Living Life

I seem to be in a habit of quoting coaches lately.  Perhaps it is the correlation between the perseverance and dedication required to be both an athlete and writer that speaks to me.  I'm not sure but wanted to share another email I received (actually my kids who will be attending his tennis camp this summer received).  The following was stated by Steve Wilkinson, co-founder of Tennis & Life Camps at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, when asked about the most important thing he had learned in his tennis career as coach, teacher and player.  His response...

"The Serenity Prayer offers a blueprint for living life fully.  'God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the Courage to change the things I can; and the Wisdom to know the difference.'"

He goes on to say..."It is easy to focus on the things outside our control, which we cannot change, instead of things within our control, which we can change.  If we worry about disrespectful people (outside our control), we may lose motivation to show respect to others (within our control).  If we worry about winning or playing well (outside our control), we may stop giving full effort with a positive attitude (within our control).  Finally, if we worry about death (outside our control), we may not live our days to the fullest (within our control).

The wisdom to know what we can change and what we cannot is critical.  Frustration and stress beset those who do not possess this wisdom.  Serenity and courage mark the lives of those who do."

I found Steve's words very profound and telling.  I believe they can be applied to any aspect of life which one is pursuing and living; however, as it relates specifically to writing, it is certainly true that we may not write to our fullest potential or give full effort if burdened by worry about not writing well.  To me, it goes back to the old adage to just write, write what comes to mind without worrying about how good it is.  Forego the frustration and stress and find the serenity and courage that comes to those who know what can and cannot be changed and make it work for you in your writing life.

Giving

While this has little to do with writing or writing related activities, it does speak to the human spirit and, in this Easter season, I thought it worthwhile to share.  I read these words today on the caring bridge site of a very courageous young girl in the fight of her life.  She epitomizes the meaning of strength and courage, her motto being, "I BELIEVE."  I believe she will win this fight (Go Tanna) and live a long, full life.

On her guestbook, someone posted the following which came from a presentation by Don Meyer (former NSU coach and cancer survivor).

Winning is Giving

 

Winning is giving your best away. Winning is serving with grace every day. You'll know that you've won when your friends say it's true, "I like who I am, when I'm around you. You look for the best in others you see and you help us become who we're trying to be."

Winning is helping someone who's down. It's sharing a smile instead of a frown.

It's giving your children a hug by the fire and sharing the values and dreams that inspire.

It's giving your parents the message, "I care. Thanks, Mom and Dad, for being so fair."

Winners are willing to give more than get. Their favors are free, you're never in debt.

Winning is giving one hundred percent. It's paying your dues, your taxes, your rent. It's trying and doing, not crying and stewing.

Winners respect every color and creed. They share and they care for everyone's needs.

The losers keep betting that winning is getting but there's one of God's laws that they keep forgetting and this is the Law you can live and BELIEVE, the more that you give, the more you'll receive!

 

Tanna is a winner and a believer.  I hope these words can bring comfort to any of you needing it today.

Contract

Hello all,

I am very proud and excited to announce I've recently signed a contract with 4RV Publishing to publish my picture book, Bedtime Kisses.  They are shooting for a Spring 2014 release:-)  Thank you to my Crittin' Chicks for the honest critiques and never ending support as well as to Margot Finke for her assistance with rhyme and meter.  Couldn't have done it without you all!

Happy Spring--if it ever comes.  I'm looking at snow coming down now:-(

Leibster Award

Hello...long time, no talk.  Sorry!  The last month has been a difficult and stressful time following the sudden and unexpected death of my mother-in-law.  I've not been online or writing much, and my blog posts (or lack thereof as is the case) certainly reflects that. 

Some time ago, my blog was tagged by author and fellow SCBWI Dakotas member and friend, Jane Heitman Healy, for the not-so-famous Leibster Award.  The word "Leibster" means "favorite," so thank you, Jane!

The rules are:

1.  Post 11 random things about yourself.
2.  Answer the questions the nominator set for you.
3.  Create 11 questions for your nominees.
4.  Choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them to your post.
5.  No tag backs, but please leave a comment on this post if you were nominated so I can learn more about you and see who you nominate.

