L.M. Long's Blog, page 3
May 29, 2015
The Flipside of the Coin
by Suzanne Warr
Every since our move, I've been taking our dog for regular walks. Usually twice a day for 1-2 miles each, they give him a much-needed break from his new existence as an almost exclusively indoor dog, without a backyard to call his own. The best part, of course, is they're good for me, too.They give me a break from all the sitting I do as I write and work on editing deadlines.They provide the push I need to get in a bit of exercise.They often provide me chatting time, if I bring a family member along or make a phone call.They give me a chance to get to know random neighbors I'd probably never meet otherwise.They encourage me to explore lakes and parks in my area.They get me out in nature, where I enjoy the beautiful songs of bird, movements of clouds, and greenery that isn't dependent on my scatter-brained watering schedule.This pic sums the pluses up pretty well. Even with a cell phone, you can see how gorgeous the lake was the other night!
And I can pretty much guarantee that I wouldn't have made it out that evening if I hadn't known the doggie simply must be taken out. So, this is a situation that's all plus, right?
Well...maybe not. For one thing, summer's heating up so my window in which it's pleasant outside is shrinking. Despite our gorgeous NC winters, the same will happen when it gets cold in a few months, and that's a problem since I'm a major wimp about cold! Additionally, it's often hard to find just the right time, and there are lots of days I'd rather get my exercise/outside time in the pool, or at a no-dogs-allowed park. I suspect it took my longer to get over my last cold because I couldn't take a total down day. And, no doubt about it, I could cheerfully do without twice a day picking up bags of poop!
It's at times like this I like to remind myself of the sage advice one professor used to remind us--that you can't pick up one side of the coin without also picking up the other. There's an opportunity cost for every single choice we make, no matter whether we see it or not. I know that holds true of my writing, as well. This is true of picking one pov, two, three, or a dozen to tell my story. It's true when I decide to tell it in third person past tense, just as it is when I tell it in first person present. I recently read a book that was in verse, and reviewed it on my blog. One of my commenters admitted that he hadn't picked it up, despite interest, because it was written in verse. Aannd he was probably willing to come clean about that because I'd admitted I almost didn't read it for the same reason! Yet, the verse-style of writing perfectly suited the book and beautifully enhanced the story telling.
There's that flip side again.
So, how do you know which one you should choose? Is the best option to simply freeze in place, avoiding all choices and all possible opportunity costs? No, because of course that's also a choice and comes with its own opportunity cost that's pretty expensive. If we're frozen with indecision we're negating almost all positive outcomes! So, how to choose? Can I wave a sparkly pink and green wand of wonder and show you which way you should go?
I'm afraid I can't. Not for you, and not for me. But I can tell you that there's a golden-joyful-guaranteed way to be happy with your choice. And that is--First, trust yourself. Second, be kind to yourself. Third, allow yourself to grow.
Only you can know instinctively how to live your life, or write your book. No one can know that better than you, because if they do have insights and helpful awareness, you'll know they're right when they tell you what they think. Second, be kind to yourself because sometimes you'll still make mistakes. You'll misapply a truth, or get over-excited, or simply fall on your face. None of us are perfect, and these things happen! Which is why you also need to let yourself grow. You don't want to be damned up like a little river never allowed to explore, do you? To be a doll-like being with no upward change in store? So you have to let yourself grow, and growing requires mistakes and learning and getting it right next time. If you do that, your opportunity cost will always be bearable, and your coin flip you can exchange for something better. That's my promise...and you know I'm never wrong. ;) What are you juggling lately, or having to choose between?
Every since our move, I've been taking our dog for regular walks. Usually twice a day for 1-2 miles each, they give him a much-needed break from his new existence as an almost exclusively indoor dog, without a backyard to call his own. The best part, of course, is they're good for me, too.They give me a break from all the sitting I do as I write and work on editing deadlines.They provide the push I need to get in a bit of exercise.They often provide me chatting time, if I bring a family member along or make a phone call.They give me a chance to get to know random neighbors I'd probably never meet otherwise.They encourage me to explore lakes and parks in my area.They get me out in nature, where I enjoy the beautiful songs of bird, movements of clouds, and greenery that isn't dependent on my scatter-brained watering schedule.This pic sums the pluses up pretty well. Even with a cell phone, you can see how gorgeous the lake was the other night!
And I can pretty much guarantee that I wouldn't have made it out that evening if I hadn't known the doggie simply must be taken out. So, this is a situation that's all plus, right?
Well...maybe not. For one thing, summer's heating up so my window in which it's pleasant outside is shrinking. Despite our gorgeous NC winters, the same will happen when it gets cold in a few months, and that's a problem since I'm a major wimp about cold! Additionally, it's often hard to find just the right time, and there are lots of days I'd rather get my exercise/outside time in the pool, or at a no-dogs-allowed park. I suspect it took my longer to get over my last cold because I couldn't take a total down day. And, no doubt about it, I could cheerfully do without twice a day picking up bags of poop!
It's at times like this I like to remind myself of the sage advice one professor used to remind us--that you can't pick up one side of the coin without also picking up the other. There's an opportunity cost for every single choice we make, no matter whether we see it or not. I know that holds true of my writing, as well. This is true of picking one pov, two, three, or a dozen to tell my story. It's true when I decide to tell it in third person past tense, just as it is when I tell it in first person present. I recently read a book that was in verse, and reviewed it on my blog. One of my commenters admitted that he hadn't picked it up, despite interest, because it was written in verse. Aannd he was probably willing to come clean about that because I'd admitted I almost didn't read it for the same reason! Yet, the verse-style of writing perfectly suited the book and beautifully enhanced the story telling.
