Hello neighbors. How are all of you doing?
I’m baaaack.
I have been doing things I needed to clear my head. Brain fog is a thing and I have been in it deep. Like, I could barely see my hand in front of my face. I am not into the whole holistic lifestyle…but eucalyptus and spearmint scents together have a way of lifting the fog enough to push my way out.
It is time to refocus.
My focus needs more focus.
I just returned from an amazing lake trip with three incredible ladies who are willing and ready, with a bloody red pen, to tear apart my writing. Good times. Yup, good times. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people is so helpful. Sharing the same energies and goals helps loosen up some of the bricks in that writer’s block. I haven’t kicked it down, but I can see the other side. Kinda. Okay, maybe it’s just some light poking through but it’s poking through. That’s a step in the right direction. Right?
See, even someone who writes about writing can hit a roadblock. I blame all the other things I do for my dry spell. I am the head monkey in charge of a group of authors and all the markets we attend throughout the vendor season. September is the final BIG month of events, but…<– there it is! But with the uptick of the Delta variant a few events have cancelled. Thanks, anti-maskers. I am now hoofing it to find more places to set up our tents and sell our books. It is an entirely different level of insanity. If I had known…argh.
Hey, have you bought one or both of my books? I could really use the sales. No, but want to? Check out the links. Yes? Then leave a review on the site you purchased it. THANK YOU!
Universal Code for O-B*tch-uary: https://books2read.com/u/bOZe8o
Universal Code for Sin Full: http://books2read.com/u/m2Vdqd
Back to our original program.
I am in the process of refocusing my efforts on my WIP. I need to finish this story so I can focus on new ideas that have been screaming in my head. I bought a new book called Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood, and I am diggin’ it. I might drop some of that knowledge here for all of you to enjoy. Love learnin’ and sharin’. Aren’t you all lucky? You are. You know it. LOL
Now, I am more than happy to work through the book listed above but there is another I want to share at the end of each post. It is called the Self-Love Workbook for Women by Megan Logan. I have been looking through it and believe many of the ideas are just as helpful for our male friends here.
“Practicing self-love means learning how to trust ourselves, to treat ourselves with respect, and to be kind and affectionate to ourselves.”
– Brene` Brown <– love her!
“Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.”
– Barbara De Angelis
Self-love is a way to refuel so that we can reach our fullest potential in life. I’m not talking perfection. It’s not even the goal of reaching happiness. It is a moment or place where we take time for our own needs. Think about it like your car. You can’t go anywhere if your gas tank is empty. You can’t continue to give when you have nothing left.
I love the Hubs and will do my best to make sure he has what he needs to make it through the day. Clean clothes, food, clean home, and me at the top of my game. Self-love is giving yourself permission to prioritize your needs. It is nothing to feel guilty about.
The Hubs took a step back and cheered me on when I went to college in my forties. And then, he read every page as I wrote my first book. He was happy and proud of me when my first box of books was delivered to our doorstep. That was self-love for me and support from him.
How do we start our self-love journey?
Time. Start with 15 minutes that are yours and yours alone. This may mean getting up 15 minutes early or going to bed 15 minutes later. It could be an extended visit to the restroom.
A special place. Find a relaxing spot to sit by yourself. Maybe a comfy chair in a quiet corner.
Set the mood. Light a candle. Play some spa like music or embrace the silence. Make a soothing and nurturing atmosphere for yourself.
Have an open mind and willingness to be vulnerable to your needs. Open yourself to possibilities, acknowledge and notice your feelings.
It ain’t gonna happen overnight.
Be patient. Building new habits take time. Those that focus on us tend to fall away because you feel guilty for focusing on yourself instead of everyone else. You are worth the effort. Let’s do it together.
Grab a new journal and label it “The Self-Love Journey”- we will learn as we go. You and me.
Polish your sparkle and keep twirling.
Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
I’m always looking for new friends!
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