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Mantras: Repeat After Me "I Write Therefore I Am"
In yoga, they have mantras that you’re supposed to chant to help you achieve no mind and become one with God. We have not practiced this in my bi-weekly yoga classes. I mostly concentrate on not falling down, falling over, or falling backward. I sometimes think about being on the beach with Jack Sparrow, but that’s at the end of class, when we’re in corpse pose and in absolutely no danger of falling.
However, as a writer, I am chanting little mantras all the time. They’re over my desk, taped on my computer, written on post-its and napkins, and scribbled on the backs of receipts. Anything that might jolt me into a wave of brilliance when I sit down to write. Something to repeat to myself—bringing myself to a yoga state—so I can get out of my way long enough to write some pages. Any pages. Paragraphs would even work.
My two newest favorite mantras came from unlikely sources: a birthday e-card and a Christopher Moore novel.
Imagine more, think less. I mean that even sounds like something you’d hum in a yoga class, doesn’t it? Here I was reading this adorable e-card, and boom, right there in the middle: the perfect thing to repeat to yourself so you can get out of your own way and write. I spend an ungodly amount of time, staring at the last couple pages of my chapter, then skipping back to the beginning of the chapter. Hell, I might even go back another couple chapters to “catch up and get the rhythm” again, but invariably, I end up getting tired from all that reading and end up shutting down the computer and going to bed.
My problem isn’t so much going as it is getting started. Once I’m going, I can go for a long, long time; but it’s like I spend all my valuable time doing all these unnecessary things. Like I’ve started on a car trip, gotten to the end of my driveway, then remembered I needed my purse. I go back for it, get to the end of the street, then remember I need my lipstick. I go back, and by now I might check to see if I need anything else, leave again, and get a little further down the road before I remember I need the tickets which are on the dresser. It’s no wonder I’m out of gas before I’ve gotten to go on the trip.
Lately with this novel, when I start new scenes or start in someone else’s POV (since I’m a stickler for not head-hopping), I feel like I’m going nowhere fast. I’ll type, knowing the fits and starts I have on the page aren’t likely to be kept, but at the same time, I wonder, maybe I should have the scene start this way instead so my next character can act this way. I have a very vague notion of what I want to happen. I want Character A to fall down drunk at the end of this scene. Okay. Well, that leaves that scene wide open. You’d think with all the possible lead-ins and scenarios, I wouldn’t have a problem finishing a chapter. You’d be dead wrong. I have yet to finish that chapter.
I’m too busy thinking when I should be imagining. It’s enough to make a writer start drinking just to help this process along.
As for the second mantra, let me first say: Christopher Moore is brilliant. Absolutely flippin’ brilliant. Lamb is without a doubt my favorite; and if I recommend Moore to my friends (and I often do), it’s the first book I bring up. It had been a while since I’d read Lamb; and being it is almost Easter and all, it was a perfect time of year for it. You know, being the book is about the lost years of Jesus, as told by his best friend Biff.
So Jesus and Biff are on their way to Tibet (when they encounter the Great Wall of China), when Jesus says something so utterly profound, I almost drove off the road. (Not the Sermon on the Mount stuff; that’s later in the book.) Jesus says: There is no such thing as a conservative hero. Heroes always bring change.
It’s sort of a duh-epiphany, I admit. It’s a chicken and egg thing: you can’t have a hero without change or change without a hero. They go together like cocaine and waffles. That’s the fact, Jack. I know, I know.
But the reminder was nice. A little post-it of that my guy needs to be the most radical guy on the page, the one we can’t bear to take our attention off of to see what he’s going to do next—that’s a good reminder. Heroes are never boring. They always have something going on.
Which is my problem, I think. I have my heroes in the most happening city but they’re both more boring than an old married couple who’ve been married for the last few thousand years. Oh, wait, that is them. You know what I mean. I want them to do exciting, obnoxious things. I want them to taunt each other; I want them to look for other spouses with sincere singlemindedness. I want sexual tension and people walking out of the shower naked.