There's that flip side again.
So, how do you know which one you should choose? Is the best option to simply freeze in place, avoiding all choices and all possible opportunity costs? No, because of course that's also a choice and comes with its own opportunity cost that's pretty expensive. If we're frozen with indecision we're negating almost all positive outcomes! So, how to choose? Can I wave a sparkly pink and green wand of wonder and show you which way you should go?
I'm afraid I can't. Not for you, and not for me. But I can tell you that there's a golden-joyful-guaranteed way to be happy with your choice. And that is--First, trust yourself. Second, be kind to yourself. Third, allow yourself to grow.
Only you can know instinctively how to live your life, or write your book. No one can know that better than you, because if they do have insights and helpful awareness, you'll know they're right when they tell you what they think. Second, be kind to yourself because sometimes you'll still make mistakes. You'll misapply a truth, or get over-excited, or simply fall on your face. None of us are perfect, and these things happen! Which is why you also need to let yourself grow. You don't want to be damned up like a little river never allowed to explore, do you? To be a doll-like being with no upward change in store? So you have to let yourself grow, and growing requires mistakes and learning and getting it right next time. If you do that, your opportunity cost will always be bearable, and your coin flip you can exchange for something better. That's my promise...and you know I'm never wrong. ;) What are you juggling lately, or having to choose between?
May 25, 2015
Honoring our Veterans
Many of you may have ancestors that you know fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars, Napoleonic wars, etc.
As I research my family history, I am currently aware of a few for whom I've found draft cards from the first two World Wars. I love finding draft cards. To read their physical descriptions and see their signatures these men become more alive to me.
There are only two men I've know personally to serve in the World wars.
My Grandpa Jay on my father's side served in Europe. He was on the beach in Normandy on D-day. He was a translator and hit the beach in a later boat. But I have a sketch of the boats and beach a friend of his did that day as they watched the horror unfold. He passed when I was five.
My Grampy on my mother's side served in the Pacific. He worked as an x-ray tech, serving on islands like Guam and New Caledonia. He passed when I was 13.
When I think of the peril in which they lived their lives over those dangerous years, to serve their country and fight for global freedom, I get teary-eyed. Especially when I weigh in the fact that so many men and women didn't return home, families were shattered, and future hopes were destroyed,
It breaks my heart.
But, I am one of the lucky ones. Both of my grandfathers survived with all limbs intact, returned to their families and raised children, my parents. Most families cannot say the same.
So as you go about your picnics and swimming parties on this holiday, please take a moment of silence to honor those men and women, whose faces you know and those you don't, who cared enough to lay down their lives so you could enjoy this moment of freedom.
As I research my family history, I am currently aware of a few for whom I've found draft cards from the first two World Wars. I love finding draft cards. To read their physical descriptions and see their signatures these men become more alive to me.
There are only two men I've know personally to serve in the World wars.
My Grandpa Jay on my father's side served in Europe. He was on the beach in Normandy on D-day. He was a translator and hit the beach in a later boat. But I have a sketch of the boats and beach a friend of his did that day as they watched the horror unfold. He passed when I was five.
My Grampy on my mother's side served in the Pacific. He worked as an x-ray tech, serving on islands like Guam and New Caledonia. He passed when I was 13.
When I think of the peril in which they lived their lives over those dangerous years, to serve their country and fight for global freedom, I get teary-eyed. Especially when I weigh in the fact that so many men and women didn't return home, families were shattered, and future hopes were destroyed,
It breaks my heart.
But, I am one of the lucky ones. Both of my grandfathers survived with all limbs intact, returned to their families and raised children, my parents. Most families cannot say the same.
So as you go about your picnics and swimming parties on this holiday, please take a moment of silence to honor those men and women, whose faces you know and those you don't, who cared enough to lay down their lives so you could enjoy this moment of freedom.
May 16, 2015
Carol Blehm's The Power of Positive Query....
Valerie Steimle
This week has been a rough one for me. I even forgot to do my scheduled post as I was in such a quandary... I let outside influences ruin my writing mojo so here I am trying to catch up. As I was pondering on something suitable for this post I stumbled upon some old notes from a writer's conference. These notes remind me of a conversation I have had with myself... I can be my own cheerleader and so can you....
THE POWER OF POSITIVE QUERYby Carol Blehm
"A Cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song." Proverbs 15:13 & 15
Do you sometimes think you're guilty of self-sabotage? Do you feel as though you are not in control of your thoughts and actions? Do you have emotions, beliefs, thought patterns, habits you would like transformed? Is your brain like a computer hard drive that has a virus?
We can't control our subconscious, which is what controls our thought patterns and behavior. We can influence our subconscious by posing positive questions for it to process. These queries short circuit the habitual negative flow and create a new positive thought channel.
When you ask yourself or others negative questions, "Why am I so depressed?", "Why are you always late?" only reinforces what you don't want. Ask why you have the behavior or feelings you want and they will come. Example: "Why am I so happy?", "Why are you always on time?" Counteract criticism - "Why do I have unconditional love for myself and others?" Acceptance Overcome doubt: "Will my believe in God provide what I need when I need it? - Believe
"Why am I so blessed?" - Release, Gratitude
Overcoming financial stress: "Why do I have enough money to live comfortably while sharing with others the abundance God has given me?" - Abundance
"I can make a decision to be positive and
love myself, or be negative and
beat myself up."
