I know it’s a day late, but HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! I hope you all had a great day, full of eating too much, and binging on Netflix. And if your Thanksgiving sucked, then you deserve to take time for yourself to overeat and binge watch! Treat yourself during this time of Thanks. Look for the small things that you are grateful for. I’m thankful for you!
I have been writing for 19 straight days now! I have committed to working on my novel (FINALLY) since it is National Novel Writing Month. If you aren’t familiar with the NaNoWriMo challenge, it is to write a novel (50,000 words) in a month. I’m not sure if I will make it to 50,000, but I am at just under 15,000 already!
It has been an incredible experience so far. I have stretched my imagination, and pushed myself more than I thought I could. I feel like I am building confidence in my writing abilities everyday that I write. I have a general idea of where my story is going, but for the most part, I just let my creativity flow! It’s amazing! I love it.
Anyone else writing something?
There is nothing better, in this world, than being a mother. I love tending to the needs of a tiny human, and exposing her to the joy and magic of the world around her. Creating castles out of blankets, Seeing animals in the clouds, and dancing without music!
There is beauty in the world that can only be seen through the eyes of a child, and she has reopened my eyes. She has given me a fresh energy and curiosity to see everything there is to see! I love my daughter. I love being her mom.
Since she has come into my life, she has helped me fight my anxiety. Whenever I feel my anxiety creeping up on me, she is right there (as if she knows) with a hug and kiss. When I am able to focus on her, I am able to pull myself out. It’s a beautiful thing.
here we made a reading nook out of the shower since my husband took off the door to replace it. Obviously, it was time to play while Daddy worked!
Thank you for all your encouragement and words of wisdom about how I can overcome my writer’s block! It truly helps me refocus and stop being so hard on myself.
Tonight I had an incredible experience. I was fortunate enough to go out to dinner with an accomplished author, and she was able to share her story and provide me with valuable insight. She encouraged me to trust myself and my creative thought. Not to listen to the voice inside my head that says I’m not good enough, or my ideas are stupid. She made me feel like I wasn’t alone in my writing journey. She had been in my place, and so many others have been there before me. It’s not just me. She even said she would help me along the way. ❤️ My heart could have burst!
It felt as if God aligned this moment for me. Just as I was struggling with confidence in my writing ability, this incredible woman came to switch my mindset. As if God himself was encouraging me to go forward in good faith that he gave me a voice, and I can do it!
I just feel so invigorated! Like a burden was lifted and I can be free to express my creativity without judgment! It’s ok to let loose and trust in my own voice!
How many of you are writers? Me too! I love stringing words together to make beautiful phrases and mental images. It’s my passion.
In earlier blog posts, I have written about my fear of beginning a novel. Or should I say, completing one. I have started so many stories, but they always seem to fade off when I hit writers block, or I can’t see past the event I am stuck on.
For whatever reason, once I hit this spot in my writing, I get in my own way. My doubts and insecurities as a writer surface and I just leave the project. I know it is unhealthy, and it’s my goal to move beyond it and finally finish.
How do you move past your fears and writers block? Does writing expose any of your insecurities?
My first week of back to work (aka school!) is under my belt, and I already feel like I have been teaching these kids all year. They are just great! I have a fantastic group of 8th graders this year, and they seem to really click with my style. It is the honeymoon stage, but I’m really looking forward to seeing where this year takes us.
This week, I have struggled with my anxiety again. I am not sure what triggered it, but it was high for a majority of the week. I knew I couldn’t let it take over because I wanted to be present for my students, as well as my daughter. I have limited time with her now that I am back in school, and I want to use every moment to the fullest.
To combat my anxiety, I just pushed through. I tried my best to keep a positive attitude, and when I felt like I was falling apart, I opened up and shared with a friend. I think if is important to have someone you can talk to when you have high anxiety.
I just feel it is imperative that when we feel our anxiety at its worst, we don’t give up. Living with this disease for so long has shown me that the dark days pass. They really do. As long as you fight back. Don’t give up. Don’t let it win. You can experience peace, even if you think you can’t. I never thought I would EVER feel anxiety-free, but I do! Sure I still struggle, but I know it will pass.
It will for you too.
Today, my anxiety was through the roof, I was exhausted, and my body ached all over. I didn’t want to doing anything, and least of all, spend the day running around the house after my daughter.
I woke up thinking I would put on the tv and lay on the couch binging on Netflix and Hulu, while she played around the living room with her toys. I could recuperate, and she could learn to entertain herself. Everybody wins.
However, that is not how the day turned out! Luckily for me, my daughter is an angel, and the mere sight of her fills me with such joy that I can hardly contain it! So, of course I couldn’t resist her when she wanted to play!
We ended up spending nearly two hours in our little pool, reading books, eating yummy snacks, and lots and lots of cuddling! It was such an amazing day! I feel like we took our relationship to a new level, and it felt wonderful.
Since becoming a parent, I have been learning that when I push myself beyond my comfort zone, I experiencing incredible rewards. Had I decided to stay on the couch and watch tv instead, my daughter would have been fine, however, we would have missed out on our one on one time.
I am going to put this principal into action in my everyday life and look for opportunities this week to go beyond my comfort zone! I challenge you to do the same!
OH.MY.GOSH! I did it, guys! I FINALLY wrote a story! I wrote it from start to finish! I didn’t over think it, I didn’t over plan. I just wrote. I can’t believe it. I have been dreaming about writing a story for more than 25 years, and I FINALLY did it!
All of these years I have been thinking that I wanted to write YA stories, which I still do. However, since having a child, my eyes have been open to the world of children’s books. I had always had the idea in the back of my head, but never pursued it. My father ALWAYS told me I should, and I never thought much about it. Until now!
Since my daughter has taken such an interested in books, I wanted to use my talent for writing to bond together. I wanted to write something parents could enjoy while reading to their children. I wanted to share the joy of words with parents and children everywhere! There is no better feeling than having your child snuggle up against you and ask for you to read a book! And what better book to read than one I wrote! HA!
I am so proud of myself, and over the moon with excitement! I am not sure where this journey will lead, but I’m excited to see where God takes this!
Thank you everyone for your support as I have vented in the past! I came close to giving up my dream of being a writer, but you all encouraged me to keep going. And for that I am eternally grateful!
Summer break is nearly over, and in preparation for the new school year I have been working in my classroom. I had some trainings for the classes I teach, which is through Cambridge University, and in between trainings, I was able to squeeze in some time to work on decorating my room! I will admit, that decorating for the beginning of the year is one of my FAVORITE parts of the entire year! I love doing it! I am very happy with how it turned out! Check it out!
It’s the special time of day
That makes you feel tingly in a way.
It’s the time when everything is still
And there is a break from screams that are so shrill!
It’s the long awaited nap time
Where I can relax and feel sublime!
I love my daughter, so don’t you worry
But she is asleep now, so I better scurry!
The Persistent Platypus 