Okay, admittedly the last has nothing to do with heroes who bring change, but I’m just tired of my story being so damned boring. I mean, I’m the writer here, you know; and if my story is this boring, it must mean I am…and if I’m this boring, then I need another can of frosting to stave off the depression. I also need a few ideas of what I can do to be less boring. Any takers? Ideas? Anything?
Your turn: what mantras have you discovered that help you write (or do anything) more? What do you like to do to help you be “less boring”? What card, email or book have you read lately that has inspired you?
Books by the Crew
76 comments:
Helli, you always have me grinning whatever mood you're in!
I think 'predictable' and 'boring' can be synonymous. I have nightmares about becoming predictable and try very hard to avoid it. Sometimes friends will say "why on earth did you do that?" and the answer is often "because no-one expected it".
I vary my routes and times so that no-one can be sure where I am at any given time. If a burglar should be monitoring my movements in order to choose a good time to nick my valuables then he will become very frustrated....no-one gets to see my WIP until I say so!
Course you have to take care not to over cook this approach or you might get a 'reputation'.
My better half once commented that my unpredictability was becoming boringly predictable. Took me a week to recover from that.
My favourite mantra when trying to meditate is 'Kundalini'. I repeat it in my mind while breathing out and envisage the Earth Goddess coiling around me, relaxing my whole being.
I haven't managed to achieve a 'deep meditative state' yet, but it works for me as a relaxation technique...as long as I follow it with a couple of scotches.
The latest 'inspiring fiction' that I read was Robin Hobb's 'Soldier Son Trilogy'. The hero has his inner being magically divided so that he is constantly struggling with himself, each half in turn striving to do the will of the Earth Magic....sound familiar? *grin*
You know I'm addicted to fortune cookie sayings. I have six unopened in my kitchen cupboard, just waiting for when I need a eureka moment. In your honor I'm opening one up right now...Are you ready?
The deepest waters make the least noise.
I'll shut up now (except for the crunching). Wouldn't want you to think I'm shallow. :)
My mantra lately has more to do with parenting than writing -
Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child.
I was one of 7 in a huge chaotic family and I got lost in the shuffle a time or two. Due to that fact I tend to want to be there all the time for my two kids - kind of doing for them what wasn't done for me. I forget that a lot of the strength I possess now came from doing for myself most of the time. Not to mention the fact that I keep complaining about all these coddled kids today who get to high school and can't tie their shoes when I'm the one buying the velcro. *Irish hanging head in shame*
I like both of your mantras, Hellion. Especially the "Imagine more, think less" one. I've been accused of having no imagination and living too much in my head. That's definitely a keeper for me! :)
Good blog, dear.
Hm, I don't have much of a mantra. My favorite little person always says, "Keep swimming. Keep swimming" which is a good one for me. I remind myself to take a deep breath. This helps me when I'm writing. I tend to get all wound up, especially when it's not all falling into place for me. "Keep swimming" usually reminds me that I just have to wade through the shit until I get to the other side. There's always another side.
There's nothing at this point that's motivating me, other than sleep.
Q, I believe you hit the nail on the head for me. I am predictable. Sadly, sadly predictable. So sad in fact that my honey, who I've been seeing only since August, laughed at me last Friday because I was once again, sitting on the couch, watching the TODAY show when I should have already been in my car and on my way to work. I answered the phone with a hello and clicked the mute on the TV, but not before he heard the TV.
"You're watching the TODAY show, aren't you? You're going to be late to work again." And boy did he sound smirky on the phone.
"My computer is broken and not returned yet. I see no reason to rush."
"But you're watching the TODAY show."
"Yes, yes, I'm watching the TODAY show." And to myself I'm thinking, I have only lived here for two months. TWO MONTHS. Before I wouldn't so much as even known the TODAY show existed because I would have already been on the road when it came on, but now, now I have all this time and I spend it watching the news about the lady who has 8 babies and the other lady who thinks chimpanzees are pets...I am sadly PREDICTABLE.
Anyway, the point of this is: Yes, I am predictable, so yep, that is why I'm boring...and not able to write Eve's scene at the moment. (By the way, part of the problem is that I find shopping boring and that's what I sent her off to do. I need to channel myself as someone who actually enjoys shopping. You know, for something more than books. Or craft supplies.)
