I'm not a desk sitter for the most part. When I'm writing then I prefer a comfy chair or to sit on the floor. One of my friends, Ethel, passed down this chair a few years back and it is awesome. When you sit down, you sink. It's great.

Since this picture, I brought down a stool to put my feet on. The stool was a retirement gift for my Great-Aunt Judy many years ago. I've also covered the chair with a blanket we had made a few years ago with pictures from my wedding. When I open the door and walk in I see the picture of my parents, Heidi, and I from my wedding day...instant smile and joy. Memories hold power.

On the floor is a gallon of water so I don't have to make multiple trips inside when my water bottle is empty. It also fills Faith's water dish when she goes to work with me. 

On top of the chair are two Minions. Each remind me of some special people. The one on the right with two different colored eyes was given to me when I was caring for my Mom after she came home on hospice. Friends went to Build-a-Bear to make it and then delivered it to brighten my days. My Mom had two different colored eyes, just like this Minion. I feel like Mom is looking down on me as I write.

The Peace Minion was a gift from my daughter and her friend while out to dinner one evening. Heidi loved the peace sign and tye-dye so when they saw this Minion they played games until earning enough tickets to win it for me. Heidi and my mom looking watching over me as I write the next best seller. 

Did you notice the quilt the Minions are sitting on? This is an assortment of bird and flower fabrics turned into a beautiful blanket of hope and love for my Mom in 2015. Dear friends teamed together to create this quilt, even embroidering a quote in one corner. This reminds me of more than my Mom, it reminds me that friends are priceless gifts. When it gets chilly later in the year, the same blanket that warmed my Mom on chilly nights will warm me. Family and friends inspire me in ways no object can, they are God's angels in disguise.

Kaely Quinn's talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she's demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.
When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a string of murders, ending with Kaely's, the reporter's ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem's predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.
Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else–including Kaely herself–is killed.

While working at the Writer's Cottage I could hear buzzing. I didn't pay much attention since the garden is ​my neighbor yet my mind wandered so I went to sit on the stoop of the cottage and noticed a bee busy at work with our eggplants. 

I could have returned to work and ignored this yet I was fascinated. The bee didn't care I was there and taking pictures. Hubby reminded me, "Remember you are allergic, you are getting kind of close, don't you think?" then smirked. He was right on all accounts yet it was a photo opportunity and a reason to take a break. A win-win!

Some fun Bee Facts:
"The most important thing that bees do is pollinate. Pollination is needed for plants to reproduce, and so many plants depend on bees or other insects as pollinators...Flowers that are visited more often by bees will produce larger and more uniform fruit than those visited less often..." READ MORE HERE

I didn't realize the more a flower is visited by a bee, the larger and more uniform its fruit. Writers are like bees, the more we visit writers' conferences, read in our genre, join a critique group, and write...the more uniform and successful are writing is I'm glad I took a few minutes to stop and watch this busy bee.

​Two weeks later as I worked on this blog and researched the bee, I learned more than to slow down, I learned that the more we do to hone our craft, the better we will be. Cool concept when you think about it. It's available to all of us when we follow through and take time to visit all the different flowers in our field to make us the best ____ we hope to be.

If you've followed by blog for any stretch of time you know I'm a "list girl". I like to create lists and cross things off after I complete the task. I've been known to add something to the list after I do it, because it wasn't on the original list but I feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day seeing the items completed.

Twenty five years later and my husband still laughs when I add something to the list after doing it, just to cross it off. Oh well, I keep him smiling. I don't have lists on the walls but I do have four week-at-a-glance posters. They are dated and are the first thing I see when I walk in. I'm reminded of my priority items and it keeps me focused. On the opposite wall is one poster with short and long-term writing goals, on y way out I'm reminded of what needs to be done in the near and not-so-near future.

