The bottom line to it all is that it's best to live one day at a time, and to do the best you can with what you've got. Life is a journey, and all you can do is roll with whatever part of it you're on. Whether it's the long, slow times when progress is so slow as to be non-existent, seasons of head-spinning change, mountaintops or valleys, the fact remains that you are where you are and all you can do is your best. It seems to me that fixating too much on being in a season of life is a surefire path to frustration. It puts you in a mindset that might not be best for you, and can make it more difficult to manage where you're at. Best to work with the blessings you have and enjoy them along the way. You can reminisce on the seasons later. For now, live. 

I can say that the last couple of years haven't been phenomenal. Looking back, it's amazing what we've come through. At first I did realize that it seemed I'd sunk in a valley, but I'm glad I made the realization about a year ago that I was making it harder on myself by fixating on that and fretting on when is this gonna be over. I decided to take a day at a time, and you know what? The days passed with a lot less anxiety and frustration. I did what I could, when I could, and now here I am. It looks like things are  moving up now, but honestly it doesn't matter. I'm thankful to be where I am and dedicated to working with what I've got to keep things going. Good season or bad, all that really matters is that you keep moving in the right direction. 

The nature of life is motion and change, so you may as well get used to the fact that you're on a journey that doesn't end until your time on this earth does. Whether you're in the spotlight or the periphery, the mountaintop or the valley, the fertile land or the desert, just be you. Do what you can and keep rolling. I guarantee that you'll find yourself somewhere else soon enough. So don't fear. Nothing last forever. If the days are good, enjoy them fully. If they aren't, rest in the hope that they will get better. That is a fact. 

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

Bye!

I've about had it with people telling me what time it is! Yes, I know that recently turning 39 means that (que dramatic music now) 40 is just around the corner. I know that Halloween is the next big holiday, followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and what-are-you-going-to-do-to-prepare-for-40 resolutions. I know fall is coming, a mid-term election is coming, license renewals are coming , and then winter is coming (is anybody else hearing the theme song for Game of Thrones in their head right now?). All this I know. 

And all this I do not give a crap about. 

One of the nuggets of wisdom my grandfather passed on to me as a child was to not wish my life away. "People are always wishing for the next thing to hurry up and get here, and then they get older and wish they had all that time they wished away back." Even at 10 and 11 years old, that advice held merit to me. I got it. Now I look around, and it seems that we, as a society, are obsessed with time - or rather, how much or how little of it we think we have. This has been confirmed many times over just this weekend, from Halloween decorations in stores, to people walking around in shorts and fur-lined boots (it seems they can't wait to show off that smashing winter wardrobe), to an article I just read on 4 Ways to Defy Your Age. It's a good article, but 4 ways? I'll give you 3, and they're the title of this entry:

1. Shoot the clock. You control your schedule. If you're a slave to it, things are backwards and you need to take dominion over it. 
2. Burn the calender. Stop obsession over how old you are. Your age is nothing more than a point of reference to how long you've been on this rock hurling through space. Setting goals, expectations, and limitations based on your age (current or impending) is unnecessarily fencing yourself in. You'll be in a box when you're dead. Why do you want to live in one of your own making?
3. Live already. If you woke up this morning, there's hope. If you woke up healthy and/or able to function, there's more hope. For goodness sake, take the blessings you have, give thanks for them, and work them! 

Maybe it's because I faced death twice in a five month period, but I'm really fed up with the fears and limitations people put on themselves based on time and  my patience for that crap is gone. Where I live, it's still summer. Maybe the fur lined boots with shorts are appropriate in San Francisco, but in Columbia, South Carolina, where it's 90 degrees with 90 percent humidity - no. It's still summer. It's the peak of it, and we have about another month to go before we even think about things like socks and long sleeve shirts. Forget fall! Why can't we enjoy what's left of summer? Sure, I'd like for the mercury to drop about 20 degrees, and sometimes in September we are graced with those hints of fall - but why wish it away? We'll be trapped inside with sunrise at 8 a.m. and sunset at 5 p.m. before you know it, and then we'll whine for spring. 

When I first got the idea for the concept to The Earthside Trilogy, I did have a moment of doubt about my ability to write a series of three books But it was just a moment because I realized that I'm probably going to write a lot more than three books before I leave this Earth, so what difference does it make if they're part of a series? And with that, off I went. 

I'm not saying that everybody needs to be like me because goodness knows, the world doesn't need that. But maybe more of us do need to get over our obsession with time and wishing our lives away. It's a waste, really, when you could spend that time doing other things, like enjoying where you are in life right now.

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

Bye!

There's no doubt that the past year and a half has been tough on us. It seems it's been one challenge after the next. Still, I can't say that the valleys of life are without their merit. You do appreciate the blessings you do find along the way, and there's a lot to learn from them. Here are a few things I've learned from the going getting tough:

1. Take one day at a time. If you focus on your lousy luck or being in a "bad season of life," then it makes things worse. Yes, bad things come and bad days happen, but if you get stuck in a mindset then you'll be defeated far longer than necessary. The best thing you can do is what is possible for you to do today. Then you don't need to worry about tomorrow, because you've done all you can and that you will be supplied with what you need to face it when the timing is right. 