Irish - "Prepare your child for the path, not the path for your child." Good lord, that is the best advice for parenting I've ever heard and completely encapsulates what I hope I can do. That's brilliant. Thank you, you rock.
:)
We all know I'm the "just keep swimming" sort. I just keep writing, deleting, writing, deleting, until it feels right to me and I try to remember that it will be right to me if I just keep patient and keep writing.
I think something I've learned through my writing is that I can't let my own emotional insecurities stop me from moving forward. Right now I'm in a pickle with my current WIP and I have been for a week or so. I keep thinking it isn't right. These blocked up times are the times when the little voices start harrassing you. They say things like, "If you were a better writer, this would be coming out easier" or "What made you think this was a good plotline anyway?" or the more succinct but equally debilitating "YOU SUCK!"
I try just to ignore all that and keep remembering that it'll be fine if I just power through.
Or, as Sin writes above, "just wade through the shit until you get to the other side." She's definitely more concise than me. :)
Maggie--I'm so buying a box of fortune cookies on the way home. I got a really good one the other night, but I've of course lost it. And don't remember it. *LOL*
P.S. Q, I had to google what "kundalini" meant--serpent power, or literally "coiled"--interesting! I especially like the line that says the aspirant becomes deeply engrossed in meditation and infinite bliss. INFINITE BLISS. Just the concept intrigues me.
Irish, you crack me up. I think we all swear as kids to be better parents than our parents were, but then realize later, we still warped them. *LOL* It's okay. You know what? Kids are going to bitch either way. You can't win. *LOL* So embrace your overprotective neuroses and live it up. I'm sure at no point you could touch my mother's overprotectiveness when she repeatedly told me I wasn't allowed to learn to do cartwheels because I'd break my neck and would then be paralyzed for the rest of my life and in a wheelchair.
GUESS who can't do a cartwheel to this day?
Sin, "Keep swimming" is a great motto. (And good for a shark too...you know because if they quit swimming, they die...)
Sorry, I'm a little morbid today.
Let me attempt to find the upside: keep swimming because as you say, eventually you'll get to the other side. There is always an other side...
Marnee: for some reason, I heard a guy's voice concise Sin's sentence to: "Suck it up and press on." *LOL*
I know it's mean to confess, but it does make me feel better than you suffer too. Esp when you have such kick ass characters and fun dialogue...that you might be struggling to make all that look effortless, makes you seem more mortal.
*makes note to teach Hellie to do cartwheels in sand in May*
I have only recently taken to pinning inspirational quotes to the peg board over my desk at home. But I can't say I've ever had a mantra for meditating. Mostly because I've never meditated. However, I am constantly telling myself, "things will all workout eventually." The money supply gets low? It'll be fine. And it has always been since I started believing that.
I'm sure I'm predictable and I guess that might make me boring. But then, I'm never sitting still long enough to think about being boring. :)
I know you're not a fan of it, but that old adage about working as if you don't need the money, dancing as if no one is watching, and love as if you've never been hurt really does hold true. For me anyway. Though that love thing I have a harder time with.
I could've said, "Women up you pussy." I mean that's much more concise and what I really would've said.
*biting lip* But see, I refrain because it's more girly like.
Oh, forgot to say what I read lately. As you know, it was Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I say this book should be mandatory reading for every woman. There are some killer one liners in this book. Things from "The best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody else." I mean, come on! That's great advice. LOL!
Sin, see the "Woman up" line sounds much more like you. *LOL* (P.S. Matty talked me into going to a kick boxing this week, using you as the carrot; however, tonight is Second Chance's thing at Shakespeare's; and Thursday I have a play I'm going to...Gah! So I guess I'll have to do it next week instead.)
BTW - HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!
"I know it’s mean to confess, but it does make me feel better than you suffer too. Esp when you have such kick ass characters and fun dialogue…that you might be struggling to make all that look effortless, makes you seem more mortal."
I admit that I totally cracked up at this. Struggle? I scrape and claw, dear, I don't just struggle.
If it'd make you feel better, I'll whine more often. I try to refrain, just to spare you all. I definitely am not trying to make it look like this is easy.
