists
    Text
    Tgif
    Thank
    Thankfulness
    Thanks
    Thanksgiving
    The Americans
    The Clone Wars
    The Cw
    The Divine Comedy
    The-earthside-trilogy
    The Edible Bookshelf
    The Grand Canyon
    The Great Divorce
    The Great Divorse
    The Hobbit
    The Justice League
    The Other Bible
    Therapist
    Thermostat
    The Screwtape Letters
    The-secret
    The Secret Circle
    Things
    Think
    Thinking
    Thirties
    Thor
    Thorns
    Thought
    Thoughts
    Throwback
    Thunderstorm
    Thursday
    Time
    Time Job
    Time Management
    Timing
    Tips
    Tired
    Toshiba
    Toxic
    Tradition
    Traditional
    Traditions
    Tragedy
    Train
    Transfer
    Transition
    Travel
    Travelling
    Treadmill
    Trees
    Trends
    Trials
    Trickortreatd836e64753
    Trip
    Trolls
    Trouble
    Trust
    Truth
    Tunnel
    Turbulence
    Tv
    Tweet
    Twitter
    Type
    Typewriter
    Uga
    Understand
    Understanding
    Undone
    Undulation
    Unique
    Universe
    University
    University Of South Carolina
    Update
    Urban Fantasy
    Usc
    Vacation
    Vampires
    Variety
    Vet
    Veterans Daybee36ce99e
    Viagra
    Vice
    Vicious
    Victory
    Video
    Viligance
    Villian
    Viral
    Virtue
    Virus
    Visitation
    Vitamin
    Voice
    Voices
    Volunteer
    Vote
    Walk
    War
    Washington D.C.
    Wasp
    Watch
    Watches
    Way
    Weakness
    Weather
    Website
    Wedding
    Wednesday
    Weeds
    Week
    Weekend
    Weekends
    Weird
    Werewolves
    Westboro Church
    Whatever
    Whats Up Letterea131f7a0b
    Wheat
    Whine
    Whiskey Creek Press
    Wicked
    Will
    Win
    Wings
    Wings Epressf69f38ebd3
    Winter
    Winterize
    Wisdom
    Wistv3f6c806d83
    Wizard
    Woman
    Women
    Wonder
    Wonderful
    Woodland
    Woods
    Words
    Work
    Workaholic
    World
    Worry
    Worse
    Wrist
    Write
    Writers
    Writers Block
    Writers Block93d394f99e
    Writing
    Wrong
    Yard
    Year
    Years
    Yellow
    You
    Youth
    Youtube
    Zacchaeus
    Zack
    Zimmerman
    Zombie

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.