Make It Write

I’ve wanted to write children’s books for as long as I can remember. When my sisters and I were little, one of our favorite babysitters, Allison, was going through Education classes to become a teacher. I was in first grade and as an assignment, Allison needed a student around my age to write a story in a certain amount of time. She picked me, and I’ll never forget the story I wrote about a bear, a rabbit, and another creature (okay I forgot a little). I wrote and illustrated it on manila paper with a thick-point pencil, and I titled it “The Greatest Gift.” I won’t go into detail here in case I recreate the story in my future writing endeavors, but I will tell you it was a good one.

Driving to work this morning, I got re-excited about getting back to writing children’s books. I should mention that I’ve started quite a few and for no reason at all, haven’t finished one. For the past two years my only New Year’s resolutions have been to write my first book, and again, no finished product so far. So why am I sharing news of me not writing?

During my commute today I was thinking about how grateful I am; I’m in a good place right now with my job, home life is good, friendships are good, etc. During these thoughts of gratitude a little voice inside me said, “Yes, but this is not all. Don’t waste your passion or your talent. Can you imagine the level of regret you’ll feel if you never write a book? What are you waiting for!?”

Now I’ve mastered ignoring the voices in my head most of the time (hence why no one has committed me yet), but this one I have to respond to. The thought of looking back at my life having not spent it writing makes my stomach hurt. And really, what am I waiting for? Thinking about writing makes me more motivated and excited than nearly everything else I do on a daily basis. So that’s that.

Going forward I will actually be applying this quote from Stephen R. Covey I’ve loved ever since I read it in the pocket-version of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People I skimmed last summer on vacation; it reads:

"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage---pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically---to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'"

TGFGF

It has been storming in Kansas City for the past day. When I drove into work this morning it was thundering, lightning, and raining, but I heard on the radio that by the end of the day it's supposed to be sunny and 70. My first thought was: what perfect Good Friday weather. I've had this song in my head all day that I remember from when my sister Erika was in New Generation Singers:

Was a cloudy day, the Earth stood still, Man hung crying in the shadows of a hill called Calvary, An innocent man, belied and scorned, had gladly borne the pain and suffering for a world that should have died there in his place, And as he did, he said...

"Forgive them, no matter what they've done. Forgive them and tell them they are loved. And give to them a chance to go on living. And give to them a life that they could never have before. Father, forgive them"

I just love that this day started out stormy and dark similar to how it was when Jesus took all our pain and suffering as His own; and that later today it will be sunny for us to remember the true Light of the World and what He did for us. Thank God for Good Friday.

Mind the Mind

Last week I spent a lunch break sitting outside Starbucks doing a crossword puzzle. I forgot how much I enjoy them; I used to do one every day. Sometimes I hid them under a notebook during class, and other times I would save it until I got home and could enjoy a quiet hour focusing on the clues and fitting the answers into the puzzle. My recent outing reminded me not only of how much I love crosswords puzzles, but of how great it feels to actually hold a pencil and paper, and read words and focus my thoughts anywhere besides a computer screen. I felt refreshed after my break, and I even completed the entire crossword (okay it was only Wednesday’s puzzle, but I’m still proud!).

Since revisiting my love for crosswords, I’ve happened across an article in Real Simple about tips to feel energized during different stages of the day. One of the recommendations for the afternoon is to take a break and do something to utilize your thinking skills; this could be making a to-do list, balancing your check book, or what I prefer, doing a crossword. I highly recommend taking this tip, not just to feel refreshed throughout the day, but as part of a well-balanced healthy life. Exercising your mind is just as or even more important than working out your body.

Also, a suggestion from me: enjoy this mind satisfying task on something that doesn’t end in ‘phone,’ ‘pad,’ or ‘pod.’ If you’re into Sudoku (something I will never ever master or probably attempt again), buy a book of puzzles. If you’re a list maker, grab a pen and paper and have at it. I know this may seem like kickin’ it old school for some, but your eyes and mind will thank you for turning away from a glowing screen for just a short while.

Feel Good In My Soul

I am so excited about the next couple weekends I can barely hold it all in. One of my best friends is getting married next weekend, and her bachelorette party is this weekend, which means over the next ten days I can truly say I get to see all of my dearest, closest, oldest, and best friends.

They are the people that when my boyfriend knows I’m feeling low, he asks - almost  begs, “Can you please plan a trip or make plans to see so-and-so this weekend?” He knows being around these friends lifts my spirit and is like a makeover for my soul. They are the ones my sister references when she constantly reminds me, “Abby, most people aren’t like you and your friends. I don’t know if you really understand that.” But I do, and I try to never forget it.

My best friends and I fight, argue, tell the truth, support one another, laugh so hard we cry, and genuinely love and respect each other like family. These are friendships of years in the making: The bride I mentioned earlier and I were in the same kindergarten class and college roommates. I have pictures with most of these people before we were twelve years old. And  I’ve said for the past ten years that a couple of these friends are solely to blame for the early onset of my smile-line-wrinkles.

Has any one of these friendships been all roses? Not even close. Has every single one been worth every phone call, plane ticket, train ticket, road trip, and bridesmaid dress I really won’t ever wear again? Without a doubt or hesitation, absolutely.

When the upcoming festivities are over, we will all go our separate ways back to where we call home- Idaho, Chicago, St. Joe, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Columbia, Omaha. But for the time being I’m going to get as much feel good in my soul as I can and enjoy the wonderful, irreplaceable times with my wonderful, irreplaceable friends.