And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt. ~Sylvia Plath

Friday, September 28, 2012

The Fruit....it's out of reach

I love the title of this blog.  The fruit that is out of reach.  I like that it sparks some sort of creativity in me, and that anyone who reads this might be thinking I have something interesting to say.  There must be something that is unattainable.  Something I am missing, but I can taste it.  I can feel it's mark.

In this case, it really is a bowl of fruit that is on the other side of the room, and I am too tired, and too ingrained in my own thought process to get up and get it.  The fruit really is out of reach.   What sort of thoughts, might one ask, could possibly be keeping me away from the delicious fruit?  Thoughts about Nano.

Most of you, who have read my blog know of National Novel Writing month.  Every year in November, I wrap myself in an over-sized sweater, throw on some pajama pants and start writing.  It doesn't matter that the housework takes a hit, and that one time I forgot to buy bread because for 30 days I get to be creative and write a novel.  This will be my fourth year participating in Nano, and to be honest this is the first year that I think I might not get it accomplished.  

I need ideas, I need inspiration, I need a muse.   I need a saying, a quote, a spark.  I need something....  what do you do when you need something you google it.

Does my main character find:  a love note, a new story, a new life, herself, a dog, a love of something she never thought she could do, drugs, peace, a party invitation, a lost locket, a locked closet....

What does my main character want?  Why can't she have it?  Why does she want it?  Those are all the things that will propel my story forward and they are all jumbled inside my head right now with no real direction.  Am I writing for adults, young adults or children this year?    Let's hope if I am writing for kids my main character does NOT find drugs.

One more month....one more month and I better have organized some of these ideas!




Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Blogging and Baking

I have a much needed 30 minutes to myself.  My house is clean, my work is done, and I am opting to bake and blog.  The downside to baking by  myself is that I didn't get help from the kids, and my daughters are excellent bakers.  The upside was that I got to lick the spoon, and I usually give the spoons away.   But now the warm cookies are cooling on the counter, and I can blog!

I have been focusing more lately on the bigger picture.  Not that I am ignoring the small details, that is something I cannot afford to do.  I still have to remember to do all the little things that every mom has to remember to do like make lunches, do homework, cleaning, laundry, working etc.  But I think that sometimes the details get in the way of what the bigger picture is.  

I guess I should define what I think the bigger picture is.  You might not agree with what my bigger picture is and that is perfectly fine.  Everyone has a different bigger picture.  For me, right now it is:  Who am I forming my children to be?  Who am I doing all these little things for? Am I consistently being a light for my family and for those around me?  Am I too focused on the task, and the details to remember that the important thing right now is the relationships?

Who am I forming my children to be?  In an ideal world I am forming my children to adore the Lord, to not sweat the small stuff, to know how to balance work and life, and to live life to it's fullest.    I am only human though, so in addition to those things I want them to see me make mistakes.  I make mistakes.  I make so many mistakes.  I make them everyday.  I want them to see me get mad and come back with an apology and some humility.  I want them to see a discussion with my husband, and watch us come to a resolution.  I want them to know that in life you don't have to be perfect.  You don't have to have a perfect house, and you don't have to keep up with the Joneses pun definitely intended.

Who am I doing all these little things for and am I being a light?  I believe, that no matter what I am doing I should be doing it for the Lord.  Every move. Every day.  What an incredible thing to strive for.   I know that I am not always a light, but I will wake up everyday aiming to be a light, and to do it all for God.

Am I lost in the details, or the relationships?   Not everyone has the built in ability to let the laundry sit unfolded, and the dishes sit in the sink, to let things slide so that they can sit down on the floor and play Pretty Pretty Princess.  I am one of those people.  The dishes plague me, and the laundry well, don't even get me started.  The one thing that I find though is that I never regret leaving the laundry, but I always regret not playing that board game, or stopping to give someone a hug.

What is your bigger picture?  How do you focus your priorities on what matters the most to you??