And thank you so much for the compliment. It means a lot. I can't wait to see what you guys think of it after I get further. :) I've got some twists and tricks up my sleeves.
Happy St. Patty's day to you all too! I'm going to the in-laws for Boiled ham, cabbage, and potato dinner. I'll drink some Baileys and eat some Irish potatoes and listen to Ruby Murray. Good fun.
Terri, I think you're going to lose your patience in teaching me in about 10 minutes, you realize that, right? It's that whole speed-momentum thing that freaks me out.
I'm only not a fan of that old adage because it sounds so...cheesy. FABIO cheesy. Plus I have to argue about the love like you'll never be hurt. It is a good idea in principle, but after a certain amount of experience, I think it's virtually impossible to do. I think with the right person, long enough, you can go back to loving like that--but I think running headlong into a love affair like that when you've been burned REPEATEDLY? No. Not likely. Darwin's survival of the fittest thing is there for a reason; and it's even there in your love life.
I do agree that woman up saying does fit our Sin better. I like it.
Definitely whine more, Marn. *LOL*
Who says I didn't have a beer first?
OMG. If you're going tonight then I will make it a point to drag my scroungy ass into the gym. I have to go home at lunch and pick up my backpack for the gym.
Yes! Happy St. Patrick's Day! I'm sure the Irish would clap us on the back for being so philosophical, but shake their heads at the fact we're not having a beer first. (I mean, that's like running a marathon without warming up first, you know.) You should always warm up with a beer before you start getting philosophical. Everything will make more sense...
Jeez, I just read your comment after you made your excuses for tonight. Alright, then, I will hold you to next week. It's not that hard of a class. I rather think it's much easier than the classes with the old teacher.
I *could* skip the Shakespeare's thing. Holly would shoot me, but I could skip it. *LOL* Maybe I could just make a direct donation to Second Chance instead of having pizza....I've been eating so much lately; and I need to stop, well, eating.
It's not that it's easier/harder. It's that Sue was a great teacher. Perky Pill "Hi, I'm a Sorority Girl and I'm Here to Make You Feel Fat" Instructor does not make me feel good.
Hells - will do. :) Just remember you asked for it. :)
That instructor sounds irritating.
It's okay. You can stand beside me (well out of my reach) and you'll feel much better about yourself. I've been taking the class for forever and a day and I'm still not coordinated enough to get everything.
You can do a cartwheel. If I can haul my fat ass over, then so can you. And if we fall, we have soft sand to land on. If I get frustrated, I'll leave you with kiddo. She'll get you flipping in no time.
I know it's cheesy, but it doesn't make it any less true. And it's love as if you've never been hurt. It doesn't suggest you're never going to be hurt. Just that loving is worth the hurt. Like I said, that's the part I'm not quite up to speed with. As my child pointed out this weekend, I'm much nicer and happier when I'm single. LOL! If a 9 yr old can see that, perhaps there's something to it!
Marn, I'm just a bitter, fat old non-sorority girl. *LOL* It's nothing personal she did. *LOL* She doesn't understand why I would ever want to dance on her head and bounce out of the room to get ice cream. Unfortunately I think sorority girls represent the "cheerleader" crowd from high school; and I didn't care for them either.
Lord, Sin, if you've been doing it awhile and still haven't got all the moves, I'm not sure I'd be up for this. You know my patience level is virtually non-existent.
I think that "Love is worth the hurt" only applies to children...and friends. Not men. *LOL* I just read my Cosmo magazine this morning. Believe me, they are not worth it.
*note to self* STOP BUYING COSMO.
I don't think I've ever bought a Cosmo, but I don't need a magazine (with an airbrushed, skinny-assed woman on the cover) to tell me men aren't worth it. LOL!
I must admit that some sorority girls were, well, less than likeable. But not all of us were that horrible.
And I was definitely not the cheerleader sort from HS. Too sarcastic and I can hardly walk without falling. LOL!!
God, I hate the cosmo magazine. I haven't read one in years. I don't have the patience for magazines.
It's really not that Katie isn't likeable. It's that she's bubbly like a fizzy soda pop.