In addition to the weeks-at-a-glance, there is a year-at-a-glance calendar on the ceiling. Since this picture, the days have been added with events, deadlines, and goals color-coded. The calendar is strategically placed so if I'm sitting at the desk or in the chair, the calendar isn't a focus point. I know myself too well and I'd get distracted if I was working and looked up to think and caught sight of upcoming events or deadlines. The key to setting up your work space is to know your strengths and weaknesses. This allows you to set yourself up for success.

Since my last visit to the writer's cottage, I have a few vendor and craft shows to add. Yup, to keep myself motivated and on schedule, I plan to start doing craft and vendor fairs again. As of today, I've committed to five: Rome, Utica, Fulton, Oswego, and Mexico. I'll have my books and hope to do something called "Writing on Demand at each.

At a couple, I'll also have my PURE products and share how people can utilize PURE products for a healthier lifestyle. I hope to ENROLL NEW MEMBERS at these events, I now get all my supplements, drinks, and such from PURE instead of a couple different places. One stop shopping and with their auto ship program, I earn free products too. If you want more information about this, email me at lbuskewriter@aol.com. 

I'll share more on the "Writing on Demand" in a future blog. I learned about it after reading "Writing Down the Bones" by Natalie Goldberg. I'm going to try it at at least a couple shows. Who knows, I might earn enough to pay for my table space. 

For the next few weeks I plan to share some of the items in my new writer's cottage and why they were selected. The space is small and perfect for writing and once the ceilings and walls were done, it was time to bring in items to inspire me and remind me of the people who encourage and uplift me. Each item was selected for a reason and speaks to my heart. Let me share some of them with you and others I treasure in my heart, knowing why it's special. Not everything belongs, or needs to be, on the blog and social media.

This is the left-hand corner of my "work" table. Under the table are magazines for collages and the top is clear for WIPs (Works in Progress). I'm excited to have a large enough table to leave out projects so I can start working exactly where I left off without having to set it up again the next day.

Let me share the specialness (yes, it's not a word but I like it anyway) of a few of these items:
1) The Vase of Roses: A gift from my Mom on the eighteenth anniversary of Heidi's kidnapping, with one red rose of hope for the next year
2) The Red Roses: My bouquet from Montrose Writers' Conference 2019, received at The Torreys
3) The Lion: A gift tossed to me, reminding me to be a lion when I write
4) The Duck: A reminder I'm now a part of the odd ducks, a GREAT honor
5) The Coffee Mug behind the red roses & Lion: A gift reminding me to be BRAVE

This is only a snip-it of inspiration within my little space yet they provide MUCH inspiration. Be sure to come back next Tuesday to learn more about the little tidbits within my writing space.

Well hello everyone! How are you on this fine Saturday EVENING! Yup, evening. My new logo is "One Sister's Journey - Keeping it Real". You'd think with this phrase, I'd be more diligent about setting good examples BUT instead I keep exhibiting REAL ones. 

Here's the deal, I shared a goal to blog Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday each week, with a new podcast each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you are a regular follower here on the blog or listener to the podcast then you know this goal has not been reached since returning from the Montrose Writers Conference in July. I could give you a list of reasons (excuses) of why I've let you down and haven't kept on the schedule I hoped to yet I can sum it all up in one sentence.

So this is the reality, instead of sacrificing sleep or time with family, I chose to spend time making memories and "sharpening my saw". 

I might be slipping when it comes to my writing, podcasting, and blogging goal yet the gift of time and memory making are priceless.

If you've listened to the podcast the past couple weeks I highlighted a few different things:
*Goal Check In - click here to listen
*A Year of Renewal Requires on to be...- click here to listen
*Take a Sabbath, not a Vacation - click here to listen
*Life Lessons You Need - click here to listen
*Remember Your Family as you are Being Selfish - click here to listen

Anyway, I took my own advice and Let it Go, as Elsa and Anna will sing. Instead of increasing my stress level in trying to squeeze everything in, I prioritized. School starts in a little over three weeks so there was, and are, school preparation commitments also.