Carol Blehm
Writers are the keepers of the words which can
inspire the world. Inspire someone today!!!
This week has been a rough one for me. I even forgot to do my scheduled post as I was in such a quandary... I let outside influences ruin my writing mojo so here I am trying to catch up. As I was pondering on something suitable for this post I stumbled upon some old notes from a writer's conference. These notes remind me of a conversation I have had with myself... I can be my own cheerleader and so can you....
THE POWER OF POSITIVE QUERYby Carol Blehm
"A Cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day. A miserable heart means a miserable life; a cheerful heart fills the day with song." Proverbs 15:13 & 15
Do you sometimes think you're guilty of self-sabotage? Do you feel as though you are not in control of your thoughts and actions? Do you have emotions, beliefs, thought patterns, habits you would like transformed? Is your brain like a computer hard drive that has a virus?
We can't control our subconscious, which is what controls our thought patterns and behavior. We can influence our subconscious by posing positive questions for it to process. These queries short circuit the habitual negative flow and create a new positive thought channel.When you ask yourself or others negative questions, "Why am I so depressed?", "Why are you always late?" only reinforces what you don't want. Ask why you have the behavior or feelings you want and they will come. Example: "Why am I so happy?", "Why are you always on time?" Counteract criticism - "Why do I have unconditional love for myself and others?" Acceptance Overcome doubt: "Will my believe in God provide what I need when I need it? - Believe
"Why am I so blessed?" - Release, Gratitude
Overcoming financial stress: "Why do I have enough money to live comfortably while sharing with others the abundance God has given me?" - Abundance
"I can make a decision to be positive and
love myself, or be negative and
beat myself up."
Carol Blehm
Writers are the keepers of the words which can
inspire the world. Inspire someone today!!!
May 4, 2015
Life is Full of Opportunities—Try a Few of Them.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I love new adventures.
Sometimes I study them extensively first and make sure it's something I want to do—owning a bookstore, moving to Australia, and publishing books.
Other times, I jump in without looking back—Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance Literary Director, LDStorymakers Board Member, buying a new house, and driving to California with two friends on short notice to blog about the Writers of the Future Awards Ceremony. Wow, that was a mouthful.
Anyway, most of the time I'm fine with all my craziness. Most of the time, I have things under control and love life and can't believe all these things are happening. And then I think about it—and panic. Just a little. Kind of like when I suddenly panic that I have six kids that are mine to raise.
And yet, I wouldn't change it for the world. I have been able to have more exciting adventures than I ever thought I would. I realized yesterday that just this year I've been to Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California. Amazing!
Find those things you would love to do, and find a way to do them. Dreams can happen, no matter how big or small. Taking over the world might be a tad crazy, but hey, why not?
Time commitments can make things tough, and honestly, if it's too much, maybe you should wait. But if you can do it, why not? Why not take the plunge and start writing for that newspaper, or join that committee, or help start a group that will better your community?
Life is to better ourselves and help those around us. If you have something to offer the world, don't be shy. Just do it!
To get back to one of my adventures I mentioned above, we'll rewind a few weeks. I was just sitting on my couch, minding my own business, when a friend of mine asked if I wanted to make a quick trip to California. My first response? Heck, yeah! My second response? Wait, what are we doing there?
Okay, so it probably should have been the other way around, but that's not usually how I work. Anyway, she was looking for bloggers to help out with blogging the Writers of the Future Awards Ceremony, and knew I blog. I talked to a few of my friends, trying to decide if I should go, and the responses were an overwhelming "Hello! Why is this even a question??"
So I did it. I had a signing in Salt Lake, and then we loaded up and headed down for the chance of a lifetime. I got to buy a formal dress, and get all fancy. Something I rarely do. We got to go to Vegas, and then on to LA. I got to walk on a RED CARPET! Okay, so really, I was taking pictures of the authors on the red carpet, but still. I got to talk to big-name authors and interview them. It was amazing. And all because I said yes.
Now I'm just waiting for that perfect opportunity to head off to Ireland. Who's with me??
Sometimes I study them extensively first and make sure it's something I want to do—owning a bookstore, moving to Australia, and publishing books.
Other times, I jump in without looking back—Eagle Mountain Arts Alliance Literary Director, LDStorymakers Board Member, buying a new house, and driving to California with two friends on short notice to blog about the Writers of the Future Awards Ceremony. Wow, that was a mouthful.
Anyway, most of the time I'm fine with all my craziness. Most of the time, I have things under control and love life and can't believe all these things are happening. And then I think about it—and panic. Just a little. Kind of like when I suddenly panic that I have six kids that are mine to raise.
And yet, I wouldn't change it for the world. I have been able to have more exciting adventures than I ever thought I would. I realized yesterday that just this year I've been to Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and California. Amazing!
Find those things you would love to do, and find a way to do them. Dreams can happen, no matter how big or small. Taking over the world might be a tad crazy, but hey, why not?
Time commitments can make things tough, and honestly, if it's too much, maybe you should wait. But if you can do it, why not? Why not take the plunge and start writing for that newspaper, or join that committee, or help start a group that will better your community?
Life is to better ourselves and help those around us. If you have something to offer the world, don't be shy. Just do it!
