What's the one thing you have always wanted to do but it remains lying on the bottom of the list, like a smudged silver tray on the bottom of the wine cabinet? -- It has the potential to shine, but you just don't feel like moving everything around to work on it.
For some of you it might be voiceovers, for others it's go back to school. For others, it's something small: organize those damn photos you have dating back to 1982.
For me, it's magazine writing. Since I can't do the 60 hour tv weeks (nor am I that good of a schmoozer... hard to believe, but true) I love the concept of the article. 200, 500, 1000 words... To quote a friend, Toni, these quick bursts of writing go well with my "hummingbird brain." I can write, read and research within a reasonable time frame, make some money and start building a portfolio from the comfort (and sometimes insanity) of my own home.
Some of you might know that I landed my first national magazine gig a few months back and now am on my second rewrite. Am I nervous that they'll change their mind? Sure, but I'm going to keep going. This weekend I'm going to land myself a sitter and finish it. Um, Mom.....? Cecelia? Anyone got 4 hours to spare? (No, not you Mrs. V.... your man is coming back from business and you are going to SLEEP in on Sunday... no teaching, please!)
And the 5am thing has been working out, too. I finally heard back from another magazine this morning with a "we're not hiring now, but we like your stuff and we'll send it up to the senior editor". Yeah!
I tell you all this not to brag, but to say that it's possible. With the advent of the internet, we can research what we love and go for it. If we need to, we can get partners to support us. We can read inspirational stories. We can make ourselves something.
I have a lot to learn. I am grappling with the fantasy of what I thought life would be vs. what it really is. But I do know this: kids, spouses, family members, random lottery wins... it can all bring us joy. But often it's temporary as kids move out, spouses have their own lives, money is false satisfation if our minds aren't at peace. We women need to be our own best friends, and this means treating ourselves right.
Which for me, now, is bed. For all my talk about filling my soul, I'll be honest that it takes its toll physically. I'm exhausted. All I want is a hotel with white sheets and someone to serve me coffee in bed.
Oh, there's that fantasy talking now.
Reality? I'm going to change my own damn sheets and get the Yuban in the Mr. Coffee so the mister can flip it on for me on his way out the door at 5.am.
On the subject of sleeping, keep your dreams alive girls! And keep me posted.
Literally.
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7 comments:
This is very exciting. I hope to be able to read your article when it is published.
I feel all proud of you, as if i had anything to do with you following your dream.
I'm impressed that you can find the time to write at all! Yesterday we had a snow day and I spent the entire day home with my boys. I barely managed to keep them alive, let alone get anything else done. And if I had been given 30 minutes to myself, I would have been too exhausted to do anything more than sit in front of the tv and space out. Keep us posted too!
I just had a conversation with my hubby about this yesterday. I'm on my way to teaching, but I want to write children's books, take some interior decorating and design classes, an let's not forget those piles of pics that need organizing and baby blankets waiting to be made. I'll keep you updated if there is any progress on any of those.
Talk about inspirational! It took me these three years of my marriage to focus on myself enough to even know the things I love and want to do. Now that I know, sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with the idea of doing it.
I was thinking about getting up at 5 am too because its the perfect time to write when things are quiet. But lazy me hasn't made it out of bed yet. I like the coffee flipped on by husband idea, I think I'll try that.
Warbride - I was wondering what happened to you. Glad you're around and doing well.
Meno - You WILL be able to say that you had something to do with my magazine success. Part of what gives a writer great ideas is knowing other people with fun stories. And you, my friend, have some stories. I'll be emailing you at some point when I'm trolling for ideas.
Erin - I don't know if you should be impressed or not with me. I look pretty tired, but it's been good. I wouldn't get up early if it interfered with my mom job. Oh, speaking of jobs, I read your writing on Literarymama.com. Great work! I sent the editor a letter saying I enjoyed it. (Of course, not mentioning I know you.)
Amisare - you are inspiration to me going back to school. Keep it going!
Maggie - I feel a lot of connections to you and your struggle to write and mother. We have to remember we are doing our best. Your poetry is wonderful and so are your posts. I can't wait to watch your journey.
Thanks for the encouragement. I have a vision to start a Learning Center on Maui (for dyslexic kids). It's a big dream but will do it alittle step at a time...
I can't thank you enough for being so encouraging.
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