​It's' a busy and fun time of year and as much as I enjoy podcasting, blogging, and writing, I've learned to enjoy the gift of time with my family and friends first then work because tomorrow, or even five minutes from now are not guaranteed but if I'm called home tomorrow, I can close my eyes with no regrets because I've made choices to prioritize people and not lists. I pray you can do the same and do it without guilt. 

This is the sad truth, we will almost always let someone down by the choices we make yet the only one you need to satisfy is yourself and God. As you look at your schedule, to-do-lists, goals, and dreams...take time to reflect and pray about what needs to be above the line. What is important if you aren't gifted tomorrow? Will your family and friends remember you as someone that put people first or things?

I feel bad for letting you down yet I'm thankful for not letting my daughter, husband, father, family, and friends down more...Life is about choices. As much as I enjoy writing and podcasting, I choose to make memories when God opens the door for these moments. Moments become the memories that hold us together later down the road. Memories are a loved one's legacy. 

A week later and the "Writer's Cottage" is complete and might have a solid name, might being the key word. It's the "cottage", "little house", or "whatever". I've charged my daughter to come up with a name but she hasn't even thought of one yet. Dad said "The Little House" and he can be "The Big House". This makes us laugh so it will probably stick unless Mary comes up with something better soon.

The insulation is complete and caulking is done also. Once the men finished the hard work, I started the fun of adding the wall and ceiling decor. Contact paper is en inexpensive way to add style to things and a new writing space. I picked two different distressed woods. The one on the ceiling has a touch of blue and the walls are just the distressed white. 

Once the walls and ceiling were complete I added four blackboard "week-at-a-glance" schedules to keep me on task from week to week. To the right on the ceiling is a whiteboard yearly calendar, with no dates so I can reuse it each year. Above the door is a blackboard with short and long term goals. 

The placement of these was strategic so I am reminded each time I enter and exit of my immediate, upcoming, and long-range tasks/goals. I function better with lists and my things-to-do and goals written down and in my sight at all times.

The floor was swept out before adding some carpeting. Our budget didn't support a carpet to fit so we picked up a couple remnant pieces for less than $40 for both.

We found some blue carpeting and it pulls the blue from the ceiling out, it looks great, if I don't say so myself. In the window is a roll of paper I found in Mary's playhouse, so I saved it and to the left of that is a small Bluetooth speaker. It looks like an antique radio, the same blue as the ceiling. The carpet is three inches shy on one side and overlaps in the center but I'm the only one in there and I adore it as is.

The furniture has been added: tables, chairs, a stool, bookshelves, and all the supplies necessary to enter the cottage in the morning and not leave until the day's goals have been met. The first day I worked in the cottage I banged out over 3,000 words. 

In case you are like my hubby, Dad and other non-writers...I usually wrote 700 - 1,000 words when I went to the lake or library in one sitting. In one afternoon I tripled word count. Woot woot! The time saved in packing everything up, driving to and from was spent writing. An added bonus, as I write, I can make notes on the walls and ceiling to keep track of characters, settings, and other story elements to keep the story flowing. In the car, I had so many different places, I'd lose track of where I saved it the last time I wrote. Now, it's one stop writing and creativity.

There hasn't been much writing this week because our daughter is home from her summer job and preparing to move back into college and we've had the added bonus of company with us too. It's wonderful! It's a vacation from the writing cottage but next week, when I'm not at school, I'll be putting serious hours  and words in. I have a book to get written before school starts so I can be working on edits during the school year. (This is a BIG goal, one I'm striving to reach)

With this, it's time to get some work done. Happy reading, writing, and more reading!

Earlier in the month I attended the Montrose Christian Writers' Conference in beautiful hils of Montrose, Pennsylvania. It was a busy, exciting, and educational week. I came home more inspired to write and with a renewed drive to publish again. An answer to prayer.