To get back to one of my adventures I mentioned above, we'll rewind a few weeks. I was just sitting on my couch, minding my own business, when a friend of mine asked if I wanted to make a quick trip to California. My first response? Heck, yeah! My second response? Wait, what are we doing there?
Okay, so it probably should have been the other way around, but that's not usually how I work. Anyway, she was looking for bloggers to help out with blogging the Writers of the Future Awards Ceremony, and knew I blog. I talked to a few of my friends, trying to decide if I should go, and the responses were an overwhelming "Hello! Why is this even a question??"
So I did it. I had a signing in Salt Lake, and then we loaded up and headed down for the chance of a lifetime. I got to buy a formal dress, and get all fancy. Something I rarely do. We got to go to Vegas, and then on to LA. I got to walk on a RED CARPET! Okay, so really, I was taking pictures of the authors on the red carpet, but still. I got to talk to big-name authors and interview them. It was amazing. And all because I said yes.
Now I'm just waiting for that perfect opportunity to head off to Ireland. Who's with me??
April 30, 2015
Be Opportunistic: How to Pitch to the Press
This week has been spinning out of control since Monday but I wanted to post something positive today because its my day to post and I didn't want to lose my opportunity. I keep up with several websites which help me promote my writing and Build Book Buzz is one of those I really like. They really get down to the nitty gritty of what specific types of information indie authors need to get your book out there. As the cartoon on the right says with a twist---I used to hate promotional assignments..... but now I enjoy them....
As we write and feel that passion of what we say is important, Build Book Buzz helps us accomplish this. Here is one of their links with some great tips for indie authors:
Build Book Buzz
.....and one of their informational posts....
You'll often hear book publicists talk about "pitching" a story to the press. But how do you actually do it when you want to take advantage of an opportunity - or want to create one?
"Pitching" is like "selling" - when someone says they're going to pitch a story to a reporter, they mean that they're going to try to sell the reporter on the idea. It's easy to do when you know the basics:
Offer a great idea. Your story or segment idea must be relevant to the media outlet and its audience. You wouldn't pitch a "saving for retirement" idea to Seventeen Magazine, for example.Pitch the right journalist. Study the media outlet to find the best fit for your idea, then do a little research to learn who is responsible for that section or program.Explain the idea clearly and compellingly. In the "pitch letter" you send by e-mail, offer a brief description of the article or segment idea.Detail why readers or viewers need the information. After the overview description, make it clear why people will be interested. Does it address a common problem? Will it entertain, educate, or inform? Will it change opinions or perspectives? And why is any of this important?Explain why you're an excellent resource for the piece. Why should the reporter talk to you about this - what do you bring to the topic? Describe relevant visuals for TV. If you're pitching a TV news or talk show, describe visuals that can help bring the idea to life. Offer additional resources. It could be links to background information, statistics, or other people to interview to round out the story. State the next steps. Will you follow-up, or will you leave it to the reporter to contact you if interested?You might pitch an angle on a topic that's currently making headlines, respond to a general query coming from a source such as HAROor Reporter Connection, or pitch an idea that you know is relevant and important. Whatever the reason for your pitch, include enough information for the journalist to decide if it's a good fit for that media outlet.
For those who are independent authors, it's one of those necessary evils that we have to blow our own horn and get our stuff out there for everyone to read. Hope this helps.
April 27, 2015
Sending a son off and the saga of the spuds
by Suzanne Warr
What have you been up to, lately? Me, I've been looking for my potatoes. I needed to find them because rotten egg smell has nothing on rotten potato smell, and I was afraid that if my search was unsuccessful, I'd be finding them with my nose.
It happened like this: When our son got his mission call mid-March, we already had a moving truck scheduled for later March, and would be closing on our old house a few days before the end of March. Then we had three weeks in April to finish getting him ready for the MTC, drive out to St. Louis so he could see his G'ma, and send him off to the MTC with a report date of April 22nd. Given that he was going foreign (Seoul, South Korea) that didn't allow for a lot of mistakes! The crunchiest part was of course before the move, when we needed to pack up the house and get the new place ready plus finalize repairs on the old place, and get his passport turned around, visa papers in, travel shots completed, etc. which were all due back to Salt Lake by the end of March or they'd move his MTC report date to June.
Thanks to good friends and the blessings of the Lord, we did it! But, on arriving at the new house, we found unpacking to be a headache. Most the boxes got labeled, but some were a mystery. And the biggest problem? You guessed it. We couldn't find the box with the potatoes.
Slowly I sorted through every kitchen box, even the ones with cookie cutters that I hadn't planned to unpack yet. Then I started on the random boxes, that might have held the missing spuds. As I unpacked box after box, my fear grew. What if the potatoes were in one of the storage boxes we'd sent straight to the attic? Would my house slowly fill with the rotten smell of stinking sludgy moldy potatoes all summer long? Would I blow the roof off with the gaseous fumes? It was a serious problem.
And the worst was that I really didn't have time to worry about unpacking! I had a son to prepare for a mission, complete with an almost entirely new wardrobe, a sick daughter to attend to, writing and editing deadlines, and a trip to plan! The situation went from amusing...to not remotely funny anymore. As in, the smile was staying upside down. Finally on one of our last days before we would lock up the house and leave for a week, we decided we needed to simply go over every possible spot the potatoes could have been put. As we did so, I wracked my brains for where they might be. I'd been in the kitchen when my friend packed that cupboard, but couldn't for the life of me remember where she'd put them. Finally--and yes, at this point we were praying--it came to me. They weren't packed in a box! A bit of sorting later, we uncovered them in one of the kitchen tubs that normally only holds beans.