Here are my answers:

Eleven Random Things
1.  I am a Speech/Language Pathologist.
2.  My first PB (The Little Bug) is under contract with Guardian Angel Publishing.
3.  I love to travel, especially Mexico.
4.  I love to read and often wanted to fake being sick as a child, so I could stay home from school and read.
5.  The town I live in (Mitchell, SD) has the world's only Corn Palace.
6.  I got my undergrad degree at Notre Dame, so it was nice to have something great to cheer for this past football season (until the last game, that is:-().
7.  I love chocolate.
8.  I love to listen to Kenny Rogers (and saw him in concert at the Corn Palace).
9.  I love the smell of fresh cut grass.
10. My family likes to camp in the summer months.
11. I hate all things fishy.

11 Questions from Jane  
1.  What is your favorite book?
Too many to name...I loved THE HELP and read every Nancy Drew book as a child.
2.  Who is your favorite author?
I enjoy reading a wide variety of authors, but Judy Blume is probably an all time favorite.
3.  What was your favorite vacation?
My honeymoon in the Cayman Islands.
4.  What is your favorite song/singer/band/musical type?
I love country music in terms of type of music.  Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton is one of my favorites of all time.
5.  What's the most unusual food you have eaten?
Frog legs (tastes just like chicken!).
6.  What day of the week is your favorite?
Sunday.
7.  What is your favorite movie or TV show?
Grease.
8.  Do you prefer dogs, cats or other?
I'm not much of an animal person but prefer dogs to cats.
9.  What is something amazing about you?
I have three wonderful, healthy, happy children.
10.  Do you prefer reading hard copy or online?
Hard copy all the way!
11.  How often do you use the public library?
I go in spurts.  It depends on my WIP, and whether it is nonfiction or fiction.  I also seem to go more often in the summer when I am taking the kids more frequently.

Well, that is as far as I've gotten thus far, so my nominees and eleven questions for them will follow soon when I've had a little time to explore some blogs as I don't yet have 11 with fewer than 200 followers to name.
   
Again, thank you, Jane! 

Life

I was sitting here today thinking about what to post and what to start working on for an upcoming submission date for my critique group and found myself, as usual, feeling overwhelmed with everything around me that needed to be addressed...piles of laundry, dishes in the sink, dust bunnies flitting about and work to do for my "real job."  I happened to glance down at my calendar to see what is on my TTD list in the next couple days and read the weekly dose of inspiration.  It was a duh moment...

"Life can be fascinating, frustrating, intriguing, even frightening at times.  However, the one thing it shouldn't be is overwhelming.  As human beings, we have been endowed with all the tools required to deal with life, and whatever it throws at us."

It wasn't a quote attributable to any particular person, just a P.O.V. (point of view) saying on organization.  While I am a highly organized person, per se, I find I can spend a great deal of time organizing my life away rather than focusing on a given task.  These words above gave me renewed hope to take things as they come, do what I can in dealing with life (and it's interruptions in my writing world) and focus on the task at hand.  I'm still not exactly sure what I am going to sit down and write, but I've a few ideas perculating at the moment I will try to shape into a functional WIP.

Happy weekend and writing to all!

Happy New Year

As I look to 2013 and consider what worked in 2012, what needs to be adjusted and what new goals need to be established, I know that I need to focus most on the actual writing for if I produce nothing, there is nothing to submit and publish. 

As you all know, I am often drawn to quotes for inspiration.  As 2012 draws to a close, I'd like to leave you with words from Zig Ziglar which bring a sense of hope and meaning to me.  I hope for you as well.

"Success means doing the best we can with what we have.  Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph.  Success is a personal sandard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be."

Strive in 2013 to be all that you can be.  Give your all to the projects and work you do, and success will be yours.

May your new year be filled with much health, happiness and prosperity!

Happy Holdiays

Merry Christmas to all!  May you have a blessed holiday season and may 2013 bring much health, happiness and prosperity.

Thank you to all who have stood by and visited despite my very hit-and-miss posts.  One goal for 2013 is to be more consistent and productive in both my writing and blogging.

Be well and Happy New Year!