My favorite student worker was a sorority girl--and God bless her she was a stereotypical sorority girl (i.e. in the shennigans category)--but she was sweet and she never treated me like I was an outsider. *LOL* Still, I'd cringe coming to work Monday to hear what she did over the weekend. How she wasn't raped and murdered I will never know.
This is a typical conversation we'd have:
SG: "I was so drunk! They took us on a bus to a field and gave us beer."
ME: "You're 18."
SG: "Yes, but this is what the fees pay for."
ME: "Oh. Right."
SG: "And I met this guy..."
ME: "What's his name?"
SG: "Nick. No, Mark. Or was it Nick? I'm not sure, but he was so cute."
ME: "Are you seeing him again?"
SG: "No! Can you believe that bastard sleep with me and he has a girlfriend?"
ME: "Really. You don't think that might have been a topic for a second date instead of sleeping with him on this one? No? Okay. No, no, I'm not judging, after all, I'm also this stupid. You did use condoms though, right."
SG: "No. But I'm on the pill so it's okay."
Is there a sarcastic sorority society? I might go for that one. *LOL*
Is it bad that I was a cheerleader? lol. no worries, I wasn't the blond perky one.
Great blog, hells! I love the "imagine more, think less" mantra. I do the same thing, over think ever word, then delete them, then re-write and wonder what people will think, then delete again....you get the idea. "I can fix it later" is another thing I repeat in my head
I will never be able to send my daughter off to college. NEVER.
Oh dear. *eye roll* Ok, that wasn't me. LOL!! Granted, we drank and everything, but that sorta stuff, well, that wouldn't have happened. We kept an eye on our pledges and kept them out of dangerous situations, by and large. And apparently this girl was asleep during sex ed.
My school was small; the only parties that happened on campus where Greek related. Over 50% of the school belonged to one. If not, there wasn't much to do. LOL!!
Don't worry, I secretly *wanted* to be a cheerleader. But that whole cartwheel thing...and no money...or transportation...and well, a thousand handicaps before the big "Hells has no rhythm and would always be made to be the bottom of the pyramid if she was chosen" problems.
Since I never went to a regular 4-yr college, that Greek system is...well...Greek to me. I don't get any of it. But I did party when I was in college. The difference was that I partied with my sister and all her older friends who were just people in their mid to upper 20s. So I always sort of had babysitters. Didn't stop me from drinking like a fish, but it kept me out of the other kind of trouble.
Yeah, this party stuff...is foreign. That implies socializing with people. Usually in a crowded room...and being nice and interesting--of which I'm neither.
I don't want to go to get pizza tonight because there will be people there. That's how anti-social I am. I really loathe people this time of year. I don't want to be around them any more than I absolutely have to interact with them.
So far, my kiddo has no desire to be a cheerleader. And the real reason I don't want her to be one is not what you'd think. Do you realize how much it costs these days to have a kid that cheers?! I'd have to take out a loan!
Sticking you on that ferry to Ocracoke is going to get real interesting. We'll have to load you up on umbrella drinks before hand.
We'll be on water. There won't be walls on the ship, necessarily. And I don't necessarily have to be social with people on a ferry trip.
People expect you to socialize in a bar...or a party setting. You have to be 'on'. The Shakespeare's people who work the counters even act goofy; and I have such zero tolerance for goof-ass behavior at the moment if I don't know you because I am not in the mood to laugh. And their peasant attempts to make me laugh are amatueurish.
It's a wonder that Hellion ever puts up with me.
Sorry I be late ta the party. Cheerleadin'!? Again? Ya ladies have a morbid fascinatin' fer the pom pom crowd.
I been dealin' wit' bein' stuck wit' the editin' meself. Not much new comin' outta this keyboard. But I got a good mantra.
Came from me all day meditation class. From a Leonard Cohen song...
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
It be a bit long, but as I sat, workin' on not feelin' how bad me back hurt, I repeated it, over and over. And remembered how I almost died...that was the crack in me. And it let the light in.
I gotta try it wit' the words... It would make a perfect lightbuld moment for a certain herione I'm workin' on... Hmmmmmm.
BTW, Happy St. Pats day! I wish I were goin' somewhere fer corned beef and cabbage... Maybe I gets the DH ta take me somewhere fer a corned beef sandwich...
