Motivation Monday

October is nearly over and yesterday was a bit rough. Started off well with a great service, potluck, some great hugs and conversations. Felt like I’d received a second message in the parking lot as I spoke with someone. Did some inking and plotting at Panera. Spoke with the neighbor for a few hours and figured I’d spend the evening, which I did. But alas there was some trouble and what I’ve learned is take things as opportunities for personal growth. It’s hard work but it’s the way forward.

Sharing a vid that resonates this.

$5 Tuesday Movie Review - Abonimable

Tuesday I caught a morning showing of "Abonimable"

And 4 out of 5 tears... No really.  I teared up about 3-4 times while watching this movie.  Perhaps I was just feeling sentimental or more open that morning but I cried within the first 5-10 minutes of the movie and then cried not too long after.  It actually reminded me of "Up", not so much with the montage of time passing and you seeing all the events but the fact I got hit with emotion so early on.

The scene which triggered me wouldn't be one you suspect either or maybe it is... it'd be interesting to get other's take but the scene where the mom just has this look, she's obviously knowing something is wrong and just has this look of defeat but you know she hasn't given up as she exits her Ye's room.  The next time I cried was listening to Ye play the violin and man, when music moves you... I for sure came to the conclusion that I need the soundtrack in my life or definitely plan on listening to the violin pieces when I'm writing for Nano 2019.

There were a couple parts where I got pulled out of the movie, one was when the Coldplay song came on.  It's a good song but something about it hadn't boded, felt cheesy, or out of place.  I get the sentiment and definitely love the song but for whatever reason I got pulled out/into my head during a couple scenes it played. 

And I loved Ye.  I related so much to the fact of "I still haven't even cried..." (I paraphrase) but anyone that's known a big loss may find this an access point they can relate to.

I appreciate the villain despite suspecting it early on, it was still interesting when the veil dropped. 

I am having a memory fail regarding the other characters at the moment but I enjoyed this movie and man did it make me think "okay, must visit China..."

Management Monday - Week of 10/7 - 10/13

I iz hungry.

Like as I write this I'm trying to figure out why I'm so hungry.  Had a decent size breakfast and just snacked on some cheeze-its (snack bag)... Maybe I just need water.

At any rate I just realized I only update this once last.  I'm trying to get better with prepping on Monday's for social media but still playing around a bit.  I did at least figure out doing one thing today as it relates to Inktober so I feel good about that.  I also have to work on a few more scheduled post... still need to look into HootSuite... but I'm almost done. 

Oh and prepping some known blog post (think I'll do two on here and two for the author site) then I'm done.  Allowing for some spontaneity for the week and more time to focus on reading.  I still have YET to finish reading one of the many books I've piled up and WANT to read.  It's just this business side of being an author will/can soak up all your time if you allow it.  So I keep trying to remind myself to come at it from a different angle/perspective.

So these are some wins from last week:
- Setting up Wix Analytics
- Using Draft2Digital to get MD available on other platforms
- Routine posting for #inktober2019 (both the drawing and writing edition)
- submitted a query 0_0
- completed audio for NFD
- Ordered ISBN's

There were some other things too but overall I'm happy with my week.  I also followed through and did a personal writing retreat weekend. 

So I have a list of about 20 tasks for this week so far but if I had to pick 3 that I absolutely want to accomplish this week that would be:
- Design pc's for MD and NFD
- Finish reading a book
- Revise TSP book description

... in semi-related news I think the water helped... I'm telling myself it did.  Going to drink some more and try to focus.  Though I might just need to eat. 

Management Monday - Week of 9/30 - 10/6

Today did not start off as planned or rather I had a later start than I intended.  But mai pen rai, live and learn.

That said this will be a quick post since I still have some SM prep for the week I'd like to get established.

Last night I went back to my method of creating a check box task lists.  That isn't to say my experiment the previous weeks weren't working, in fact last week was highly productive with letting go (hmm, something to take note of, especially give the conversation I had today...) BUT I do like knowing when I knocked something out. 

Anyway, it's just something to try and I'll see how it goes.  So far I've knocked out a few minor things (such as follow up for the interactive piece on the website and business ideation meeting).

However of the 25 ish things I've captured for the week, some big things I'd like to accomplish are:
- setting up analytics for the website
- proof copy of NFD
- finish story
- finish reading a book
- start inking and prepping #Inktober #Preptober

On a final note, I'm grateful for deep conversations.  This morning while picking up 'the dress' from the dry cleaners I was speaking with Ms. Constance who has an interesting story and grateful to her for sharing it with me.  You never know what someone is going through and we both agreed that what any of us can do at the end of the day is just keep trying, keep going.  She is a resilient spirit.  And I know that conversation was something we both needed. 

Taking a Pause to Celebrate

This week has been productive.  I mean truly productive and that isn’t to dismiss the other work I’ve done leading up to this week because it all adds to the collective but in the last 12 hours I’ve managed two very big things.

