Ira Heinichen's Blog, page 253

Day 1,983: Whew

This week was a relief, you guys.

I felt like me. I didn’t get a ton of writing done, but goddamnit, I felt like ME.

And I *did* get shit done this week. I put in my time. I didn’t over-achieve or even try to…I just achieved.

I have a much better, much less anxiety-ridden grasp now on these deliverables I have to take care of for my Story Grid certification.

I had a true moment of clarity with the beginning of my novel.

I got writing done and I didn’t feel like shit about it. To be honest, I...

Day 1,982: Birthyear

Tonight’s entry number is the year I was born. Crazy!

I’m feeling better. This week has been a good one for my psyche. I feel calm, focused, and energetic. At least until I get home, and then I feel tired. But that, I think, is normal.

Got my new project for work today. It’ll be an interesting one, stimulating, a challenge. I’m genuinely looking forward to it.

I really like working with this particular team, the innovation team. They’re testing stuff. There’s room for exploration, critical th...

Day 1,981: A Quick

I had good ideas today. Clear. Ideas that I think work.

I’d been doubting the beginning of my book. It was feeling too hard. Too much. Too complicated. But that was the darkness, not the light. The clarity I had today on how to start this story solidified that it was going to work.

Not a lot of work done today, but getting that down felt really good.

That said, it’s time for sleep

Day 1,980: It’s Decided

I finished reading the first book of my Story Grid certification requirements today. The Killer Angels.

It was pretty good. Dragged in parts. Not a book that made me really feel anything, BUT…it was rather spectacular in its ability to bring to life those several days in the town of Gettysburg.

It was vivid. Remarkable, in fact.

So, it did tickle the old mind strings, if not the heart strings.

Next up will be to do a rough write-up on the materials I’ll need to submit for review. I’ll tackle...

Day 1,979: Whatever Comes Out

Finished watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, season 2. It was really good.

Except for the last two episodes. Which is a shame, because endings really matter so much, don’t they? We, as an audience, are so much more willing to forgive a bad beginning, or even a bad middle, if the ending is good. Though, that’s rare, isn’t it? Usually a bad ending is caused by a bad beginning and/or middle. But, there are exceptions.

Gotta nail the ending.

It wasn’t so much that Mrs. Maisel made bad choices. It...

Day 1,978: Better Days

I have a cycle I run through whenever I get depressed. I’ve just recently realized it.

I get anxious about something until it builds to some kind of breaking point. After that, I feel depressed, and my mind and body go into shutdown/recovery mode. I take a break…

And then I feel better.

My body resets. My mind clears, and the anxiety and depression dissipate because I’ve stepped away from what made me feel that way in the first place.

I have absolutely no idea if this is a healthy cycle–I’ll...

Day 1,977:

It’s tough when you don’t feel good. I don’t feel like those words quite adequately express what I want them to, but they’re all the words I seem to have right now, and honesty is more important than eloquence.

I have the feeling that I haven’t been always honest with my blog posts over the past few months, or year.

Part of that is I’m good at keeping my spirits up, and letting go–at least for a night’s sleep–of my worries and anxiety. Ie- by the time I sit down and write these entries, I’m u...

Day 1,976: Tough Week

It was a tough week for me, guys. Which is a new feeling, because I got work done, and that’s usually all I need.

I really did power through, and I know logically that I truly got some solid work in, but it was just a tough week. Depressed. Anxious. A few highs, but mostly lows.

Sigh…

At least it’s not affecting my work output, or, judging from the feedback I got on my Netflix stuff, the quality of what I’m doing. But, I was articulating this to Liz last night: I’m missing the joy. I’m not th...

Day 1,975: The Dip

“The Dip” is a concept from Seth Godin.

I haven’t read it–I just loaded it onto my kindle and the reading starts immediately after writing this–but I feel like I’m in one. A “dip,” that is.

I know I’m in one, actually. I’ve known that for a while.

A dip is a temporary setback that can be overcome with persistence. That’s what Google says about it. Not all setbacks are worth overcoming.

That’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

Sometimes quitting is the right thing to do.

I remember a podcast by Freak...

Day 1,975: Letting Go

I let go of some books today. I’d had them since I was a teenager.

They were Star Trek books.

I collected them. I’d buy them in hardcover, read them immediately, and then proudly put them on my shelf. I had dozens of them. Spines out. Dust jackets shiny and colorful.

But, I don’t need them any more. It’s time to let someone else enjoy them.

Apparently the Jewish Women’s Council takes old books and sells them on Amazon. It’s profitable for them to do so, and they use the money to pay their emp...