(But it does make things better. Here, have some while we chat.)
What is this magical word that makes everything awesome?
Yup. That's the one.
“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” -- Thomas S. Monson
My favorite t-shirt reads:
True principle--whether in our personal lives, the countries we live in, the homes we have established. This is why I keep a journal--trying to reinforce memories so I won't make the same mistakes again and again.
At the same time, keeping good memories close--the ones that build us up, that encourage us, that fill our hearts with joy, this is the KEY to happiness. On top of a journal, I like to keep a gratitude journal. Every day I list a minimum of 5 things I'm grateful for. This practice ensures I review the day for the best parts and focus on the things that bring me peace, happiness, even pain followed by resolution.
So is this concept magic? Remembering? Yup. Totally. 100%.
Let's reinforce AWESOME memories, holding onto the ones that shape us, and aiming to create a history we can be proud of.
September 3 question: What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, storybible, or creating outlines\beats?
Here's where I admit I use it. Not for outlining. Not for story bible. I like AI for inspirational image generation, research assistance, and when my brain occasionally struggles with rephrasing a sentence, I really LOVE getting a few suggestions. (Normally, I'd go to a critique partner for this.)
What about you? Do you use AI regularly? What for? And how do you keep your memories?
The month people go back to school. (Were you expecting something else?)
We've homeschooled for twenty years. Twenty. You might think I know what I'm doing after all that. Three graduates and two more inching forward with 9 years until the finish line... In those twenty years we've tried all kinds of things:
Workbooks
A kinesthetic education
Virtual classes
DVD classes
Hosting co-ops
Library classes
A Montessori approach
Establishing a teen book club
Attending small co-ops
Creating fieldtrips
Early college
Attending LARGE co-ops
Hosting parties and events
Running a drama program...
We've run solo, done groups, and used a hybrid. It's always easy to up the scale/scope/commitment, but it's terrifying to scale down. I remember the days of going it alone, always wondering if I was doing enough, worrying about the balance of experiences...
This school year, we're pulling away from the major supports we've utilized since 2018. Going solo. To be fair, we have a strong support group of friends but stepping back means everything falls on my shoulders.
And why are we doing this?
To chase a dream. (Literally.) Because I can't do both. It's too much.
So we're giving up the familiar, comfortable, status quo for something that feels impossible, heavy, and ALL ON US. Doesn't that sound smart?
But here's the thing: it's either worth it, or it's not, and we can't know without trying. That's the deal with going after your dreams--if you don't put everything on the line, you are choosing the mundane. The boring. The unchallenged. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I'd rather live without any what if's. Which means I'm choosing (consciously, intentionally) the unknown and the burning shoulders that go with carrying the load. May my muscles grow rather than charring to cinder. 😂
This month's question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
I'm going to skip the question this time, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.
What changes are you facing that have your heart pounding? Do you have a big dream you'd throw your status quo to pursue? Have you ever stopped to intentionally rewrite your personal narrative?
Read to the end because I have something EPIC in this post.
Speaking of reading, I read a LOT of books when I should be sleeping...because I can't. Sleep, that is.
We could call out a couple reasons for that -- stress, my musical, kids, health...but we'll leave it there.
A couple things I've learned about NOT getting healthy sleep:
- Over time the brain will degrade and Alzheimer's symptoms may appear.
- Good luck taking off the weight if you don't give the body adequate time to rest.
- Your brain and tongue become separate entities.
So how do we overcome sleeplessness?
1. Exercise: When I first expressed I was having sleep issues, my father and doctor told me to exercise more. Default advice. (But not right before bed.)
2. Hormones/Gut health/Allergies: I don't know about you, but I have TERRIBLE allergies. If anything is off in my environment, sleep is the first to go. And let's face it, for women, hormones are constantly fluctuating, so...you know...get that under control.
3. Light pollution: The body is sensitive to light. Light tells us it's time to wake up. Darkness is your best, sleeping friend. This includes screens. Turn them off a couple hours before sleeping. Use a dim lamp while preparing for bed to help your body recognize it's almost sleep time.
4. Decompressing/routine/limiting stress: Build a routine around bedtime that helps your body and mind relax. For myself, that includes writing in a journal (getting out all the thoughts). Massage and soothing music may be helpful as well.
5. Breathing/meditation/prayer: Deep breathing -- meaning getting air all the way to the bottom of the lungs -- physically relaxes the body. Meditation releases the worries of the day. Prayer gives us an opportunity to place our cares on someone else.