Sin, put up with you? You're even more anti-social than I am. You are also living with the King of Anti-Socialism. Of the three of us, I'm the perky cheerleader.
2nd, I love the sentiment in your song. The divinity is found in the flaws...that's nice. Or divinity can be found despite the flaws...or...I don't know. I loved the sentiment until I started overthinking it.
I'm not sure it's divinity for me. More about opening up to new vistas. And learning to bless the things that appear to be curses... Took me two years to see nearly dying as a good thing.
Overthinking? That be a curse! In me class on managing stress, 75% a' us were overthinkers! When ya thinks a lot, easy ta find things ta stress about.
Chance, who says I'm too morbid to be a cheerleader?
Of course, being a cheerleader is too far out of my box. I prefer to break noses with my elbow in a lovely game of bball. Shirts and skins baby- I'm going all skin.
LOL
Hellie, dude, I like society. When it's not breathing on me.
2-4-6-8!
Who's the perfect pirate bait?
Go-o-o-o-o-o, Sin!
(I do's better when I drinks...where's the rum? It's a big rum day... I don't do beer.)
But it is OK for society ta breath, right? Jus' not in yer general direction.
Oh, look! A box from England! Hey, it's Mattycakes, Jr. He's wearin' a sparkly crown...wonder where he flinched that from...?
Goodness the cheers have come out. I'll just be the mascot, thanks.
The ferry does not have walls and you don't even have to get out of the car. But the cars are packed onto that ferry like sardines. So, it can feel kind of closed in. We'll take some bread and throw it up in the air over the people standing along the sides so the seagulls will swoop real close to their heads to catch it. LOL! Fun to torture the tourists!
I love the ferry. When I was a kid you used to be able to take the ferry across the Lake. But they stopped doing that a long time ago. I've always wanted to go somewhere that has a ferry so I can ride it over and over again.
And I prefer when society pretends like it's breathing and not around me. I especially hate little rat men who get all close and breathe all heavy on you. Makes me want to smack someone.
I don't think you understand my problem. It's not being crowded with cars that causes me anxiety. It's people. Specifically BAR people, while in BARS. Occasionally I have this problem in malls because the annoying people who frequent bars (the 20-something group) can usually be found walking in front of me in a mall, in my way--and I buzz past them and sprint to an uncrowded area to wait for the rest of my group.
I don't like BAR people. It's a very specific dislike. 20-somethings for the most part. 20-somethings holding beer. If they're wearing a shirt with Greek lettering, I like them even less.
It's a conditioning from having to go to the Vu, which is crowded, features 20-somethings holding beer. My little freak out in Virginia featured a bar, much like the Vu, with 20-somethings holding beer. I don't like BARS for the most part. I don't like Bar Culture. I just want to pour beer on people. But what were we doing for THREE SOLID NIGHTS in Virginia? Going to bars. I was due for a little freak out.
Ferries are fine.
Sin, the rat men wouldn't pant on you if you didn't have big ta-tas and a glittery hooha. Not that you can help that. Just bring bug spray or something. Rat men don't like being fogged.
Shouldn't she bring rat poison?
Technically, you flipped out on the SECOND night of bar hopping. On the third night, you were doing just fine. LOL! Oh, and that bar (yes THE BEST BAR EVER) is taking part in a pub crawl tonight where everyone is encouraged to wear a Snuggy. Have you people seen this thing?! It's the dumbest invention ever!
I'm not much for BAR people either except for a good amount of time I did like the dry bar.
The Snuggy? Isn't that the blanket with arms? You know, I might go for that. Just because if I got sick of people, I could curl up in my blanket in the corner and go to sleep.
Unfortunately now that I think more: encouraging people to wear blankets in a bar where you'll be drinking and engaging in many, many more bad decisions, I mean, isn't that opening it up for sex on their dance floor?
Fine. SECOND day, but considering how many bars we kept going to just to find the "perfect" one, I'd reached my zenith of bar-crawling. And you have to consider the other contributing factors. It wasn't just me.
See, Sin, that's where the Rat Men come from: the dry bar dancing. I mean, you should never shelve your groove because of the rat men, but you should, as Terri corrected me, bring the rat poison.