At the conclusion of the conference we, the attendees were challenged to prioritize what we would do first. To write being the number one priority. I took time before leaving and made a preliminary to-do-list One of the first things on my list was to create a place to write.

I'll still write on my deck, in the living room, or at a local eatery from time to time yet in a dream world there were I few things I hoped to achieve by having my own writing space:
1) A place where I can leave my WIP (Work In Progress) in organized chaos on the table rather than setting it back up each time I start to write
2) A place without television and distraction but with Internet access
3) A place I can bring my own water and snacks with me (to save money) and not have to spend money for the atmosphere
4) A place outside of my house so I don't focus on the never-ending-to-do-lists at home
5) FREE because I'm a writer, we don't have money. 

My husband I brainstormed and he suggested waiting until August. After our daughter goes back to college, instead of her room becoming a sewing room, it could be a "multi-purpose creative space". I agreed yet want out daughter to have a place to sleep when she comes home and don't want to wait until mid-August to set up shop.

As with most my ideas, I woke up in the middle of the night with an idea. I told hubby and my dad, "You know my writer's space, I have an idea." They looked at each other, and their first hesitant question was the same..."Okay, what?" I'm known for getting this "ideas" and somehow Dad and Ed make them happen. I shared my idea, "Why don't I clean out Mary's playhouse and transform it into a writer's cottage?" They liked the idea and Dad suggested adding insulation so I'd be warm in the winter, I hadn't thought about this. 

I text and asked Mary permission to use her playhouse, her response was priceless, "Of course, BUT don't get rid of my toys, Barbies, Polly Pockets, Horses, and Barn, well anything. I'm saving them for my kids." Easy enough. I cleaned out a back corner of Dad's shed and moved my future grandchildren's goodies into a new storage location. Next, I hoed out all the JUNK we've been tossing in there over the years. Each time we tossed something in we'd say, "If we have a lawn sale..." Yeah, right! All that stuff was donated or tossed, it felt pretty good to purge it all.

Yes, I didn't think to take a before picture and decided it's for the better because then you'd all have a detailed visual of my hoarding tendencies, or emotional attachment issues. Each item in there, I remembered who gave it to me or where it came from. I am an emotional "keeper", I keep stuff I don't really want because of the memory it holds. I took a big step and let it go, holding onto the memories, not the stuff.

Instead of clutter to cottage, you can enjoy the renovation itself. My Dad joked, "I know why these little house cost so much money." I looked and bit, "Why?" After wiping the sweat from his forehead and ducking out the 4 foot door, with a smile on his face, "Because it's a pain and tough work. Easy work made challenging due to space." We all laughed and kept working until after Noon when the sun peaked at 92 degrees, we took the rest of the day off.

I didn't get to the cottage today for a final picture of the inside but it's all insulated and caulked. Tomorrow my wall covering arrives. I had fun using my creativity in ordering this. I plan to use the walls and ceiling and story boards and note paper so the walls will be done with contact paper. Yes, you heard me, contact paper. It reminds me of the scene from Johnny Dangerously when they are running from the cops and they peel contact paper off the car as part of their disguise. I looked for a clip but didn't find one, sorry.

Sorry, got distracted. LOL

Anyway, you can write on contact paper with dry erase markers and erase it. I can't wait. Once it arrives, with my daughter's help, I'll be doing "wallpaper" and "ceilings". For now, I write sitting in my living room but the pile of goodies heading to my writer's cottage is exciting and motivating. Within the week I'll be able to leave hubby a note, "At the cottage writing, see you after work."

Thanks for coming back to the blog to find out if I faced my fear on the TRX. Mid-June I posted about my TRX fear, click here to read the blog associated with this one. As my trainer, Brandon, demonstrated this exercise the first time I watched and shook my head. My daughter volunteered me to go first. I put on my "I can do this" face but when it came to leaning back, I didn't trust the TRX or myself. Brandon assured me that if it could him, it would hold me.

