Eva Pasco's Blog - Posts Tagged "time"
“Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose…”
This proverb of French origin used by the French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90), translates to, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”
An Indie author who revived a dormant flair for writing when I retired from a teaching career in elementary education, my life has since taken many unforeseen detours. Although no one is exempt from challenges or setbacks, most writers find the strength and determination to finish the story they started, however long it takes.
Fulfilling a dream requires work!
After publishing my first book in 2008, it took approximately 8 years of writing spurts for me to finish my second novel in the genre of Contemporary, 'An Enlightening Quiche' (2016; 370 pgs. – digital format).
In retrospect, after having undergone a midlife renaissance, I see the similarities between both professions, as articulated by the aforementioned proverb in the title.
Time factor:
Teaching requires devoting many additional hours outside of those spent in the classroom. Being a published author is practically a 24-hr. proposition when you consider the variable of marketing.
Self-Discipline:
In elementary education, a teacher must plan detailed lessons for multiple subjects every single day, along with possessing the mental fortitude to switch gears should any one of those lessons fizzle with the students.
An author—foremost, a “writer,” by trade—must ply himself/herself to the craft every single day, along with possessing the mental acuity to scrap what doesn’t ring true for storytelling.
Relevancy:
A teacher must tailor lessons and material to his/her students’ needs and interests.
A writer must tailor an engaging story to a target audience.
Thick Skin:
Just as a teacher cannot let unruly students ruffle feathers—you know, “Never let them see you sweat”—a published author cannot wallow in mean-spirited, negative book reviews.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Purportedly, Horace said, “Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.”
Hence, the more things change…
Eva’s Byte #225 – Making a World of Difference
To me, there’s nothing more profound than the simple cliché, “The best things in life are free”.
Since many of us in the 40+ age range make a world of difference to others in our capacity of caregiving, time and energy for fostering one’s well-being are often nonexistent. Speaking from personal experience, I let things get the best of me. I even berate myself for not being able to write more than I do.
Hence, the gift of “time” makes a world of difference, affording me the wherewithal to indulge in life’s simple, yet grandiose pleasures:
One of them, tending to my floral arrangements.
Staying home for a day or two, allows me to recuperate from the rush of running several errands, and driving back and forth in accommodation. I’m able to focus on my creative endeavors at the keyboard while sipping a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee, preferably mocha or vanilla.
Since I thrive on very little sleep—4 to 5 hours at most, every now and then I enjoy an afternoon nap. Even better if that nap coincides with a rainy day.
The luxury of time allows me to recharge and build up my stamina for the next round with potential to ruffle my feathers.
I’ve yet to indulge in gifting myself a leisurely drive to the shore to reflect upon all that glimmers in my horizon. Until I do, I’m appreciative of the bay breeze wafting through my office windows on a relatively carefree day.
*What are your simple pleasures that make a world of difference?
Eva’s Byte #317 – Beginner’s Luck
Last week’s blog pertained to the first venture in my new hobby of foraging for sea glass. My road trip to Sabin Point on the east side of the Providence River is a shipping channel used by large vessels going to and from the Port of Providence, just 1,000 feet off Sabin Point.
Lucky for me!
Since glass tends to wash up on beaches along popular marine trading routes and ports, I was richly rewarded going with the flow of time and low tide.
Beginner’s luck!
That day I bagged approximately 12 pieces of blunt-edged, frosted specimens. At the bare minimum, each piece took approximately 20 – 40 years to shape up once it was shipped out—meaning tossed away in its state of bottle-hood or stately plate-li-ness. The most common colors to stumble across are Kelly green, brown, and white.
I tossed my Kelly green finds into the brine because they were not ripe enough for the picking due to their sharp edges and shiny surfaces. I’ve several white specimens, 2 brown, 1 seafoam green, and a rare find of substantial size in one of the more uncommon colors of forest green.
On Thursday, I’ll press my luck by returning to Sabin Point. This time, exploring the opposite end of the narrow shoreline. I plan to arrive around noon when the waves crest at 2 ft., and continue to diminish as low tide approaches at 2:42 p.m. EST.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m going with the flow of time and tide, rounding out the edges in Part 5, Chapter 76 of my Contemporary work in progress.
*When seizing the moment to embark on a new adventure, may time and tide flow with you.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Lucky for me!
Since glass tends to wash up on beaches along popular marine trading routes and ports, I was richly rewarded going with the flow of time and low tide.
Beginner’s luck!
That day I bagged approximately 12 pieces of blunt-edged, frosted specimens. At the bare minimum, each piece took approximately 20 – 40 years to shape up once it was shipped out—meaning tossed away in its state of bottle-hood or stately plate-li-ness. The most common colors to stumble across are Kelly green, brown, and white.
I tossed my Kelly green finds into the brine because they were not ripe enough for the picking due to their sharp edges and shiny surfaces. I’ve several white specimens, 2 brown, 1 seafoam green, and a rare find of substantial size in one of the more uncommon colors of forest green.
On Thursday, I’ll press my luck by returning to Sabin Point. This time, exploring the opposite end of the narrow shoreline. I plan to arrive around noon when the waves crest at 2 ft., and continue to diminish as low tide approaches at 2:42 p.m. EST.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m going with the flow of time and tide, rounding out the edges in Part 5, Chapter 76 of my Contemporary work in progress.
*When seizing the moment to embark on a new adventure, may time and tide flow with you.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva’s Byte #465 – Faces
There are faces I remember. Some have gone and some remain.
(Paraphrased from “In My Life” by the Beatles from their Rubber Soul album, released in 1965)
Kodak moments—some preserved in black and white; others in color. Snapshots developed from rolls of film. I couldn’t wait to rifle through the envelope to check out photos commemorating special occasions and family get-togethers.
Over the years I’ve amassed a slew of envelopes, each one its own time capsule. I got the notion to sort through all of the photos and put them in plastic bags. During this emotional process of categorizing, one becomes acutely aware of changes the passage of time has wrought.
In the face of time, this writer is in the process of drafting chapter 54 (428 words thus far) along the tail end of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us maintain a healthy balance between holding on and letting go.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page:http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
(Paraphrased from “In My Life” by the Beatles from their Rubber Soul album, released in 1965)
Kodak moments—some preserved in black and white; others in color. Snapshots developed from rolls of film. I couldn’t wait to rifle through the envelope to check out photos commemorating special occasions and family get-togethers.
Over the years I’ve amassed a slew of envelopes, each one its own time capsule. I got the notion to sort through all of the photos and put them in plastic bags. During this emotional process of categorizing, one becomes acutely aware of changes the passage of time has wrought.
In the face of time, this writer is in the process of drafting chapter 54 (428 words thus far) along the tail end of my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us maintain a healthy balance between holding on and letting go.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page:http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