I'm not judging the freak out, just saying you would good at the last place. But boy did we go through some hell holes before we found that one. LOL! I've only been in a bar once since you were here and that was almost 2 yrs ago!
A bar full of snuggies and drunk people does open up the chances of some *under cover activities*. LOL! I bet they won't do the Snuggy crawl again next year.
We've gotten off topic again, haven't we? Dang it. How about the mantra for our vacation to be "thank goodness there will be no bar hopping!"
Ya know, Jane-o is talkin' about headin' over ta DC during the RWA thing. I was tellin' 'er the pirates would take care of 'er. Now I'm wonderin' if that's a good idea... Ya bar hoppin' hoppers! Jane-o ain't much a' one fer the beer...
Yeah, we're off topic. We need to meditate. *LOL*
I meditated over some pizza and a sales rack, and I'm doing much better now.
Yes, no bar-hopping. Beaches, ocean, and conventional music...awesome times.
2nd: are you trying to herd us into AA or something? We're not that bad. Honest. We won't make her go down the slip and slide if she doesn't want to.
I love that you threw in *conventional music*. LMAO!!
It's sad but I can't drink beer anymore. Any alcohol really. (Except my virtual rum :) ) Since the gall bladder and I parted ways, it doesn't sit well with me.
Is Jane really heading for DC?! Whoohoo! Another to add to the crowd. No worries, Chance. We'll take perfect care of her.
Well, the last time I went to post comments were at 30-something and I could pretty much follow the thread. Now, lol, I think we've moved onto cheerleading sorority girls that frequent bars while Hellion and Terri are on vacation. Did I get it right, lol?
This is a great blog particularly for a non-mantra spouting person like myself. At least I don't think I have any. My DH is more the mantra type. It goes along with his even-keeled disposition. I did read what I would call a mantra I read recently in an article in Good Housekeeping by Michael J. Fox. The quote was 'Happiness is a choice.'
At first glance, it sounds a bit too sun-shiny for me but then it got me thinking about what you can insert instead of 'happiness'. How about 'Success' or 'Getting published'? We work towards this goal but what separates the 'unpub' from the 'pub'ed'. There are those who trudge forward no matter what comes their way. They make a conscious choice to get published rather than perish.
AA! Perish the thought.
Jane-o and I are just a mite more settled than the rest a' ya...a glass of wine... That sort of thing. I'm sure ya would take good care a' 'er. She's a bit hesitent, thinkin' a big RWA thing might be too overwhelmin'.
If yer lurkin', Jane, speak up! She's got a new computer and playin' a bit wit' it!
I agree with that. Happiness is a choice just like anything else in your family. We could get into this big argument that sometimes its just not that easy, but I think it is. Everything in life is a choice, deal with it.
Chance - You'd be surprised how settled we really are. Or I am anyway. RWA is a huge gathering, but I promise if she comes (are you reading this Jane? I'm talking to you) she won't lack for company. There really is a huge group of us and I'll even give her me cell so she can find me. She's welcome to go whereever the rest of us go. And hang out in our room as that's where the party usually was last year. And by *party* I mean the laughter, not the booze.
I will be tellin' her the news.
I haven't read all the posts yet, Hellion, but I can offer you great mantras.
Want compassion: Om Mani Padme Hum
As far as writing goes though, I think you're on your way with the first mantra you discussed. So many people are paralyzed by their own head-noise, they can't hear their creations.
As for being less boring ... the fact that you WANT to be less boring makes you anything but.
But I know how you feel about your WIP. I got so bored with my first one, I just stopped. It was finished, but when the time came to fix some macro-problems, I'd been working/over-working it for such a long time, I face it anymore. I started a new WIP in August. It's almost done. So maybe you need to start ovah, hm?
And the following sentence might be the most interesting one I've ever read:
"So Jesus and Biff are on their way to Tibet ..."
Sin said: Happiness is a choice.
Hell yes, sister. That's the crux of my whole religion (Buddhist if you're curious). I even have a bumper-sticker on my back window saying:
Happiness is a state of mind.
You just decide; you don't wait for it to occur.
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