6. And if none of that works, some people count sheep, but I've never found that effective. My brother in law recently taught me a new trick: WORD SOUP. Pick a word at least 6 letter long. While resting in bed, imagine an image that begins with each letter, going through them one at a time and -- focusing on each image for a minute or so.
Example: Hungry
H= hat
U= umbrella
N= newt
G= gold fish
R= rain
Y= yo-yo
This relaxes the brain. Chances are you'll get through 3 to 5 letters before sleep steps in.
Speaking of sleeping, the IWSG question this month addresses writing -- and since many of my story ideas come from dreams...
July 2 question - Is there a genre you haven't tried writing in yet that you really want to try? If so, do you plan on trying it?
Yes...and no. I want to write a biography about my special needs brother. I started it once and couldn't continue -- mostly due to the emotional drain. Also due to worries about conflicts with siblings who have DIFFERENT memories. Will I get back to it? Maybe. Maybe not.
And now the BIG awesome!!!
Check out the highlight reel from my musical! Snatches, fun little snatches from our staged reading back in March. We'll be sharing more in the coming months -- a whole series of videos outlining scenes, giving the inside scoop, introducing characters, etc. Subscribe to our YouTube channel if you want the updates, join the newsletter to get all the insider info, and if you want EARLY access to all the awesomeness (and more), donate to the WORLD PREMIER. (Tentatively schedule for October 2027.)
What sleep techniques have you learned/employed? Are you trying something new (writing, reading, survival)? Like musicals?
How do you measure productivity? How do you keep yourself productive?
My world has been...well, insanity, especially since we started chasing this musical full time. (Check out the website. Follow on social media. Sign up for the newsletter to experience our crazy journey with us -- all the way to Broadway.) In fact, we're elbow deep in video edits and making promotional reels and all that jazz...
But I digress.
When I was a teen, I had WAY too many interests to be healthy. I was in theater, I sang in choirs and performed as a soloist weekly or more, I wrote stories, I read a lot, I was a sketch artist, I biked and hiked and arranged not only my social calendar, but pulled together group dates and events for a wide variety of friends regularly. And then there was school.
In navigating a crazy schedule, I had a system.
I'd make a list (long term goals broken into smaller parts) and keep it in my pocket. Every time I tucked my hands away, I'd come across the "to do"s, and then would focus on the next easiest one...or most important one, depending on how motivated I was.
This system worked until I quit putting my hands in my pockets. Or had no pockets.
Then I moved to a planner.
Everything went in the planner. Everything...
Until that was too bulky to carry around. We transitioned to a calendar -- full family mode -- with notes in ALL the margins AND scribbled over the full-page images.
In this is a new age, every little edit, every suggested change has become a sticky note. A physical presence. A bright colored reminder. Though I still have a calendar, I now keep lists on my phone, but life looks like a lot like this:
Except in more colors -- yellow, pink, green, blue, orange, purple... All the colors. I try to keep tasks organized by color, but I'm too much of an artists and just grab the nearest thing when inspiration strikes.
This is a constantly evolving system. I think we often get frustrated when our efforts aren't working or fall short, not realizing that there is room for change. That change is good. Change is healthy. Change keeps us growing. So I hope if you're feeling that tension, you'll take a minute, breathe, and reexamine your process or world. Take control. Try again.
Because you're awesome and powerful and you've got this!
What system have you discovered that works to keep you organized, motivated, and moving forward?
IWSG June 4 question: What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?
I'm going strictly little kid here because this is a BIG question.
The Giving Tree. Loved it as a kid. Someone so selfless was amazing and should be emulated. (I hated it as a mom -- when my proverbial well was empty.)
Where the Wild Things Are. Keep that imagination alive, kiddoes! This was life for me as a kid and the book gave me permission to keep that creativity bubbling.
The Velveteen Rabbit taught me about compassion, about loving someone to the end.
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny really registered with me as one of eight kids and the black sheep of my family, interests wise and academically. It taught me it's okay to be an individual and STILL appreciate your unique family culture.
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. Mom quoted this so often it would be hard NOT to have an impact. Bad days happen to everyone, even in Australia.
And lastly, but most importantly, The Bible (especially the New Testament) and Book of Mormon. Most influential books of all time.
What books had a BIG impact in your life? What are you doing to be organized or motivated? How much cheese have you eaten this week?