2. Let things go. Live long enough, and everybody and everything in your life will disappoint you, go wrong, or piss you off. You must have the discernment to know what's an abnormal aggravation to ignore, and what's a serious problem that needs to be dealt with. The truth is that we waste a lot of energy going to the mat for things that will pass in a moment, and trying to sweep things under the rug that would be better dealt with sooner rather than later. Here's a good tip: if it passes out of your life, then it's best to let it go and focus on what's still around. Don't let quitters, offenders, and minor irritations rock your world when they'll be on their way faster than lightening. In other words:

3. Act, don't react. Knee jerk reactions rarely make the kind of positive impact that you really need to make life better. Take the time to consider things and decide the best course of action. This goes double for times when emotions are charged and running high - you just can't make rational decisions in that state of mind. Be realistic enough to know yourself and how you typically react, and take the time to stop yourself and ask if what you're about to say or do is in proportion to the situation. It's not easy at first, but it does become more routine the more you do it. 

4. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You really do need to be careful here and make sure that you don't do it indiscriminately, because people are more likely to give you a pass if you don't ask for one all the time. Still, it's alright to say "I need to sit this one out" or "I need a helping hand here" if you're overwhelmed and there's no alignment of Heaven and Earth that can make what needs to happen become a reality. We all do need to bail out sometimes. And remember: the grace you give is the grace you get. The  more willing you are to help out others in their need, the  more willing they are to help you. 

5. Change your thinking and you can change your world. The power of positive thinking isn't just new-age mumbo-jumbo; it actually works. If you dedicate yourself to finding the best in any situation and learning from it, then it's much easier to get through the tough times. Even if you find yourself sitting in a room planning a funeral, you can take comfort in knowing that this is temporary and life will go on and return to normal in time. Nothing lasts forever, and you can usually take something from it, whether it's a lesson, helping others, improving life, or planning for the future. 

6. Be grateful for your blessings. No matter how bad it gets; it could be worse. In regard to the previous suggestion, the best way to change your thinking is to choose to focus on what's right in your life instead of what's wrong. Even if your life is in shambles, the best way to rebuild it is to pick up the pieces that work and start putting them together into something new - and the sooner you start that process, the faster you'll find ourself out of the valley and on the mountaintop. 

7. Stop believing in luck. Frankly, that's a cop-out. I get irritated when people ask "why do bad things happen to good people?" when if they were truly the Christians they proclaim to be, then they'd know that The  Bible says "time and chance happen to us all" (Eccleasiastes 9:11). I don't believe in luck because that places you at the whim of fate and can make you a bitter person. Instead, believe it's God will or it isn't. It's easier to cope when you believe a Greater Power is in charge instead of blind forces converging where ever. 

8. Mind your own business. Nobody's going to take your advice on how to fix their life if yours is a hot mess, so don't bother. Tend to your own matters, and give others the grace to be who they are. If they're adults, then they have the capacity to take care of themselves and their own affairs, so trust them to do so. Plus, not everything works for everybody. All paths may run ill and there are no guarantees that what works for one will work for another. Truthfully, I stopped giving advice years ago, and I find I get along with people a lot better since I broke that nasty habit of spewing out unsolicited advice and opinions. 

9. Stop Muti-Tasking. That's a trend that needs to die. Just as "a jack of all trades is a master of none," so too is it impossible to do several things at once well. I actually found that I'm a lot more productive when I focus on completing one thing at a time, because I make fewer mistakes that I have to go back and correct. Do one thing at a time, and group like tasks together. Focus is the key to accomplishing more in life. 

10. Remember that all things pass in time. C.S. Lewis described "The Law of Undulation" in his book The Screwtape Letters. This states that life is a series of ups and downs, peaks and valleys, and you're always at some point on the wave. If things are good, then you're at a peak so enjoy it. If you're in a valley, know that the only place left is to go up and find hope in that. Nothing lasts forever and in fact, the nature of the universe is change. Stop fearing it, and you may find that your greatest achievements come from the things that knocked you down the hardest. 

Honestly, I could write a dissertation on all I've learned, but I think this list hits the high points. At least, these are the main things that have helped me to keep going, and are hopefully lighting the path to better days ahead. 

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

Bye!

As we progress through  graduation and wedding season, I’d like to do a brief series on things I’ve discovered that make “life in the real world” easier. It doesn’t take long to realize that “cheats” can save you so much in the precious resources of time, money, and patience.

Today, I’d like to share little things that make a big difference. Nobody will argue the benefits of smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Technology is great and has made life easier in unimaginable ways – take it from a member of Generation X who’s  seen everything from card catalogs and rotary phones to Google and the iPhone 5S. But sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest difference. Today, I offer 10 small things that make my life better and easier:

Saline irrigations – if you have sinus or allergy problems, this is the single best thing you can do to heal from and prevent illness. If a Netti Pot seems intimidating, they make plastic squeeze bottles that work just as well and can be washed in a dishwasher. Yes, it can be nasty, but I feel so much better when irrigate my sinuses, and it helps my regular medications to work better. It’s well worth it.

Clorox wipes – This is my top cheat, because it’s the fastest way to clean and disinfect your home. Just wiping my kitchen counters can have people believing I scrubbed the place. Best of all, they’re disposable, so you don’t have any cleaning rags to run through the washing machine. It doesn’t substitute for a deep cleaning, but it can go a long way in putting more time between those heavy scrubbing sessions.