Hooray!
Saga over. Or, was it? In a last scramble out the door we settled pets, turned all the suitcases and nearly all the trunk space over to our son, and headed off on the long drive from NC to St. Louis. It was a whirlwind trip, but just what the family needed. And on getting home, we had a pleasant surprise waiting for us. In my mind, I hadn't done any unpacking to speak of, and very little organizing. But that's because I was always looking for the potatoes.
The happy surprise? While looking for those rascally root balls I got the kitchen completely unpacked, and most the attic organized. On coming back, we discovered that our storage-space of a house had began its journey to becoming a home! And it was all thanks to the potatoes.
What have you been up to, lately? Me, I've been looking for my potatoes. I needed to find them because rotten egg smell has nothing on rotten potato smell, and I was afraid that if my search was unsuccessful, I'd be finding them with my nose.
It happened like this: When our son got his mission call mid-March, we already had a moving truck scheduled for later March, and would be closing on our old house a few days before the end of March. Then we had three weeks in April to finish getting him ready for the MTC, drive out to St. Louis so he could see his G'ma, and send him off to the MTC with a report date of April 22nd. Given that he was going foreign (Seoul, South Korea) that didn't allow for a lot of mistakes! The crunchiest part was of course before the move, when we needed to pack up the house and get the new place ready plus finalize repairs on the old place, and get his passport turned around, visa papers in, travel shots completed, etc. which were all due back to Salt Lake by the end of March or they'd move his MTC report date to June.
Thanks to good friends and the blessings of the Lord, we did it! But, on arriving at the new house, we found unpacking to be a headache. Most the boxes got labeled, but some were a mystery. And the biggest problem? You guessed it. We couldn't find the box with the potatoes.
Slowly I sorted through every kitchen box, even the ones with cookie cutters that I hadn't planned to unpack yet. Then I started on the random boxes, that might have held the missing spuds. As I unpacked box after box, my fear grew. What if the potatoes were in one of the storage boxes we'd sent straight to the attic? Would my house slowly fill with the rotten smell of stinking sludgy moldy potatoes all summer long? Would I blow the roof off with the gaseous fumes? It was a serious problem.
And the worst was that I really didn't have time to worry about unpacking! I had a son to prepare for a mission, complete with an almost entirely new wardrobe, a sick daughter to attend to, writing and editing deadlines, and a trip to plan! The situation went from amusing...to not remotely funny anymore. As in, the smile was staying upside down. Finally on one of our last days before we would lock up the house and leave for a week, we decided we needed to simply go over every possible spot the potatoes could have been put. As we did so, I wracked my brains for where they might be. I'd been in the kitchen when my friend packed that cupboard, but couldn't for the life of me remember where she'd put them. Finally--and yes, at this point we were praying--it came to me. They weren't packed in a box! A bit of sorting later, we uncovered them in one of the kitchen tubs that normally only holds beans.
Hooray!
Saga over. Or, was it? In a last scramble out the door we settled pets, turned all the suitcases and nearly all the trunk space over to our son, and headed off on the long drive from NC to St. Louis. It was a whirlwind trip, but just what the family needed. And on getting home, we had a pleasant surprise waiting for us. In my mind, I hadn't done any unpacking to speak of, and very little organizing. But that's because I was always looking for the potatoes.
The happy surprise? While looking for those rascally root balls I got the kitchen completely unpacked, and most the attic organized. On coming back, we discovered that our storage-space of a house had began its journey to becoming a home! And it was all thanks to the potatoes.
April 23, 2015
Life is More Than a 4 Inch Screen
The title is part of a quote given by Elder José A. Teixeira a religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The whole quote is The habit of setting aside your mobile device for a time will enrich and broaden your view of life, for life is not confined to a four-inch (10-cm) screen.
Yes, I spend much of my time in front of a screen, 4 inch or otherwise. I am a writer after all. And since typewriters have gone the way of the Dodo, screens are what I am left with for practicing my craft and fulfilling many other obligations.
But, his words are dead on. There is much joy and fulfillment to found found in the world and people around us.
I came across an article this week by a trainer to the celebs in Hollywood. His prescription for being a healthy person was a simple five step process. Can you guess what they were?
(I'm paraphrasing below because I didn't keep the link to the article. If I get it wrong, please don't sue me.)
1. Walk 5 miles a day/10,000 steps. In other words, we're too sedentary. Get up and move.2. Eat healthy. Duh.3. Get 8 hours of sleep each night. Again, duh.4. You only need about 5 minutes a day of stretching/weights, targeting a section of your body each day to keep it in shape. (Getting there is a different article!) 5. UNPLUG!
The summary was to do what our ancestors did. Walk. Read. Talk to friends and family. Eat healthy. Sleep at night. The prescription isn't hard and has been around a long time. Don't reinvent the wheel. Just get on it and get rolling!
Now, that I've received the all clear from the doctor to be active again, though I have to go in baby steps, fairly literally, I'm looking forward to getting back up to 10K steps a day.
There is beauty in nature to be appreciated. Friends who need a listening ear. Laughter to make you feel good. Hands that can help. Take advantage of all there is beyond the screen. You may find it makes you a whole lot happier to UNPLUG and enjoy the world around you, than any fleeting satisfaction you may enjoy in the digital world.
