Crystal Collier's Blog, page 32

Blogfest Full of AWESOME

Who doesn't love a chance to share what they're working on? 

DL Hammonds is hosting a wonderful blogfest this month, and I'm going to be there. Are you? It's all about what you're working on now, or your Work In Progress. (WIP) It's also about finding friends to hold your hand through the long journey to success. Inspired by Devo's song, Whip it, we're asked to share:

WIP Title:

Word Count:

Genre:

How long have you been working on it?:

Elevator Pitch (if you came across an agent in an elevator ride, what couple of lines would you use to summarize your book): 

Brief Synopsis (250 words or less):

Are you looking for a Critique Partner?:

Are you looking for a Beta Reader?:

And now for the theme song:


Ready for the hard part? Which work of awesomesauce are you going to share?

Mothers Day? Bah! Humbug.

Have you read Great Expectations? I sometimes feel like that's the title for my life. 

I have a gorgeous family, the sweetest husband, and such an amazing life--but I have a confession. For many years, Mother's Day depressed me.

The humbug: I'd sit and ponder how I was doing as a mother. Was I failing? Did my children get enough attention? What behaviors were they displaying that spoke of need? I'd look around or read stories of parents who were doing amazing things with their children, and I'd think, why can't I seem to be like that? The day served to hammer home how I was failing.

Do you do this too? It's a slippery slope, my friend.

Because of my father's example (if you missed that post, you can catch it here), I've always felt if I'm going to accomplish something, it's going to be done
well--perfectly. (Yup, that oh-so-annoying inner perfectionist...)

Six years back as I sat in a tiny NYC apartment, frustrated by the chain-smokers upstairs and exhausted from a child who refused to sleep through the night, it hit me. We were doing the best we could with our circumstances. My children, severely demanding at the time, loved me, even if they couldn't give me enough space to stand back and see it. I was succeeding in the most important ways. I couldn't be prefect on all fronts, but I was giving it my best effort.

Through the years I've learned that much of my disatisfaction with life comes from the gap between god-like expectations, and reality. Set high expectations, do your best, then forget your expectations and find grattitude in life. I now find great joy in Mother's Day. It's a day of reflection on the good, and as my children shower me with cards, hearts, and hugs, I can't help but wonder how I ever found anything but joy from the holiday.

Here's a happy Mother's Day to all you amazing mothers, and a huge thank you to all you surrogate mothers. You are awesome sauce!

Muppets are Radioactive?

Quirky maybe, but radioactive?

Do you like the Muppets?

I hated them growing up. I guess it was due to my 4 older brothers and having to prove I wasn't a childish weakling. They made me hate dolls too, but that's a story for another day. Regardless, it wasn't until I married my off-kilter husband that I really gained an appreciation for the sense of humor behind Jim Henson's creations. I mean, seriously, does it get any better than Pepe the King Prawn or Rizzo the Rat?

Okay, maybe it does, but they've earned a warm place in my heart for the snarky asides and unique personality traits. I tend to think Muppets Treasure Island and Muppets Christmas Carol are awesome sauce. (And lest you should ask, yes, I have been challenged to use awesome sauce every single blog post.)

So, now for the show.

I'm constantly on the watch for funnies that smart in the average man's face. This one got me:



Death by stuffed animal, how cool is that?

Are you a Muppets fan? Why or why not? 

A-Z in a WRAP

...though I'm not sure if it's gift wrap or involves a beat and vocal percussion. If I still had my recording studio, I might treat you to both. *wicked grin*


Yes, I am, and proud of surviving. I've been watching the challenge for the last three years and thinking about joining. Alas, life is insane-i-mous--which is why it's taken me this long to work up the courage. I spent all of March getting ready for it, and probably 4 hours or more a day during April reading and commenting. BUT, it was ALL worth it.

So, things I loved:

1. Meeting all the new peoples. (Hello, peoples!)
2. Hanging out with all my regular AWESOME blog buddies. (Hello, peoples!)
3. Reading a few serial stories.
4. Learning so many amazing (and bizarre) bits of information.
5. Handing out cyber cheese. (Eek! Don't call the authorities!)
6. Getting into a daily habit of blogging.
7. Laughing my head off with some of you. (No worries, the scientists locked in my basement have firmly reattached it and assured me there will be no strange side affects except a slight squeak when I look to the right.)

Things to do next year: (*gulp* Yeah, I'm sold.)