External hard drives –These are a bit more expensive, but it’s a worth investment of $100-$150. I can tell you of 3 times when file backups have saved me from hard drive crashes, once at home and twice at work. They’re password protected, easy to set up, and automatically synch and save all changes you save to your files. Plus, many will save your Internet favorites too. Quick and easy backup. You can’t beat that, and the peace of mind it gives you to know your data is backed up with little chance of human error.

USB slots on surge protectors – If you aren’t lucky enough to have a new home where the outlets have USB ports now, then never fear, because you can get a surge protector with this handy function. I did, and love it, because I’m bad about keeping batteries charged. It’s greatly reduced the “oops, I forgot to charge my battery” scenarios.

Butterfly clips – This is a lifesaver for long hair. Sometimes, you need it out of your face, and this is the best, most secure way to pin up your hair and have it out of the way.

Makeup palettes – They aren’t just for teens! Kits with eyeshadow, blusher, and lip gloss are great for adults too, especially when you travel. Plus, the variety of colors give you more variation and ways to match your makeup with your outfit, without having the same old drab colors every day. It’s quick, easy, and makes doing your makeup fun.

Ebooks – Do you really need one more thing to lug around? Ebooks are great not just for writers, but readers as well. It’s great to be able to read books on my phone or tablet and not have one more thing to carry around, or store on a shelf once I’m done reading it. Plus, ebooks are cheaper than hardbacks and sometimes paperbacks too.

Streaming video – I salute iTunes, Netflix and television networks that stream their shows online or thorugh Apple TV apps. It’s great to be able to go online and watch shows at my convenience, without having to worry about setting a DVR or remembering schedules. And it’s a real treat for movies and TV series, because, like ebooks, I don’t have to find a place to store the DVD’s when I’m done watching them. Hooray!

Skin So Soft Original body lotion – An Avon favorite. This lotion has a mild, fresh scent, is cheaper than any decent lotion in stores, and is a bug repellent without smelling like a bug repellent. It’s a win-win. The shower gel is great, too.

The One Year Chronological Bible – If you do a daily Bible reading, this is a great one to try. I’m reading it this year, and it’s great. It’s so much easier to understand when you read things in the actual order of real events. I love it. Best of all, it’s a simple NSV version Bible that’s easy to understand, and is affordable.

I hope this list gives you ideas for how to make your own life easier, whether you’re setting up a dorm room, an apartment, or a new home. Maybe you can find some more. If you do, feel free to share them. People are always looking for neat ideas that make life easier.

I plan to continue this brief series through my next 2 blog entries. Next time will be money saver tips, and after that will be time saver tips. Stay tuned.

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

Bye!

Every now and then, I like to experiment with things to see if I can get them working better or more efficiently. This week, I've been experimenting with social media. I took a good, hard look at where I see more feedback, and decided to try a few new things.

One thing I noticed is that Twitter and Goodreads seem to be the best sites for me. That's where I seem to have interactions and feedback that are, to put it delicately, more relevant and sincere. More common ground is covered there, so to speak. So I've cut back on my Facebook activity and put more effort in my Goodreads groups and Twitter interactions. Another thing I did was to post brief reflections I have throughout my day on Twitter. So far, so good. There's been a slight increase in activity on those sites, so I'll continue with this method.

Another thing I'm trying is to be more interactive on Google+. I'll be brutally honest here - I've noticed of late that Facebook is a great, big time suck, and I get very little out of it. In fact, there are a lot of "lurkers" over there, and I know that one of the "information leaks" in my life is at Facebook (and playing with them just isn't fun to me anymore). I wondered if redirecting some online efforts to Google+ would be more productive. This experiment is still in progress, as it's difficult to access if it's working yet. There are different people on Google+ and their groups are good. We'll see how it goes.

A lot of people think I'm just on social media to sell books, or to brag about life. That's not true. The purpose of social media is to connect to people, and the reason I'm "tweaking" is to make sure that my interactions with online friends remain sincere, relevant, and that they have substance. Because I realize a real human being is behind that avatar, and I respect that. There's enough crap online.I'm striving to keep my online presence real, balanced, and a true reflection of my true life that can connect with other true people. It's supposed to enhance and add blessing to life, not to be a burden or a curse.

We'll see how these experiments go. If you follow me online, let me know what you think. I'm SherritheWriter pretty much everywhere online. Yea, I know, it's the world worst alias, but it is what it is.

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

Bye!

One thing about being on a brief writing hiatus is that I’m more aware of what’s happening around me. It’s amazing what you can learn when you pay attention. This week alone, I’ve stumbled upon several quotes that have inspired me to think. These may not be verbatim, but I think you’ll get the point:

1. “Most people struggle unnecessarily.” This gem came Monday morning when I was watching Enjoying Every Day (Joyce Meyer Ministries). She was talking about how we should depend on God all the time and not just when we’re desperate, but this quote really struck me. We’ve all heard that most people are as happy as they choose to be, but it’s not often that we’re called on for creating our own struggles. Sure, hard times come. We have to adapt and adjust, and we do struggle through these processes – but how many of us continue to struggle long after the battle is over? I could see in my own life how I’ve prolonged “hard times” simply by holding on to the mindset that I was in a fight, when the truth is that I was battling demons that weren’t there. It was a good reminder that we need to stop boxing with the wind and take stock of where we’re really at in life. It could be that we’re at a better place than we realize, and we’re ruining it by creating unnecessary suffering.
   