I did my set and tried a couple times before my next training session so I wouldn't look like such a ninny. This past week I asked my husband to take my picture doing the exercise that used to cause a touch of anxiety. I still close my eyes as I lean back. I'm not sure what closing my eyes will do but it makes me feel better. I started with one set of six mid-June. As of now, I'm doing three sets of ten! Woot Woot! 

​I'm learning a lot and enjoy the way I feel, sleep, and the way my clothes are fitting since starting a journey to a healthier way of living this past January. I need to let Dr. Jack Kunkel know about my change in attitude towards the gym, exercise, and working out. I went from resisting three times a week to at least three times a week and hiring a personal trainer. Life is good! 

I don't LOVE going to the gym. There are days I dread it BUT I enjoy the benefits of going. My daughter said I have potential to be a "gym rat". I don't think so. These people are motivated and anticipate the gym, me, I understand the health benefits and like the way I feel after a good workout. I may end up liking it but for now, I'm happy to WANT to go and enjoy myself while I'm there. Did I confuse you or is this making sense?

An honor some authors receive is the invitation to participate in an anthology. An anthology is a collection of stories written by various authors. These are the four anthologies I've had the privilege to join. I receive no royalties from any of these books yet the benefits of each is unique and a collection of stories written from the heart to help others.

The fourth book I participated in releases in August of this year, 2019. Each book offered me the  opportunity to expand and go deeper yet I took the easy way out for three of them. Instead of writing a new submission for each, I used the same writing piece. The audience for each book was different and my emotional state didn't allow creative freedom. This is the life of a writer sometimes, sometimes the words and emotions role onto paper easier than others, the goal when invited to participate, if called to do it, is to have a submission to submit. 

If you are grieving a cold case or homicide, then you'll experience stories written by people who have, or are, living the pain you are. The newest book, releasing in August,  will offer comfort to an array of "survivors". More information about this book will be released in a future blog.

For parents, families, and caregivers of children with disabilities, then Sometimes the Wind Blows Sideways will encourage you with a variety of stories to instill hope and remind you of how special these kiddos are. Happy reading!

​Unplugged: Tips for Disconnecting from Tech & Reconnecting with Yourself
 
We live in a world of constant connectivity. You’re never far from a device hooked up to emails, texts, social media feeds, news updates and an endless stream of information.
 
Technology is a wonderful gift. You can FaceTime with your family thousands of miles away or send an important work project to colleagues from your delayed train. But technology is also a distraction and a burden if you don’t allow yourself to disconnect.
 
Do you have difficulty sitting or standing still without checking your phone reflexively? Do you have a hard time focusing on the people around you because of tech interruptions? Is it a challenge for you to relax and unwind away from a screen?
 
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you could benefit from some unplugged time. Take a break from technology by testing out the following tips. 

Set a Power-Down Time 
Every night, about 30 to 60 minutes before you go to bed, put away all of your devices. Close your laptop, stash your phone, turn off your TV. Set a recurring alarm to remind you when it’s time to power down. Use this half-hour or hour to do a relaxing activity you enjoy. Read, draw, write, work on a puzzle or play an instrument. 

​Weekly Digital Detox
Once a week, set aside a longer period of time for a digital detox, where you disengage from all technology. Start with a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

If you like it, scale it up to all of Sunday. What do you want to do with all the time you would normally spend playing video games, watching Netflix or scrolling on your phone? What makes you feel happy, healthy and alive?

​Rediscover your interests and hobbies. Get out of the house and try something new. Go for a hike, check out a new café, meet up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. 

Write It Out
Take a few minutes every day to write in your journal. Tune into your thoughts, desires, hopes and dreams. Ask yourself questions about the past, present and future. Record what you’re grateful for today. Use this time to unplug from external distractions and reconnect with yourself. 