1. Signature, signature, signature.
2. Only comment on blogs that are still carrying out the challenge. (Here's a pat on the back for those who started with good intentions, but no cheese this time.)
3. Find more opportunities to give back and support other FAN-TAB-U-LOUS writers. (You know who you are.)

Friendlies, this one goes out to all of us:



SO, which was your favorite blog/blog post during the A-Z challenge? (Or recent favorite blog post period.)

Cheese Begins with "G"

What? You don't believe me? Well YOU'RE wrong.

Image courtesy of Fiorre
After a whole week off from the blog-o-sphere (almost), I'm back! AND I'm starting up a new set of memes: Motivational Mondays--come get your weekly dose of awesome, and Fun Fridays--because everyone needs cheese. Occasionally I might throw in a Wednesday for my writing friends/book reviews that are amazing fruit and deserve a bright, shiny spotlight.

And now on to business...

The other day I took a look through my facebook friends. I sat there, one happy memory after another bursting over me as I viewed face after face. I can't even remember how I became friends with some of them, but I love them all. My heart was filled with gratitude. =)

For those of you who were with me through the A-Z challenge (*waves*), you get that cheese is imperative to happiness, right? And that was my theme for the bloghop--How to Find Happiness from A-Z. (Check it out if you haven't. It was awesome.)

G is for Gratitude, and I issued a gratitude challenge to record 5 things a day you're grateful for, for 1 month. Did you try it? I did!


There's my list. =)

It seems I'm most grateful for family/relationships, technology, and cheese. (Surprise, surprise.)

What is it you found/find yourself most grateful for? And what are you grateful for today? 

How to Find Happiness A-Z: Z

Zeee END! 
After this month of awesome I'm going to Zzzz land. What will you be doing?

Essentially, I'll be catching up on sleep, eating at a table instead of computer, and adding to my WIP (work in progress). Between beta reading, editing, and pre-publishing excitement, I'll be here once to twice a week--and I hope to find you here.

So what does that have to do with happiness?

All good things must come to an end. The rest, or Zzzz's, that result from a job well done are a part of the process. We have to take the time to sit back, rest, and appreciate what we've accomplished. This last month I've made so many new blogging friends, rubbed shoulders with old ones, and experienced so many laughs, smiles and memories. Thank you everyone who participated, and all my wonderful new friends and followers. YOU ARE AWESOMESAUCE!!!

If you missed any of the awesome, here's your shortlist to get up to speed.

How to Find Happiness through:

A: AttitudeB: BeliefC: CommunicationD: DeterminationE: EducationF: FriendsG: GratitudeH: HumorI: IntegrityJ: JumpingK: KindnessL: ListeningM: MusicN: NovelsO: OrganizationP: PerspectiveQ: Quality TimeR: RespectS: SmileT: TrustU: UniqueV: ValuesW: WorkX: X Marks the SpotY: YouZ: Zzz and Enjoy

I'll see you back here May 6th to close out the Gratitude challenge. What? You missed that one? Check it out with letter G. 
Here's a huge wedge of cheese to all you A-Zers who made it to the end. You are awesomesauce! Will you continue posting every day? Why/why not?

How to Find Happiness A-Z: Y

By C. Clark via wikimedia commonsOne of my favorite quotes comes from Marianne Williamson:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. ... We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? ... Your playing small does not serve the world ... as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."


YOU.

You are awesome. We've chatted about this is past posts, but my point here is that you are powerful. You make your own reality--or that was my mantra throughout high school. Sure, things may happen that stand in your way, but you have the power to overcome all odds. More importantly, only you can change what isn't working in your life--whether that be by merely amending your attitude, or stepping up and making a plan to become your ideal self.

Image courtesy of Davebold370When I was 14, I realized there were a number of things I didn't like about me. More importantly, I had a vision of who I wanted to become one day. With that serious goal in mind, I made a list of attributes I needed to develop, and one by one, worked to integrate them. I spent months focusing on just one aspect or habit until it was solid, and then I moved on down the list. Journaling was one of those. Speaking kindly to my siblings was another. Learning how to raise and teach children also made the list. When I look back on my teen years, I am immensely grateful for adult friends and leaders who set an amazing example and encouraged me to become my best self.