   
2. “The sun is always shining. It’s just a matter of whether you can see it.” A friend said this last weekend. It was a statement of fact that the sun was out the whole time we endured grey, dreary winter weather, but I saw how it could be applied to a statement of perspective. It’s not hard to see the black cloud in every silver lining, but it takes a special level of awareness to see the opportunity in every challenge. Why is that negative is so easy to slide into, but positive takes effort? I’m not sure, but positive is better for your overall happiness. It’s hard to change how you think, but sometimes it’s worth it to keep from struggling unnecessarily, as I mentioned above. It could, in fact, be the key to changing your life. You can’t change the world from the outside in, but you’d be amazed at what you can change from the inside out. And when I remember how happy I was to see the clouds roll away and the sun shining overhead, it reminded me that I’d rather choose to see the sun than the clouds anytime.
   
   
3. “No matter what battles wage here, I look out there and remember that in most of the world, absolutely nothing is happening.” What a shift from Joyce Meyer on Monday to Game of Thrones, Season 3 on Tuesday! I’m not sure exactly which character said this, but it certainly adjusts your perspective when you realize what a small place in the world we occupy. Now certainly, we all wish that we were anywhere but here when those battles rage, but it helps to realize that this too shall pass, and that the world is a big place.
   
   
4. “Most people think it’s the big things that defeat evil, but I’ve found it’s the small things done by ordinary folks that makes a difference.” This quote is from The Lord of the Rings, but it was reiterated in my devotional reading earlier this week.  It reminded me of what Tolkein’s friend, C.S. Lewis, wrote about every action taking us one step closer to Heaven or one step closer to hell. The direction is ours to choose, but everything we say and do moves us closer to one or the other. And it certainly is true, because most of life is made up of the small things that we too often underestimate.
   
   
5. I’m currently reading a paranormal mystery titled Clean, by Alex Hughes. The lead character is a telepath working with a police detective, and there’s a scene where they get into conflict. He was upset about it and pried into her mind, which she sensed and hit him (literally). At that point, it occurred to him that “She is not going to let me protect her. Not at all. Not even a little.”  This got me to thinking about when a relationship is really and truly over, because I was pondering a plot point for both of my works in progress, and I realized that the character’s point was that it wasn’t over until the other character no longer had a use for him in her life. It occurred to me that it’s not anger, arguments, or ultimatums that end relationships – it’s the simple decision that “I’m better off without you.” When one party is tired of fighting and makes this decision, then hope really is gone, and reconciliation is pretty much not a possibility anymore. It’s a powerful point, both in fiction and reality. 
   
   

Five interesting quotes and five interesting concepts to ponder this week. It’s given me a lot of good things to think about, and I hope it gives you inspiration as well.

That’s all today. Have a Happy Friday tomorrow and a great weekend.

Bye!

Hi all; I thought I'd give you a general update on what's happening in my corner of the world.

First, Splinter is coming out next week! I'm excited, of course, and will update you with buy links for the book as soon as they're available. It's only going to be available in ebook format. Lots of people ask me why, and the reason is that I have to pay to make it available in paperback, and frankly I never recup the costs of it. Almost all of my books sales are ebooks and the paperbacks just don't move, so I invest that money in promotion of the electronic version instead. If you'd like a sneak peek at Splinter, you can check out the short story I posted on ReadWave yesterday titled "Fractured". It's told from the point of view of Amelia Eaton, the doctor on Jovan I and Leigh Lybrand's best friend, and it gives a great setup to the novel because it hints at something important that happens about 18 months before Splinter opens. Go check it out - the story is only 800 words, and you can read it in less than 5 minutes.

If you were on social media Thursday, then you know my car broke down when I went out to lunch that day. What a story! I actually went out to pick up a Christmas gift I ordered for Rick. They tried to deliver it to the house, but unbeknownst to me, they sent it with a signature required, so when it arrived Wednesday and I wasn't there, they left a nice little card in the mailbox. So I already had to explain to Rick why the post office was trying to deliver a parcel to me, because he gets home before I do. I had to go to the post office Thursday to pick it up, or they were going to return it to the sender, which I didn't want, of course. I made it all the way to the post office (I didn't realize how far out in the boondocks the post office serving our zip code was!) and the car started smoking when I pulled back in the parking lot at work. I went in to tell my co-workers what was happening, and took it straight to a mechanic that set up shop about 2/10 of a mile from my house. The car started overheating on that ride, and I had to stop twice to rest the engine before it shut off. (Thank goodness my office is only about 3 miles from home). But thanks be to God, I made it. I walked home carrying my purse, work bag, and Rick's gift (which was bigger than I expected, but thank goodness not heavy). And also thankfully, nobody saw me walking  home, as it's a dirt road with little traffic from my house to that mechanic. It turns out that a valve in my radiator had a hole in it, and all of the antifreeze leaked out. They fixed it the same day, which was amazing, and I picked it up before work yesterday (they wanted it to sit overnight to make sure it didn't leak any more antifreeze). The car's doing fine now, but it relieved me of $281. To replace a $8 part, I might add.

