Good News (or Why Everyone Should Write a Book)

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. My days have definitely been moving quickly, and I have been just a little bit distracted. I have a very good reason for my distraction this week: I got engaged on Saturday.

Everytime I say or write the E word I have to stop and let it register. This is not something I ever really expected. And to be engaged to an absolutely wonderful, kind, considerate, smart, funny, loving man who can cook and who my family ADORES on top of all that...well, it's still a blissful surprise.

So how does my engagement tie in to my secondary title for this post? It ties in because I believe the reason Rick is in my life is because I wrote Frog Kisser. Although the book was a work of fiction, in writing it I was able to identify some of my unhealthy and self-destructive patterns in relationships, and was able to change them. Then, I travelled WAY outside my comfort zone and published the book...and that's when the fun began. I set up a MySpace profile to publicize the book, and a few months later I got a message from a guy wearing a kilt. He seemed entertaining, and now I'm engaged to him. So, had I never sat down to record the events of my bachelorette party one February evening three years ago, I'm pretty sure I'd be in the same place I was back then. And, frankly, I like this place better.

That's my story. I hear other stories from other writers who've put themselves out there and had nothing but good things happen. I have a friend who just told me she travelled outside her comfort zone by writing a short story in a genre she'd never considered before. And guess what...someone bought the story! That's huge and wonderful news.

So pick up that pen or sit down and that keyboard and get writing. It's worth every second of it.

Waking up

I think we've passed through the dark side of winter. I say this because I woke up before my alarm this morning...at about 6:15. That may not seem like a big deal, but it actually is because it means it's getting lighter earlier. I never wake up in the pitch dark without the alarm! Wahoo. This is cause for celebration.

I can now send the end of the tunnel of my winter hibernation. I actually wanted to be out of bed this morning, despite the fact I had a good reason to stay put. Next thing, I may actually start thinking of story ideas, and who knows...maybe write something! The possibilities are endless.

For now, though, I'm going to go to yoga and center my mind so I can peacefully get through this rather insane month Two Sisters Creative is having. But that's a post for another day.

Keeping My Head Above Water...Maybe

Life has become a bit of a juggling act these days, something that seems to be epedimic. Every time I talk to a friend, we compare notes on how insane things are. I won't go into the details of the myriad things stretching me in a million directions...I'll just start hyperventilating again (and no, I have no idea if I spelled that correctly).

Right now, I'm working on psyching myself up to head out in the drizzle and tackle Beltway rushhour traffic for two meetings in Bethesda. I'm looking forward to both meetings: the first is with two collegues from the design world who I'm interviewing for an article. The second is with a potential Arbonne business builder who has literally fallen in my lap. Both are things to cheer about. I just have to get through that commute first. But maybe people are working at home today to avoid the bad weather. Or maybe I'll be able to leave late enough to miss the worst of it. The drive will be pleasant, the drive will be pleasant, the drive will be pleasant.

Yep, mantras and positive self talk have become one way I deal with my spastic life. Pizza, popcorn, and chocolate are the other. I especially need to use these mantras when I know I'm not going to get to go to yoga. And today I think I'm not going to get to go to yoga. Sigh.

How do you deal with the insanity of life? I'm very curious about what people do to keep their head above water, and how they focus on healthy things rather than self destructive (self destructive being the pizza).