Reap the rewards of unplugging and taking back your life. Your friends will envy your ability to ignore your phone, Ipad, Kindle, etc. Then share your secret of how you did it.
Here is the link for the talk referenced above. Spend a few minutes watching it. Or better yet, listen to it as you take a walk in the spring sunshine.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/seeking-the-lord?lang=eng
Enjoy life!
Below, let me know how you UNPLUG.
The whole quote is The habit of setting aside your mobile device for a time will enrich and broaden your view of life, for life is not confined to a four-inch (10-cm) screen.
Yes, I spend much of my time in front of a screen, 4 inch or otherwise. I am a writer after all. And since typewriters have gone the way of the Dodo, screens are what I am left with for practicing my craft and fulfilling many other obligations.
But, his words are dead on. There is much joy and fulfillment to found found in the world and people around us.
I came across an article this week by a trainer to the celebs in Hollywood. His prescription for being a healthy person was a simple five step process. Can you guess what they were?
(I'm paraphrasing below because I didn't keep the link to the article. If I get it wrong, please don't sue me.)
1. Walk 5 miles a day/10,000 steps. In other words, we're too sedentary. Get up and move.2. Eat healthy. Duh.3. Get 8 hours of sleep each night. Again, duh.4. You only need about 5 minutes a day of stretching/weights, targeting a section of your body each day to keep it in shape. (Getting there is a different article!) 5. UNPLUG!
The summary was to do what our ancestors did. Walk. Read. Talk to friends and family. Eat healthy. Sleep at night. The prescription isn't hard and has been around a long time. Don't reinvent the wheel. Just get on it and get rolling!
Now, that I've received the all clear from the doctor to be active again, though I have to go in baby steps, fairly literally, I'm looking forward to getting back up to 10K steps a day.
There is beauty in nature to be appreciated. Friends who need a listening ear. Laughter to make you feel good. Hands that can help. Take advantage of all there is beyond the screen. You may find it makes you a whole lot happier to UNPLUG and enjoy the world around you, than any fleeting satisfaction you may enjoy in the digital world.
Reap the rewards of unplugging and taking back your life. Your friends will envy your ability to ignore your phone, Ipad, Kindle, etc. Then share your secret of how you did it.
Here is the link for the talk referenced above. Spend a few minutes watching it. Or better yet, listen to it as you take a walk in the spring sunshine.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/seeking-the-lord?lang=eng
Enjoy life!
Below, let me know how you UNPLUG.
April 16, 2015
Merci for Tender Mercies
by H. Linn Murphy
I lost my church keys for a couple of months. Not fun. I looked everywhere for them. I tore my car apart. I ripped into my house, finding a few things I'd been missing for years. I made a few dozen trips to the church library where we usually keep lost and found items. I choked down the embarrassment and asked loads of people at places where I'd performed or shopped or gone to conference. I described them to passers-by (well nearly). And then I checked the old places I'd already checked several times.
No dice.
It was utterly mortifying. I had to use my councilors' keys to get into my cupboards to get things out for Relief Society. It almost felt to me as if I were missing the actual keys to my calling.
So the other day I was sitting in the car, waiting for my son to get to the bus stop so I could take him home (he buses across town to a school outside our zone). Usually I have several books to read. This time I'd run out without one. So I decided to clean the area between our seats. There's a cargo net to keep the bunch of junk we keep in the car from rolling under our feet.
I looked down at that mess and for some reason remembered the keys. I'd already looked there about seven times--lifted stuff up and looked under it. Thoroughly. So getting the urge to look there was random, although it did need a good dusting up.
And just as randomly, I said a prayer, laying out for Heavenly Father how I really needed those keys. I told Him how I felt so naked without them. I asked Him to help me find them. After I closed, I got this overwhelming feeling that my faith would pay off that day.
Then I leaned down and started to clean. I took all the keeper items out and chucked the trash. Then I got the idea to unhook the cargo net, which is completely see-through. It's a net. Random. But I did it.
There in the crack beneath the seats were my church keys! I couldn't believe it! Such a graphic illustration of how the Lord takes care of me even on the little things completely filled my soul and overflowed in tears of joy, mostly because it showed how much He cares for me.
I drove clear home with those keys in my grip. I probably would have slept with them if they weren't so sharp...;o)
The Lord does things like that all the time. I can't imagine thinking that God isn't real. He does way too much for me to ever ignore. And it's not like it's coincidence. There is no random generator that could accomplish the miracles He engineers on a consistent basis. God is real and He cares about us all.
And He is the Key.
I lost my church keys for a couple of months. Not fun. I looked everywhere for them. I tore my car apart. I ripped into my house, finding a few things I'd been missing for years. I made a few dozen trips to the church library where we usually keep lost and found items. I choked down the embarrassment and asked loads of people at places where I'd performed or shopped or gone to conference. I described them to passers-by (well nearly). And then I checked the old places I'd already checked several times.
No dice.
It was utterly mortifying. I had to use my councilors' keys to get into my cupboards to get things out for Relief Society. It almost felt to me as if I were missing the actual keys to my calling.
So the other day I was sitting in the car, waiting for my son to get to the bus stop so I could take him home (he buses across town to a school outside our zone). Usually I have several books to read. This time I'd run out without one. So I decided to clean the area between our seats. There's a cargo net to keep the bunch of junk we keep in the car from rolling under our feet.