Speaking of Rick, he did recover from the tissue infection in his cheek. It was a painful ordeal, and we're glad it's over. We still aren't sure how he got it. I surmise it has something to do with working in a middle school and handling all of those student and teacher iPads. People can be pretty nasty sometimes. We actually had a good weekend last weekend, because he felt better and we had a chance to have a "date day" for the first time in about a month. We went to the gun show, out to lunch, and to see Thor: The Dark World. We enjoyed it and it was great to have a chance to go out and do something fun together. But now he's down again, because he got a flu shot yesterday, and it has him feeling run down today. He hasn't had a flu shot in a few years, and it seems to have knocked him out this time. He can't seem to win. This should pass by tomorrow or Monday according to the paperwork they gave him.

Ollie is over his kidney infection, but it left him with nerve inflammation in his leg. Some days are better than others. I've bugged the vet about it several time and even took Ollie back because of it. The vet said it will get better in time, but inflammation takes a while to go down, and little Ollie seems to be a slow healer. Some days are better than others. I hate it because I can tell the leg is really bothering him sometimes. But he still sings, and plays, and he's eating very well. The vet said to try to get him to work that leg - a kind of "physical therapy" - and we're trying but again, some days are better than others. We all know that the changing weather isn't helping matters either, because I can tell it bugs him more when it's cold. Poor little fellow.

Christmas shopping is 80% done. I  know I won't finish before Thanksgiving, but that's okay because I think I can finish in early December with this rate of progress. I have to, because the workload at my job peaks in December. Along with a December 16th exam deadline, we also have everybody wanting to get licensed before the end of the year so they can start on projects at the beginning of the new year. It's insanity, and I've learned that I have to plan ahead to handle "the crush" if I want to keep from drowning. It can get overwhelming, between a heavy workload and your family and social life picking up for the holidays. Why every place I've worked seems to hit a "crunch time" between Thanksgiving and Christmas is beyond me - I guess it must be a trend no matter where you work. Things just get more active all around during the holidays. But thank God, I hope that planning ahead will keep me sane. I was so stressed and overwhelmed last holiday season that I was miserable and couldn't enjoy the holidays even when I was finally away from all the madness. I just couldn't seem to "wind down" from everything pounding on me, and I don't ever want to be in that place again. I'll err on the side of wisdom and take people snickering and calling me "anal" if it means I can keep an even keel once it all busts loose in a few weeks and actually be able to enjoy the season like we're supposed to.

And that reminds me to give you a follow up that I should have done a while ago. I know I said in July that I was having problems with being angry all the time and at so many people and situations because of the crazy amount of change since last  December. I wanted to let you know that I am feeling better and I think I'm making progress in this area. It's not easy to deal with anger. Of course, you have every right to be angry when people are making decisions that you have to pay the price for, but that doesn't give you justification to stay angry. That's putting yourself in a prison and, as I said in July, that's not the kind of person I want to be. I see now that sometimes people just make bad decisions, and whatever consequences you suffer for it, they suffer much more because they're in the middle of it. Periphery problems, as I was struggling with at the time, pass much faster than being in the dead center of the chaos. But another issue is that I also realize that I'm not the only one that was overwhelmed. Many people were, and some still are, but everybody is trying to get settled in a better place. I see intent to make progress and it's paid off in some ways already, so I'm content to hang in there and keep things moving in a right direction. Forgiveness is one of the hardest things we're called to do, but it's possible through prayer. Moving on can be hard too, but again it's possible if you're willing to learn from the past and gain wisdom from all that you experience. I have heard that  more change may be on the way for me in the new year, and that's okay as well. I see some benefits to it and while I realize that a learning curve and adjustments might be on the horizon (again), I prayed over it and feel this is for ultimate good for me and many others. Nothing is definite, but I'll pass along more if and when it comes to pass.

I think the greatest thing I've come to learn over these past months as I worked through the anger issue is that I had an error in my own perception. I was in a rut for so many years at my old workplace, that I thought the "normal" state of being was just that - being in a groove. But that's not right. I've come to see that the constant change and state of flux I've seen over the past 3 years is actually the norm, and that 6 year rut was the exception. I've been working so long and hard to "get settled down," and now I realize that the proper state of life is actually change and constant motion. "Normal" is constant work and striving toward something better, to making the next steps and to moving ahead, not settling in a groove of the "same old same old" that slowly kills your soul. The happiness I thought I had in those days was nothing more than comfort of routine and fear of change, and I really had to be jolted to get out of that deceptive trap. Although I wouldn't relive that adjustment phase again for any amount of money or reward, I will say that I'm glad it happened, because my life is in a much better place, and the happiness I have now is based not on "comfort," but on faith and gratitude for a life that I finally realize is filled to overflowing with blessings. I had it backwards, and that's been part of my anger and adjustment problems to this big life change since 2010. That was a major revelation to me, and it helped me to start making steps in a positive direction in my own attitude and expectations of life.

So am I still going through with the big life evaluation and purge I planned for January 1? It doesn't look like I need to. I see where things fit now, and I also see the progress and change on the horizon that I was  hoping for.