​Mari L. McCarthy’s international bestselling book, Journaling Power, started a movement. Now, Heal Your Self with Journaling Power is igniting a revolution!
You’ll discover the life-changing magic of journaling through moving personal stories told by just some of the thousands of people who have tapped into the proven therapeutic power of expressive writing.
These are people just like you, and their challenges are the same ones you have.
 Heal Your Self with Journaling Power reveals the inner strength and grace that comes with living your life in the present from the inside out. It will help you transform your life and…

• Manifest everything your desire
• Fill you with uplifting positive energy
• Put you on a path to better health and wellness
• Give you the inspiration and motivation to live your best life
• Show you how to use journaling to solve your most pressing problems

Madeline co-authored Blue-Collar Women: Trailblazing Women Take on Men-Only Jobs, co-edited the poetry anthology, The Great American Poetry Show, Volumes 1, 2 and 3, and wrote the poems for two photography books, The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy.

Her poems have also appeared online and in print magazines, e.g., in the 2016 Porter Gulch Review, Yellow Chair’s In the Words of Womyn 2016 anthology, Story Circle Network’s journals and anthologies, the Best of Poetry Salon 2013-2018, and the Vine Leaves Literary Journal: a Collection of Vignettes from Across the Globe, 2017. 

​And her articles have appeared in the Huffington Post, Naturally Savvy, Aging Bodies, PsychAlive, Story Circle Network’s HerStories and One Woman’s Day blogs, and the Memoir Network blog. One of Madeline’s essays has also appeared in the My Gutsy Story Anthology by Sonia Marsh. 
 
Madeline also co-edited Volumes 1 and 2 of The Great American Poetry Show, a poetry anthology, and wrote the poems for two books of photography, The Emerging Goddess and. Besides having many poems published in print and online magazines, writes regularly for Naturally Savvy, and occasionally for PsychAlive, Open to Hope,and Journeys Through Grief and The Huffington Post.

Visit Madeline's Website: http://madelinesharples.com/
On Twitter: Click Here
On Facebook: Click Here

Oh my goodness, I enjoyed reading this book so much. The story line starts with Ira, father & husband, and his journey of leaving Poland to make a life for his family in the United States of America. Once in America, as he is saving money to bring his wife and sons to join him, he receives news that all but one son died of the plague. Ugh!

He returns and takes care of business then returns to America with his wife left to raise their remaining son and the baby on the way. Ruth, his wife, mails a pink string to Ira once Ava is born. When enough funds allow, Ira sends for Ruth, Charlie (their oldest son), and Ava. This is when the story shifts from one of Ira and Ruth to that of Charlie and Ava adjusting to their life as Jewish Immigrants and their parents old ways and religion while embracing the new and mixed views of living in America.

You watch Charlie and Ava grow up and as the book concludes, Ira and Ruth come to major realizations and their children need to make decisions that will impact their relationships with each other and their parents. The life of an immigrant isn't easy, especially in the 20's when mixing religions was not accepted as it is today. I enjoyed the ending and it required a tissue. Love wins...this is all I'll reveal.

We didn't celebrate the 4th of July with family or friends this year. Instead we got groceries, ran errands, visited the thrift store, and BBQ'd hot dogs on the grill. A quiet holiday at home for the most part, a very nice change. 

Since I was chilling at home I decided to do a live FB video and apply Avon makeup to half my face so you can see the difference with and without my ten-minute face. My lighting isn't the best but I think you'll get the gist and see the benefits of Avon.

On the FB post, I also included links to each of the products I used. For your convenience, the links are included in this blog too. Most of the items are on sale when this blog went live on July 4, 2019.

If you'd like to earn FREE Avon you can sign up as an Independent Representative yourself. It's like ordering for yourself online but you receive more of the savings and can sell to others to increase your rewards and benefits. Click here to sign up today.