And I am tired, in a good way.  What did I do exactly?  Well first let me say I tackled this week different, as I did last weeek.  I did away with my check box system last week and just made a list of things I knew I needed to do.  This week I had a list but I also decided to give myself a purpose each day for instance:
Monday: Content Prep for the week
Tuesday:  Writing
Wednesday: Reading
Thursday: PitchWars submission
Friday: TBD

Which was funny that I hadn’t locked anything in for Friday.  It’s as if I already knew...

So Monday was focused on the various social media platforms and prep.  I learned today that there is a free version of HootSuite so I’m going to look at it again to see if I want to try it.  I did work out that I might do my schedule differently to make it manageable.  I”m in that stage of playing around until I find a formula that works for me.

Tuesday I began working on finishing the huntress story (as it is one of the things I intend to finish out before September ends) On Wednesday I ended up tackling another item that I had outlined for “finish before 9/30” which was a draft of NFD with words and the illustrations married up.  And OMG I did it.  I hadn’t planned on doing it but once I got started I wanted to see it through.

Thursday I made myself be still and just enjoy reading.  Took a glorious nap and proceeded to look into the Pitch War mentors to see who would be a good fit.

And today I had another BAL session in which I got addresses for my target market group.  AND submitted for Pitch Wars 2019 ^_^

It doesn’t seem like much but it’s been a lot.  Like the query and synopsis took me about 4 hours but I  finally submitted and let out a breath.

So damnit I’m going to celebrate because too often it’s “okay done with that, what’s next” and damnit if I’m not like “let me enjoy this victory chick, gosh...”

Because you know I’m already thinking what I need to do for the week or the outstanding things I have left.  But the thing is there will ALWAYS be something.  So this weekend I’d like to reward myself with getting lost in a book.

... though there is the other side of me that’s like “reward yourself by checking something else off the list...”. ^_^. This lovely head of mine.

At any rate if I were to hypothetically come up with a weekend to do list it would involve:
- continue celebration for #PitchWars submission
- order proof copy of NFD
- finish huntress story
- finish a book

That said napping and watching movies again (as my pile is up again) sounds good too.

Apologies for any typos, I’se tired and writing from my phone... I’se off :D
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The Dress

Setup:  Driving down the highway
Music:  Billie Eilish

It occurred to me recently that I might be ready.  Ready for what?  Ready for whatever the next chapter entails, the next level, whatever form of growth...

Why?

Not too long ago I was looking for the dress.  The dress I'd worn to my grandmother's funeral with the intent of getting it cleaned.  I've worn the dress once and never again.  But I couldn't find it when it came time to take it to the dry cleaners.

Last Wednesday, without realizing it, my mother picked up a movie I had determined I couldn't rent.  Some day I knew I could rent it again but it'd been the last movie we'd seen together (me, mi madres, and grandmother) and seeing it tended to make emotions attempt to rise.  But without realizing it until after the fact, it was there.  I haven't watched it.  But I have it.

Yesterday, I can't remember the thought I was having but I looked over to something, noticed a bag, and in it was the dress.  I didn't become emotional or anything but I was excited because now I could get it cleaned.

However later that day, as I was driving I was struck by grief.  Missing her so hard and tried to give myself permission to let it go despite the fact I was driving.  It was good.  Because one thing I recognize is I try not to go there or think about her too often.

I've heard several people say they believe grief is like love with nowhere to go.  I feel there is truth in that.

Gratitude Tuesday: Acts of Kindness

"In a world where you can be anything, be kind..."

I paraphrase and can't remember who said it #memoryfail but an important message all the same.  Today I followed my intuition.  I wanted my hot cup of milk and thought "I could make this" but knew it would soak up more of my time.  Time I wanted to designate for writing.  So I opted to stop at Starbucks on my morning drive.

Instead of stopping at the one near my house, I stopped one a slight bit out of the way because for this particular drink, my hot milk, I've enjoyed how they've made it and had a great conversation with the barista at the Drive-Thru.

Well this morning as I sat in the drive-thru and ate my questionable ripe banana I was listening to the radio and a couple things happened - 1) Lizzo was playing and as that is a fave song of mine currently I always take it as good sign when it comes on (as if the universe is saying right decision/choice) and 2) I wanted to hear the Positive Note for the day well instead I caught "Donkey of the Day" … I gave a moment toward the politics of today, the sound bite earlier in the morning from Jimmy Kimmel with the CNN interview and all of it just doesn't feel right.

Not right in the "CORRUPTIION! CORRUPTION!" type of a thought.  In the vicious way every one goes after the other.  I get we all feel strongly but at what point do we all take a step back and ask ourselves are we getting anywhere...?  It felt very toxic and hadn't felt good.

So I pull up to the window, turn down the radio just as I hear the donkey of the day is going to Nancy Pelosi and part of me withers but then the barista informs me that the woman ahead of me has paid for my order...

0_0

Kindness.  It is a choice.  No matter who you are or where you are or which side of the fence you claim, kindness is ALWAYS an option.

And as I do my social media check (trying to allocate time each day, including blogging, to engage) I came across this story that made me tear up.

Bookstore Employee and the Colorful Old Lady

Kindness y'all.  Practice it more and more.

As Gandhi says "be the change you want to see in the world..."

Or something close to that but y'all get the point.  Spread kindness.