Well, I think that's quite enough for one day. I hope you're all doing well. Take care, and have a great weekend.

Bye!

As a writer, I often find myself pondering what kind of stories this season of my life will inspire. When I started writing, I usually had to ponder things before they inspired stories, but in the past few years I’ve found myself writing on events both as I experienced them, as in reflecting on them once things are resolved. Ten years ago, one major event spawned one book, and maybe a few short stories, and that was months after it was resolved. Now, I could well write two or three novels based on one event seen from two or three different perspectives. I can tell you when the change happened too – it happened in 2010 when I wrote Splinter during National Novel Writing Month.  I was going through major life transitions personally (my in-laws moved from 100 miles away to the house next door, between us and my parents) and professionally (my job got transferred to a different department). Life as I knew it was basically destroyed, and I had to pick up the pieces and figure out how to put them back together in a better life, or at least a life that worked out for me and Rick. It wasn’t easy and there were many challenges. So if you ask how I could possibly stomach destroying the entire planet and writing a novel about how the survivors cope, well, the world as I knew it was destroyed, and I had to learn how to live again.  

That being said, I didn’t write Splinter to get back at anybody, or to air any dirty laundry. It is it’s own story that (somewhat) parallels my personal journey. Things have obviously settled, thanks in large part to a dedication to reach best ends and common goals on many parts. These events didn't just affect me, they affected a lot of other people as well. A lot of worlds were changed at that time, and I learned as much from watching others navigate this season of transition as I learned about myself. Change has a way of drawing things out that we don't realize, in ourselves and others.

It’s interesting to see this change in myself, and I hope it’s a demonstration of maturity as a writer, or even as a person. I know that tough season I faced three years ago caused me to re-evaluate how I deal with change and stress. I think that, in processing things, I turned to writing about the big, overriding issues to get a “big picture” perspective. I realize this isn’t exactly what mental health professionals mean by “writing out your problems.” I know they mean journaling, and writing in forms that only you see. But I don’t know. Straight out journaling seemed to make me feel worse by dwelling on and recounting on the things, people, and issues troubling me, but working on Splinter gave me comfort in creating a world where I could work it out without having to relive everything over and over. If the fictional account is something that readers enjoy and they find inspiration for pondering their own issues, then so much the better. Whiskey Creek Press did give me a publication contract for Splinter, after all, so it must touch on issues they felt would resonate and entertain readers.  

At any rate, I shredded the journals and Splinter is getting published. You be the judge about which was the more effective way. 

I do hope that Splinter entertains and inspires many readers when it’s released in 9 days. But more than that, I’m glad that the season of my life that gave birth to it has led to a better life for me and Rick, and given readers everywhere something they can enjoy (and maybe find some items to ponder in their own life) from now on. I also hope that whatever work this season of life inspires will do the same. 

That’s all today. Have a great rest of the week. 

Bye!

On this, my 38th birthday, I find my self pondering the progress of the past year. I suppose this is a natural thing to do on a birthday. On first glance it could seem disappointing, as there are no "major" changes to report, but that's actually deceptive. There have been changes in the past year, but they've been more in the way of "shifts" instead of what could be clearly defined as "changed." I suppose this sounds somewhat elusive, so of course I'm going to explain.

The progress of the past year has actually been more in the way of building on things that have already been in motion. While it doesn't seem that much has changed - after all, life is progressing along very much the same today as it was a year ago - I can't say that I think about or feel the way that I did about life as I did one, two, or five years ago. In fact, as I ponder it, I notice that my paradigm has shifted quite a bit in the last 4 years. I suppose this is natural. My job changed and I finally broke into publication with my writing in 2010 - 2011, and while these things are "the norm" in my life right now, I see how incorporating those changes into my life has changed my view of life and the world. My basic morals haven't changed. That's not something that's likely to change. But the way you see the world around you and apply those morals can change, and I'm starting to see the evidence that it's happened. When you walk in faith long enough, you delve deeper into things, and that's certainly what's happened to me.

So how have I changed? For one, I'm seeing a whole new application of the concept of "reaping and sowing," as described in Galatians 6:7. You all know that this is one thing that my grandfather was a big believer in, and I took it to heart. But this verse applies to more than just relationships with other people and how you treat them - it also applies to progress and purpose in life. In fact, if you shift two more verses you'll read that "in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart." (Galatians 6:9) After several years of hard work to re-establish myself professionally in my current workplace and to get my writing established, I see the value of patience in all that we do. If life really is a series of ups and downs, reaping and sowing, then that has big implications for all of life. If we choose to only allow ourselves to be happy on the mountaintop, when we're reaping the rewards of our labors, then we're guaranteed to be miserable (or at least, withholding our own happiness) at least 50% of our life. Folks, that just isn't acceptable to me. That's not going to do it. Sure, there are some people that enjoy being miserable and whining and complaining to get attention, but that's not the way I choose.