We, each of us, have figurative "elephants" to eat. Life may be so overwhelming we don't know where to start or even feel powerless and drowning in the implications of our reality. My advise to you is to pick one thing--just one--whether it be exercising, learning to smile more, reading for fun, organizing, etc, and focus. Use that divinely given power, afford yourself time and sufficient forgiveness for failure, and go forward. Set a goal. Write it on a calendar. Check in with yourself daily and see how you're doing. You'll be amazed at how truly powerful you are.  

What are your goals for this year?

How to Find Happiness A-Z: X

Image courtesy of NemoYes, X marks the spot.

Happiness doesn't just happen. Well, okay, sometimes it does. The hormones align, there's sunshine, and we break through the mental clouds to find a moment of bliss. (Like taste-testing new cheeses. Mmm.) We'll call this "pleasure".

Real happiness is a lasting sense of well being, a constant and underlying sense that all is good--or that which we can control is good. It's a satisfaction with not only ourselves, but the direction we're taking in life and our accomplishments.

Some people make the mistake of blindly fumbling through life. They take what they're given and grumble about how things stink. They blame the government, their parents, their kids, the world for everything that's wrong, never stopping to consider how they can change things--if they open their eyes and aim for something better.

I grew up in a goal driven home. My father was a doctor, taxidermist, eagle scout, spelunker, pianist, photographer, scuba diver, distance runner, scout master, teacher, hypnotist, actor, basketball player and high adventure specialist. He spoke a couple languages, was a do-it-yourself-er, and raised 8 kids, one of whom was special needs. I learned a healthy sense of ambition just from watching him. He loved challenges. His entire life was about setting goals and then steadily progressing toward them. He was always on the go, always working toward a new accomplishment, and 90% of the time, smiling. (The other ten he was biting his tongue while examining the newest kid-induced hole in the wall, or shouting "you turkey!" at the slowpokes impeding his lead-footed-ness on the road.)

Happiness is a process. It's a journey, but there is no journey without a destination or "X". So what destination are you aimed toward? 

How to find Happiness A-Z: W

Image courtesy of www.localvox.com
W is for all the work.
Looking back over the years, I often wonder when was I the happiest. Do you ever pause and ponder that? In my "E" post I talked about education, and how the times I've been learning are the times I'm happiest. That's because I'm working toward a goal.

I've never appreciated my music talents as much as I should. They come easily. But writing? Writing has always been a challenge. I have an abstract brain. What I mean is, I get modern art. Poetry is a cinch. Artsy-fartsy mumbo-jumbo clicks.

Image courtesy of thisisbossiSuffice it to say, I've had to work hard at writing to make sure all that abstractness fades away. I've dedicated years to this pursuit, feeling I lacked the natural talent many of my peers were blessed with. The other day I read this in How to Write  Damn Good Novel by James N Fray:

"Most of these folks with so much raw talent will not make it as a novelist. Why? Because they lack what's truly necessary: self-discipline, dogged determination, and stick-to-tiveness."

This is my golden prize. This is the next big mountain I've been climbing, and some day I'm going to look back and see the effort has paid off. Regardless, my joy doesn't come from the view at the end, it's a part of every step, every new concept mastered, every page completed, and every head-pounding frustration along the way.

What are you working toward? And do you find joy in your labor?

How to Find Happiness A-Z: V

Because you are especially unique, you have a set of values you hold to. While everyone's inner compass might be different, I'd like to share a few values I grew up believing in, ones that I feel contribute greatly to my happiness.


Faith: "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye have hope for things which are not seen, which are true (Alma 32:21)." --This one goes hand in hand with belief. Faith is acting on a hope or belief, without knowing the outcome.

Divine Nature: I believe I'm a child of God. That gives me a deeper sense of my purpose and importance. It also places the weight on my shoulders to act as his daughter.

Individual Worth: Remember that post about being unique? Because I know my divine nature, I understand my worth.

Knowledge: Education, learning, growth should always be sought after actively.

Choice and Accountability: I'm responsible for the decisions I make, and accordingly, I have the power to alter my circumstances. I am infidelity powerful to change my own world.

Good Works: Enough said. Right?

Integrity: Check out my "I" post. This is a sense of honesty with oneself and the world about them, not just in thought or word, but in deeds.

Image courtesy of public.resource.orgVirtue: "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10)." In this day and age I think most people have forgotten the importance of virtue--a high moral understanding/use of ones' physical self and thoughts. Virtuous living leads more powerfully to happiness than anything I know. Someone who lives a virtuous life is not bogged down by guilt, regret, and pain that comes from making poor decisions.

Do you have other values you live by or have found lead to happiness? What are they?