The Rule Breaker’s Guide to Step Up & Stand Out is a potent book that seeks to shine a light directly on the external obstacles, and the inner voice, which deeply prevent us from Stepping Up and Standing Out, and achieving our optimum. The main themes of the book are the three Cs: Confidence, Courage and Creativity.

Georgia's definition of performance, after decades in the world of show business: "it is clear performance means the way you express yourself to the world. It is your choice of words, style and movement. It is your decision to design the shape, shade and colour of your entry into any type of work you want to do."

If you're a rebel through and through, or need some guidance and encouragement to find your rebellious streak, if you want to question the status quo, reach further, smash through the glass ceiling, speak and be heard...The Rule Breaker's Guide is the book for you!
​
Georgia Varjas shares her wisdom, wins and woes to shine a light on how the rules can hold us back, keep us small, and shut us up... and how to change that destructive pattern. With a combination of story and sass, Georgia shows us how to be in total control of our own lives, to show up, step up and stand out.

 -It is your right to question everything -

 I believe we are all born with some talent or creative genius. It may be a gift you have tingling in your soul to sing, paint or write. Perhaps, it is to communicate and lead, or it could be to mend, fix or repair, even care, love and give. But I do believe we all have natural abilities. And, I am also aware of how we ourselves down-grade and conceal our natural gifts and talents.

From an early age, codes, regulations and laws hold us back and keep us trapped in low esteem jobs and painful relationships, while filling our heads with complexes and inhibitions. We end up hiding our natural talents, playing small and denying our skills.

I know I have played small when in reality I had enough competence and experience to complete the task. But I held my self back because I was thinking about what others would think or what if they said something or all that absolute made-up nonsense - basically creating my own diversions and obstacles.
​
And the worst part about it all, I had created such a negative mindset I couldn’t perform to my best ability. I couldn’t show up as a talented person. I actually lowered my standards as a result.
Remember a parent or teacher telling you not to sing because your voice sounded terrible?

Or the professor or trainer who dampened your imagination to write stories, play sports or take up a musical instrument? Or a boss, educator, a person in authority who dismissed you because you didn’t “fit” in according to their rules of race, creed or gender?

These discouragements, these put downs and subversive rules can stop us from developing and achieving what we want for our life.
 But we have choices and opportunities - and we can create them.
We need to stop in our tracks and make note of all those Rules that are not serving us any more. It is about making smart decisions but also acting on them.

Ask yourself, how many times have you made a decision but not acted on it? It often happens, followed by an amazing array of reasons and excuses! We have to learn to prioritise laying out all those things we would love to do - fancy trying - are prepared to give a go or even another go.

Make that list. Take courage, lean on your confidence and bring out your competency. Use your natural skills to overcome those road blocks, brick walls or glass ceilings and honestly love yourself a bit more!

Don’t use your smartness or experience to increase the barriers you live behind. Or the protective bubbles you sit in.

Ask yourself daily: How are you doing with all your dreams, goals and desires? And are they coming together?

It is up to you to pay attention and then act upon those obstacles you  have prolonged in your system for too long.

So even if life is not easy right now - remember life is beautiful. Yes, it takes Confidence and Courage to Step Up & Stand Out - Make Decisions and Act Upon them.

Turn to your voice and pen, they are your most powerful weapons of construction!
 
- Don't hold back - release that genius energy -
Georgia Varjas June 2019 

The birds are singing and brilliance of color fills the view from any window I look. It's a joy and blessing to know the alarm won't need to be set for bit. It wasn't until last night when I deleted all my notifications that I realized I was exhausted and needed a break. Once again my family saw it before I did. I slept in until 6 a.m. this morning, which is an hour and half later than normal.

I contemplated grabbing my Bible and sitting on the deck yet the insurmountable piles of disorganization and chaos surrounding me in every room I walked motivated me to get-r-done. I know myself too well, I would not focus on my reading, the birds singing, or the beauty around me until I have control of the interior of our home. Although I've never watched "Hoarders", our house isn't as bad as episodes my friends have talked about BUT it's the worst I've ever let it go. Hubby doesn't mind but my mother and grandmother would be mortified, this is bad, even for the relaxed in spirit and mind. I've got some work to do before enjoying the deck.