I know from experience that there are blessings in every day because I've been through the major life changes when I looked back and realized that there were little blessings that I took for granted, and I was sorry for it. An example: before my writing was published, I used to do counted cross stitching and wrote short stories. Much to my surprise, I find that I have very little time for that now, between promoting my published works and creating new ones. I love my writing and pray daily that it will continue to grow and reach more people - in fact, I'm prayerfully striving to make a break into science fiction with Splinter this fall - but there are some days when I miss having the time to cross stitch, or to goof off on Writing.com with short story contests. I didn't realize how much time these things filled in my life until my writing grew to the point where I had to make decisions about what stayed and what went. I still stitch occasionally, but large projects are out now. And as for short stories, they take me longer to write, prepare, and complete than they once did. And ditto for the work move. I was glad to make it and still believe it was the best, but I didn't realize the little things I took for granted, like talking to a couple of my friends when things got slow, the great walking paths on the State House grounds, a covered parking spot or those outstanding subs for a great price on Tuesdays and Fridays. Yes, I've gained a lot through both changes. I wouldn't undo either of them or the world because I gained a lot more than I lost. But I did learn to not despise the small things, and to appreciate the small blessings that go with each day as well as the big things we work so hard to cultivate and grow in our lives.

Some people say this means to "enjoy the journey on the way to where you go," but I think there's a deeper meaning than that. A devotion I read recently said, "God doesn't want you to be happy. He wants you to do what's right." That really hit me and helped me to get a grasp on my own paradigm shift. I used to think that the point was about being happy, and I actually worried for a little while, wondering if I'd ever be happy like I was before. I see now that I won't, because happy is a side effect. The purpose of life is not to serve our feelings, but to do what we're supposed to be doing and work hard to do what's right for our purpose in life. If you are faithful in well doing and obedient to the spirit, there's a contentment to your life that nothing - situations, circumstances, or other people and their attitudes (because that really reflects on them more than anything else, but that's a pondering for another entry) - can affect. You can rest in knowing that you're doing all you can, and that allows you to enjoy the blessings of every day, large or small. And contentment is better than happiness. It's more stable, because you can still see the blessing in what you have even if a thousand aggravations are bleeding out of them. It's built on a firmer foundation that gives you the patience to hold out for the "bigger picture" even if you don't understand what the point is (as is often the case). It's built on a trust between you and the Lord and nobody else can put their hands on it. And that can give you the courage to do what's right, even in the face of ridicule, opposition, or doubt. Happiness is transient and comes and goes with circumstances. Contentment is faith in action.

No, the earth hasn't moved in the last year. Things look much the same today as they do every other day. But I know they aren't. I see how the work at the everyday levels is building to something new and better. I might not know what yet, but when it is revealed then I'll reap a reward in due season, and be glad I didn't lose heart.

That's all today. I hope you have a great week.

Bye!

So, what's up in your life? Here's a summary of the fluff and stuff that is my life these days. I think these "wazzup" entries are good to let you know what's inspiring my writing each and every day.

Work's a challenge. My boss retired effective June 30, but her last day was actually June 27. I won't lie - it's been a tough year so far for our staff. That's two members of our staff that have left, and two other people in areas that support our programs have also left. 4 people folks. I keep looking for that revolving door so I can seal the darn thing shut. In reality, it's overwhelming. As I told someone last week, every day is a new challenge that has to be conquered. It really is. We're all literally taking life one day at a time now, hoping that eventually it will balance out and stabilize if we just take it as it comes. And I'll be honest with you: this "surviving each day as it comes" is not acceptable to me. It's crap and I don't like it. But I can also whine and complain and kvetch all the time, and it won't change a thing. It is what it is and we have no choice but to take what we've got and make it something better. So I get up every day, and pray, and boldly face the day, believing that one day this too will pass; one day this will work out; one day the load will lighten and we will be back to something that we can call "normal" again. I have to believe that it will. I've been through worse than this and I'm still alive. And I know the Lord wouldn't allow it if it wasn't the path to a better way and a better day. I've done it before, and it looks like I'm called to do it again. It seems a bit soon to me to face radical change again - it's only been 3 years since the last time - but I haven't come this far to fail and be defeated by it. 

At times like this, I'm very thankful for the Law of Undulation. It means that it's literally impossible for this to last forever. Either this will pass, or the world will end and it all goes up in ash. Lovely thought, there. I'm sure we all pray for the former but frankly, there are days that the latter doesn't look so bad. I had a friend that would say "this would be a good rapture moment!" when it got really stressful, and I must admit there have been some of those times too. Of course, I'd remind her that "the Lord isn't letting us out that easy" and we'd all get a laugh. 

So how do I cope? Well, you know me - when the going gets tough, I get writing, and it seems that sci-fi is my go-to genre for times like these. That's okay, because I like sci-fi. I had someone inform me last week that they though it was awful that I was turning to sci-fi and why don't I do romance? So I did the math for them: I like sci-fi + that's what ebook readers are buying + I don't really give a crap what you think because it's not like you actually read a thing I write anyway = I'm writing sci-fi. It's pretty simple, really. People that know me are going to judge my writing based on what they think of me. Strangers will judge my writing by whether or not it's any good. And there are more people I don't personally than I do personally know. It's not vector calculus. 