I looked down at that mess and for some reason remembered the keys. I'd already looked there about seven times--lifted stuff up and looked under it. Thoroughly. So getting the urge to look there was random, although it did need a good dusting up.
And just as randomly, I said a prayer, laying out for Heavenly Father how I really needed those keys. I told Him how I felt so naked without them. I asked Him to help me find them. After I closed, I got this overwhelming feeling that my faith would pay off that day.
Then I leaned down and started to clean. I took all the keeper items out and chucked the trash. Then I got the idea to unhook the cargo net, which is completely see-through. It's a net. Random. But I did it.There in the crack beneath the seats were my church keys! I couldn't believe it! Such a graphic illustration of how the Lord takes care of me even on the little things completely filled my soul and overflowed in tears of joy, mostly because it showed how much He cares for me.
I drove clear home with those keys in my grip. I probably would have slept with them if they weren't so sharp...;o)
The Lord does things like that all the time. I can't imagine thinking that God isn't real. He does way too much for me to ever ignore. And it's not like it's coincidence. There is no random generator that could accomplish the miracles He engineers on a consistent basis. God is real and He cares about us all.
And He is the Key.
April 13, 2015
It takes everyone to write a book
Writing is a community sport. Yep, I know most people think of it as a solitary experience. Just you and your computer, and that is true, for the most part. However, what I want to talk about today is how you survive as an author.
If it wasn't for the community of writers and book lovers around me and in the cyber world, I think I would have given up long ago. Not because I had no stories to tell, but because the friendships I've found over the last decade have brought me joy and a feeling of belonging.
The first group I joined was at the recommendation of my sister-in-law Lauri. She began writing a couple years before me and paved the way. She suggested the SCBWI, the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. This group helped so much in my early days. Through them I found my place in the publishing world. I met editors, agents and fellow children's writers. I jumped 100% ahead of the game and didn't make silly mistakes. I also attended monthly meetings where I slowly was able to recognize faces, so that when I attended conferences I didn't feel alone. This weekend is the Spring Western Washington SCBWI conference. I've missed it the last two years and I'm excited to return and feel the moral support. SCBWI.org. In the beginning it was all about learning the ropes, now it's about friends.
A group I joined just two years ago has been driving me lately. It is ANWA, the American Night Writers Assoc. A group of women LDS writers that support and encourage one another. These ladies have been the ones that have kept me going after my first book was published and then so little else occurred. I went to their annual conference in February and came away with lifted spirits. What a wonderful thing to feel you're not alone.
The other thing that helps me is writing my blog www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com. By posting book reviews, interviewing other authors, researching agents and editors, I feel like I am part of the book world even though my audience as a published author is small. When I look at the semi- success of my blog I am able to feel a sense of accomplishment that is so hard to find. I feel connected to other people and I am able to help out other authors. It really is a community that has kept me going. I encourage authors out there to find writing groups and participate. It doesn't have to be a critique group, just an author group. Find the support you need in others. Leave comments on blogs. We who write them are eager to connect. Leave reviews for books. Reviews help out so many authors. We all take a part in the writing world.
If it wasn't for the community of writers and book lovers around me and in the cyber world, I think I would have given up long ago. Not because I had no stories to tell, but because the friendships I've found over the last decade have brought me joy and a feeling of belonging.
The first group I joined was at the recommendation of my sister-in-law Lauri. She began writing a couple years before me and paved the way. She suggested the SCBWI, the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. This group helped so much in my early days. Through them I found my place in the publishing world. I met editors, agents and fellow children's writers. I jumped 100% ahead of the game and didn't make silly mistakes. I also attended monthly meetings where I slowly was able to recognize faces, so that when I attended conferences I didn't feel alone. This weekend is the Spring Western Washington SCBWI conference. I've missed it the last two years and I'm excited to return and feel the moral support. SCBWI.org. In the beginning it was all about learning the ropes, now it's about friends.
A group I joined just two years ago has been driving me lately. It is ANWA, the American Night Writers Assoc. A group of women LDS writers that support and encourage one another. These ladies have been the ones that have kept me going after my first book was published and then so little else occurred. I went to their annual conference in February and came away with lifted spirits. What a wonderful thing to feel you're not alone.
The other thing that helps me is writing my blog www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com. By posting book reviews, interviewing other authors, researching agents and editors, I feel like I am part of the book world even though my audience as a published author is small. When I look at the semi- success of my blog I am able to feel a sense of accomplishment that is so hard to find. I feel connected to other people and I am able to help out other authors. It really is a community that has kept me going. I encourage authors out there to find writing groups and participate. It doesn't have to be a critique group, just an author group. Find the support you need in others. Leave comments on blogs. We who write them are eager to connect. Leave reviews for books. Reviews help out so many authors. We all take a part in the writing world.
April 9, 2015
Hold to the Rod.....
With General Conference last weekend, and the dissenting vote that was voiced during the sustainings, I have been thinking a lot about personal apostasy. I consider my testimony to be fairly strong, but no one is safe and I've definitely had my moments.
I think we all have things about church history, or church policy, or whatever - that we don't totally love. For example, I don't love going to church for 3 hours. Ever. Even when it's 9:00 church. And I don't love the fact that we are called on daily to drop whatever we may be doing for our family or ourselves (yes, that's important too) and go clean someone's nasty house, that they only needed help with because they let it get so bad. (Just an example). Recently a returned missionary, married-in-the-temple friend with a strong family started questioning things about polygamy in the early days of the church, and which leaders practiced it. This friend was completely thrown to learn that Joseph Smith was indeed one of the prophets who was commanded to practice this law. The fact is, it was a commandment that was given during that time, for whatever reason. Just like Nephi being commanded to slay Laban . . . just like Abraham being commanded to sacrifice his son. I don't know about you . . . those things have never made sense to me - but in both of those cases the Lord had his reasons, and the only thing required of those mortal, imperfect men was obedience.