We have enjoyed the deck the past few evenings. Our trusty little grills works great yet thanks to my Dad, a sweet grill will be taking it's place. We're keeping this one for traveling and such because there isn't anything wrong with it.

An added joy of our deck is the opportunity to sit, technology free, and visit with family and friends. With the size and ease of today's cellular devices and assorted technological devices, it is difficult to get away. Our deck is the tech-free-get-away. I look forward to regaining our "home" inside so I can chillax outside with no worries and lists on the inside. 

Some people are gifted to forget about the piles within the house and simply enjoy the beauty and serenity of the deck. I have never been wired this way yet I've grown in the sense that prior to January 2019, I would have chosen sleep deprivation over the messy house. 

As I focus on "renewal" of my spiritual, physical, and emotional health...letting things go and prioritizing are necessary. As I type this I realize it is nearly hypocritical as I should have sat on the deck this morning instead of tackling the piles yet organizing at least one area inside allowed me to enjoy ten minutes outside that I couldn't have thinking about the magnitude of things to do. Life is learning the balance, understanding who we are, how we are wired, and accepting these things. We can't change who we are. If you accept the way you are made and wired, it's easy to keep the important things above the line while letting the not-so-important go. Give it a try.

I'm a planner, there are always lists. As I look forward to the short summer, there are things I'd like to do. They will uplift my spirits, renew my spiritual health, continue a healthier life style, and relaxation of both body and mind.

Here are a few things:
*Walk outside 4x a week
*Continue eating healthy
*Finish weeding the gardens at home
*Finish weeding the rock walkway in our backyard
*Weed the Heidi Allen Remembrance Garden 
*Attend a week long writers' conference
*Rebrand so the blog, podcast, writing, & speaking mesh 
*Update the budget
*Purge stuff we don't use or need
*Clean, I mean CLEAN the house (including the windows, lol)

If you want to buy this book, of course I'll appreciate the book sale but before you run out and buy multiple copies, let me warn you. It's a short book full of lines, it's a journal. I haven't put the words in there, YOU NEED TO BE THE CREATIVE GENIUS and write yourself. Some have been let down when they saw this book because they thought it was a small book on wisdom to help them journal but instead, it's a journal sized to fit in your purse or bag to capture the ideas floating around in your mind. It's an inexpensive journal that can go with you each day. Happy writing!​

I went to the gym bright and early this morning before meeting friends at Dunkin Donuts. The gym was quiet and I started my work out the same as usual, thirty minutes of cardio and then hit the machines for a full-body workout. Instead of ending with more cardio I attempted a couple of the exercises my new trainer, Brandon, showed me. One is your basic plank and the other used the TRX.

Here's the deal, the last time I planked I was able to hold myself up for about five or ten seconds BUT on Thursday when Brandon asked me to plank for the preliminary assessment, I held myself up for 30 seconds! Woo Hoo! As my arms were shaking nearing the thirty second mark, I was shocked. When Brandon said, "done"...I was thrilled and couldn't contain myself. It's good to celebrate our success, small and large. 

In January I started the journey to healthy eating, incorporating exercise, and changing my lifestyle with the help of Dr. Jack Kunkel's knowledge. Six months later I've taken another step and invested in a trainer. I know Thursday's blog asked what you are investing in. In my choice of health, there have been a lot of changes. Up until this past Thursday, none had induced fear. 

The TRX, Brandon, and falling backwards equal fear. 

I have choice to make...Do I face this fear for the sake of health or ask for a different exercise to work the same muscles? 

Hmm...What's a woman to chose? Be sure to check back next week and see what direction I go...forward or backward? I'm thinking either way is forward...