Ideas: Partaking of the Feast

     It has been rolling around in your gray matter for days. The growth of it has you distracted and you can't think of anything else. The prodding is relentless until there is no turning back and the words and ideas tumble out upon the page. Writers will recognize the birth of an idea.                                                                                                            Often an idea arrives all on its own and burrows its way into your mind.  This is what the writer lives for. The reality is sometimes ideas don't come as freely as we'd like. There are instances when we have to coax an idea to present itself. 

    The particular meditation I am working on requires acute attention to simple tasks. So, one day I was folding the laundry, instead of quickly slapping the clothes in drawers, I took the time to feel the textures of the fabrics, the fresh-out-of-dryer warmth , even the smell. Remember yesterday's post? Be in the moment. This is a great way to stimulate ideas.

 "I don't see how a writer can operate without going out as a reporter. Think of the feast that's out there."  -Tom Wolfe

There is a feast of ideas out there if we are willing to pay attention and notice what is going on around us. 

The more we pay attention the easier it gets and before we know it awareness becomes our normal state of mind.

Where do your ideas come from? 

Happiness: A State of Mind

   The other night I watched my four-year-old grandson have his swimming lesson.  When he began weeks ago he was a bit timid but he's come a long way. I realized that he was totally involved in his lesson and his experience in the water. He jumped, splashed, grinned ear to ear and kicked like crazy. He was in the moment. I was reminded of another time when I witnessed this state of being present.

     It was several years ago during a dark time in my life. I had gone to the ocean with a dear friend. It was October. The Washington coast  was gray, windy and cold. We had decided to take solitary walks on the beach. She suddenly stopped ahead, took off her outer clothing and ran into the cold surf, jumping and squealing in the waves. She was in the moment. 

   We often think of Happiness as a destination but it isn't.  Happiness is a state of mind.  A mind that is in the moment, fully present and open to whatever emotions and physical sensations are happening at that moment. Many of us spend so much of our time, planning, regretting, wishing, hoping, always thinking of the next thing missing the point of living.

  What's the point? To be fully present in our lives.  To slow down and be in the moment. Only then will Happiness light upon our shoulder as quiet and gentle as if it was always there.

What do you do to be fully present and in the moment?

Shakin' It Up A Bit

Tweet    Okay, so I have the blogging thing down, kinda. I post, you comment, we all feel better. There is just one problem. I'm using too much time to cruise other blogs and writing my posts. Unfortunately, unlike some of you great bloggers, (um..Elana), I am not that tech saavy nor as super human. So, this is my solution and I hope that you all will understand.

     My blogging will be held to once a week. I will aim for Monday but if it doesn't get posted until Wednesday, don't panic. If you're following on networked blogs or blogspot you will know when I have posted something new.

     I know that I take the risk of losing some of you great followers, but this is the deal. I'm still trying to figure out this whole not-being-a-mom deal. I have been a mom since I was 19 and I'm not sure I can be an adult without children. So I'm afraid I am going to have to become a little self absorbed while I work on this discovery thing. 

Here is my new posting schedule:

  First Week: Update. I'll let you know how I'm fairing in discovering my adult self.

  Second Week:  Book Reviews focusing on Middle Grade.

  Third Week:  Writing Update. Where I'm at in my process, something cool I learned, etc.

  Fourth Week: Just For Adults. This is where I will let you in on fun stuff my hubby and I have done, great restaurants, movies, site seeing... (G-rated...where are your minds.) We have always had children so this is the first time that we will actually be just "a couple".

Be In The Moment

     I've been having a thought that has weighed on my mind this last week. For years I told my children to enjoy the day you're in but I am finding it difficult to follow my own advice. 

Why?

     Mostly, guilt. One of the most useless words in our vocabulary. It paralyzes our ability to act, it keeps us frozen in our feelings of inadequacy and blocks any chance of enjoying the moment. 

      Up until a few months ago the pace in my life was breathtaking. I never had enough time to get everything done. Every waking moment was filled with anxious busyness.

      Now, I don't spend my life in the car transporting children to activities, sitting in a waiting room rarely happens, the house is quiet, it takes 2 days to fill the dishwasher and I only do laundry once a week. All six children are on their own. 


    Those of you in the daily race wonder as I did, will I ever get to the finish? Yes, you most certainly will. However, I've found that while the tasks have lessened and the noise is gone my inside engine is still idling really high. 

    Shouldn't I be cleaning, organizing, attending, doing something for someone else? I really hadn't anticipated the difficulty I would have when I wasn't needed anymore. 


    So my question today is...how do I quiet the guilt and slow the revving of my engine so the time I now have can be "my time"? *whoosh of guilt*  How do I allow myself to sleep in, sit in a chair and read a book, write in my pajamas, volunteer, play with a grandchild, breath?