There are so many, many ways we can be drawn away from that Rod of Iron. Whenever I hear of someone leaving the church, my first question is, "Were they reading the Book of Mormon daily?" If not, go figure. We learn that even the righteous, the ones who partook of the fruit were clinging to the Iron Rod all the way to the Tree. Not gliding along with one hand on it, not reaching out every once in a while just to make sure it was there and making their own way the rest of the time. CLINGING. When they finally reached their destination, they FELL DOWN at the base of the tree. Have you ever done this? Maybe after a physically taxing or emotionally draining day? Just collapsed on the first surface that would hold your weight? That kind of reaction indicates a really tough road traveled. It's not supposed to be easy, folks. And even after all that, some of those faithful saints who struggled down the path bit into the fruit, only to be shamed by the mocking coming from the great and spacious building. The fact is, some of these saints let the fruit fall from their hands after they'd partaken, and fell away themselves.
This is one reason I am so enamored with the Book of Mormon. Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life is one of those things that was clearly written for our day. I see so many parallels in it to our modern world. It is easy to get caught up in these little snares, these "strange roads" that will ultimately lead us away from that white tree and its precious fruit. So for me, it helps to focus on what I know to be true. When I was struggling with some of the above-mentioned issues a while back, the spirit whispered to me to write my testimony. Start at the very basic thing that I know to be true. I was amazed with how much I do know to be true - and how much of it was the very foundation of our religion. Church policies come and go for the most part, and that isn't what our testimony should be based on. God is our Father, Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother and Savior. The Holy Ghost truly is a gift, the most precious gift our Father could give us. Joseph Smith was a prophet. He did see God the Father and the Son. The spirit has witnessed this to me so many times. The Book of Mormon is the best book in the world . . . everything, EVERYTHING in it is for us, and the more I read it, the clearer it becomes. Because I have a personal testimony of these things, which are the foundation of everything else church-related, I don't worry about things that are less eternal in nature. So, if any of you find yourselves feeling disgruntled about church-related things, maybe not feeling a burning in your bosom over something or other, try starting with what you know.
I think we all have things about church history, or church policy, or whatever - that we don't totally love. For example, I don't love going to church for 3 hours. Ever. Even when it's 9:00 church. And I don't love the fact that we are called on daily to drop whatever we may be doing for our family or ourselves (yes, that's important too) and go clean someone's nasty house, that they only needed help with because they let it get so bad. (Just an example). Recently a returned missionary, married-in-the-temple friend with a strong family started questioning things about polygamy in the early days of the church, and which leaders practiced it. This friend was completely thrown to learn that Joseph Smith was indeed one of the prophets who was commanded to practice this law. The fact is, it was a commandment that was given during that time, for whatever reason. Just like Nephi being commanded to slay Laban . . . just like Abraham being commanded to sacrifice his son. I don't know about you . . . those things have never made sense to me - but in both of those cases the Lord had his reasons, and the only thing required of those mortal, imperfect men was obedience.
There are so many, many ways we can be drawn away from that Rod of Iron. Whenever I hear of someone leaving the church, my first question is, "Were they reading the Book of Mormon daily?" If not, go figure. We learn that even the righteous, the ones who partook of the fruit were clinging to the Iron Rod all the way to the Tree. Not gliding along with one hand on it, not reaching out every once in a while just to make sure it was there and making their own way the rest of the time. CLINGING. When they finally reached their destination, they FELL DOWN at the base of the tree. Have you ever done this? Maybe after a physically taxing or emotionally draining day? Just collapsed on the first surface that would hold your weight? That kind of reaction indicates a really tough road traveled. It's not supposed to be easy, folks. And even after all that, some of those faithful saints who struggled down the path bit into the fruit, only to be shamed by the mocking coming from the great and spacious building. The fact is, some of these saints let the fruit fall from their hands after they'd partaken, and fell away themselves.
This is one reason I am so enamored with the Book of Mormon. Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life is one of those things that was clearly written for our day. I see so many parallels in it to our modern world. It is easy to get caught up in these little snares, these "strange roads" that will ultimately lead us away from that white tree and its precious fruit. So for me, it helps to focus on what I know to be true. When I was struggling with some of the above-mentioned issues a while back, the spirit whispered to me to write my testimony. Start at the very basic thing that I know to be true. I was amazed with how much I do know to be true - and how much of it was the very foundation of our religion. Church policies come and go for the most part, and that isn't what our testimony should be based on. God is our Father, Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother and Savior. The Holy Ghost truly is a gift, the most precious gift our Father could give us. Joseph Smith was a prophet. He did see God the Father and the Son. The spirit has witnessed this to me so many times. The Book of Mormon is the best book in the world . . . everything, EVERYTHING in it is for us, and the more I read it, the clearer it becomes. Because I have a personal testimony of these things, which are the foundation of everything else church-related, I don't worry about things that are less eternal in nature. So, if any of you find yourselves feeling disgruntled about church-related things, maybe not feeling a burning in your bosom over something or other, try starting with what you know.