Rick and I went to the one and only drive-in movie theater a few weeks ago to see World War Z and Man of Steel. We really wanted to see Man of Steel, but it was a double feature and they only let a limited number of people in, so we had to go early and see both movies. I liked Man of Steel, but World War Z wasn't really my thing. I'm not really into zombies, but it seems that's a very popular thing right now. I find it ironic that the brainless, walking dead are popular in a culture accused of "dumbing down." Every time I get in my car, I see brainless activity, and it seems that brain dead crap is always happening in the car in front of me. What's up with that? You wouldn't believe some of the crazy maneuvers I see, and I only have a 10-15 commute each day. It's half of what it used to be, but I see just as much careless driving. It's funny: I know several people teaching their kids to drive and they go on about how driving is a privilege, then they run read lights, swerve lanes, cut off people in traffic, and run Yield signs like they don't exist. There's you're zombies, folks. The brain rots behind the wheel of a car. People ask if I'm afraid to fly and I say no - it's safer to get on an airplane than to get in a car, and I get in the car a lot more often. Why should I be scared to fly? I'm safer at 30,000 feet because those pilots didn't get their license in a Cracker Jack box  like many SC drivers obviously did. 

Zombies driving - that's amusing. You know what's more amusing? People that call and complain about how depressed they are and how awful their life is, and then then they wonder why nobody wants to talk to them. I've heard a lot of people complaining about this little phenomenon lately. Nobody likes a Debbie Downer. There are 4 things that will run people out of your life faster than the Zombie Apocalypse: crying, whining, complaining, and anger. If you're looking to do some housecleaning in your personal life, employ any of these things and that'll do it in swift order. I've seen it happen and will humbly admit that I've made this mistake. I think it took me going through two major life changes and noticing that only my family remained before I realized that I couldn't monopolize everybody with complaining or fussing about the unfairness of life or they'd leave. I've seen other people suffer this same fate by kvetching about their awful  life and crying over the depressing state of things until they raised the rivers to flood stages. I'll even give you a case in point: I know somebody (I promise, not me, but somebody that would bar-b-que me if I mentioned them by name here) that had someone call them every day complaining about being depressed. She tried to cheer this person up to no avail. Finally, one day, the person called while she was in the middle of cooking supper and asked her to come over. The person I know said no, I can't do that, the family will be home soon. "So?" the person said, "I'm depressed! They'll be okay!" That's it, she said. No more. They didn't speak for a while. A couple of months ago, the person I know had a family member get sick. She told this friend, who she decided to forgive and slowly allow back into her life. You know what the friend said? "Oh, stop whining. They'll be fine!" and she curtly said she had to go because she had a visitor and hung up. Do you think the person I know still calls that one a friend? No - and the ex-friend has no idea why she's been cut off!

Addendum: the ex-friend is the one that told me switching to writing sci-fi was awful. Hence, my not caring. I'm pretty sure that if that one were abducted by aliens, they'd bring her back shortly!

The take away: if you want people to be there for you, you have to at least act like you give a crap about them and what they care about. It's my famous tag line: you must at least act like you care even if you don't care about them and their issues any more than you care about the extra 40 minutes in a Martian day. I'll even take it a step further and give you a litmus test: if you're about to call somebody to vent or have a heart to heart, ask youself if you can name two things going on in that person's life that's important to them right now, today, this minute. If you can't, put a sock in it and make the call to find out what's up with them before you commence kvetching. Or read their blog. That'll do it. And don't dare ask for prayers unless you've prayed for others yourself. I know a lot of people guilty of that. Someone asked me to pray for them once. I said sure, remember that I asked for prayers before too. Can I ask that you keep praying? Blush. Oops, forgot. Sorry - but I will! Well, up yours too. You just made the "whatever" list, as in  "Lord, I don't wish them ill, but they're stuck on themself and only You can reach them, so whatever you deem appropriate, do it to lead them to a better balanced life." There. Done.

I know I talk about not complaining too much, and here I am doing it. Guilty as charged. I'm calling it as I see it, but I feel examples are in order and frankly, there are a great number of frustrations in my life now. I'm trying, I really am, to get back in balance. It isn't easy, but I don't give up. I'll just keep writing my awful sci-fi and go on with life :)

We're studying the  Book of Revelation in our Sunday School Class now. It's interesting. It's also hard to take things too seriously when you consider that it's all going up in disaster and flames one day. The problem is that it hasn't happened yet and we don't know when it will, so we're called to keep on keeping on and taking care of this rock we call home until the day comes that we're released through death, rapture, or disaster. Hmm. Those are things you try not to think too hard about.

We just got back from the beach for the 4th of July. We had a good time, but it was typical 4th of July issues: wall to wall people and sweltering heat. There's only one place you can go 4th of July weekend that isn't crowded, and that's church. Every other place is crowded, and you see it no matter where you go. Even here at home it's crowded. However you celebrate, you have to pack your patience. But we did have a good time. We saw the fireworks at Broadway at the Beach and we saw the Good Vibrations show at The Carolina Opry. I really enjoyed that. They played rock songs from the 60's - 80's and put on a great show. If you're in Myrtle Beach, you should see it. I believe they have that show on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the summer and Tuesdays and Fridays other times of the year.

But the long weekend is over and tomorrow is back to work time. I shall face the challenges that come and keep working on my writing. And so, it will continue this day, much as every other.

That's all. Thanks for hanging in there, and I hope you have a great week. Here's a video to get us all going.

Bye!