K is for Keeping in Touch

Keeping in touch with your audience, followers and other authors is:

• essential
• fun
• wonderful
• helpful
• interesting
• educational

I love the people I have come to know electronically and the people I have met in person through my writing.  I have learned so much and been aided in my quest by the wonderful people who take the time to visit and comment.  I hope that I have given back more than I have received.  

I recognize that we are all pressed for time and it is hard to keep up on all the social media and to respond to every post and comment but it is time well spent.  I have set aside time during lunch to catch up and visit with my wonderful social connections and my writing group. 

What works for you?  

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your weekend.  I am most likely doing something that involves baseball with my son.

J is for Journey

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” 

― Ernest Hemingway

Before I left for college my mother gave me a poem, which I sadly I have not been able to find again, about life being a journey not the final destination.

I had spent the four years of high school working towards the goal of getting into college.  Now I was prepared to spend four years so I could be an adult.  I was so focused on the goal of college I missed out on the here and now and my astute mother was afraid I would do the same thing for the next four years.  Instead of a lecture she gave me a wonderful poem about the train ride and enjoying all the stops along the way.  This poem was on my desk for all of college and was a wonderful reminder of my mother's love and to enjoy the moment.

The journey of writing has been so much fun, and as Hemingway said, I have a destination in mind but I am really enjoying the trip.

I hope everyone takes a moment to reflect on this and make sure they are enjoying the trip and not too focused on an end result to miss the fun of getting there.

Thanks for spending a few moments here, I hope you enjoyed them.

I is for Ideas

I have very little time that is my own to do with as I wish.  Most of it seems to be in the car.  Yet even there I find the voice in my head telling me to listen to the news and see what happened today when I know the last thing I really want to hear is more information that I will find upsetting.

I have found that taking a slightly longer route home, one with less traffic and only a single lane so my brain isn't busy telling me to switch lanes because that one is moving ever so slightly faster, in complete silence has been the best gift I can give myself.

It is amazing to me how little time we have without noises vying for our attention.

I discovered the silence by accident.  This route travels the edge of the continent and has very bad radio reception.  I had just left a noisy house and when the static started I shut the radio off, something I don't think I had ever done in this car.

I enjoyed the scenery more and then my brain started telling me marvelous stories.  It unraveled mysteries of my life and opened the door for my creativity.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to take time for yourself to do something you love.  It is also important to take moments to unplug and listen to your brain and your body.  Try it, you'll see.

This event, driving home in silence was the first time in almost twenty years that I had thought about being creative.  I was amazed at the ideas that presented themselves.

I also find ideas in songs, photos, artworks and nature.

Where do you find your ideas and inspiration?