Which of these is more important: money, time, or expertise? Well, if we are fortunate enough I'd go with all three. However, most of us aren't or maybe we aren't will to give of one of those listed. For me, I think time is the most valuable. No amount of money in the world can make someone feel better. To have more experience in something might be good but would it really help. However, time, you can always give of your time. Even if it's just five minutes to say a kind word to someone who … [Read more...]
A new journey (of sorts)
On my daughter's dedication website, I started a journey at the beginning of the year where I'd write for 365 days from reading prompts out of this book. I've been loving it and it's been an interesting ride along the way. The thing is, I'd like to do something similar on here but don't want to use the same book. So I went on a search today and found five new books, one of which I'm going to start for my journey here. They're simple word prompts. I think it will fun and exciting as I start … [Read more...]
Do we take the easy or the hard way?
Well, this week I was more productive than I thought I'd be. I was able to rewrite out a new scene. Then while I was talking to a friend on Facebook just chatting away an idea came to me that might help to enhance the scene even better. But then a question came to my mind. "Is it worth all the effort to try and write the scene in the new way or take the easy route and just leave it be?" Well, I think our gut instinct, if we are honest with ourselves, is to take the easy way as it's just that: … [Read more...]
Day 140: Making Soup
I love this quote: Stories are what show up on the page once you start hitting the keys. —LARRY MCMURTRY Isn't that the truth? Whether it's nonfiction or fiction, the stories we decide to write about won't happen unless we take that first step to get them written down. And when we do this it's like we're making our own little soup story. I think back to the day when this website was born. I'd been told by my mom for a while to write down my thoughts and share them. It's good for you. I didn't … [Read more...]
The Journey with Terri Main
Please welcome this weeks guest Terri Main for The Journey. She answers the question: How have you seen God work in your writing journey? When I was 18, and recently published, I knelt at the altar one night after church. My knees still worked back then. Now, when I kneel, it's a matter of faith that I'll be able to stand up again. I laid my new pen, the one given to my by my parents as a graduation gift, on the altar and pledged myself to write for God. That was 43 years ago, and I have … [Read more...]
Getting Credit for Good Deeds
Do you like to get credit for the good deeds you do or do you prefer to stay anonymous knowing you did something to someone else? I think most people if they are completely honest with themselves they like to get a little thank your or some form of acknowledgement for something they have done. I think its human nature to want to be recognized for the good things we do. However, have you ever done something where you received no recognition at all because you went out of your way to help someone … [Read more...]
Day 139: Your Road
When I think of this I think of the old saying, "The road less traveled." In life we have a road that we travel and then at different points we come to a spot where we either stay the course we're on or turn off somewhere along the way. Who know at the time whether it was the right or wrong decision or if another way would have been better. However, sometimes we come to the end of the road and we have no choice but to either go left or to go right. We don't want to but the choice has been taken … [Read more...]
Easing the Pain of Someone Else
Have you ever thought about what your actions or words might do for someone, especially if they are going through something? For me, I've always tried to do what I can to help someone else if possible. We all have our hard times we go through and it's nice to know someone else cares. When Mari was in the hospital, as you can probably imagine, there were lots of tears and heavy hearts with each passing day as we watch our beloved, beautiful daughter slipping before our very eyes. It happened so … [Read more...]
Day 138: Writer Panic Attacks
When something hits me and I have to write it down, I don't know that I'd called it a panic attack in the sense that I'm hyperventilating and having a hard time with things around me. It's more that in that moment, whatever feelings I have floating around inside me are like they are begging me to get them written down. That first year after Mari died, I had a lot of those moments. My grief could consume me and they fought to come out through the words I typed out into my computer or my journal. … [Read more...]
Those Who Gave Their Lives for So Many
Today is a day so many of us remember exactly where we were when we heard about the World Trade Center being hit by airplanes. We had no idea at first that some evil men had hatched this despicable plan to terrorize our nation by flying passenger airliners through buildings. Our lives were rocked to our very core. We sat in front of our TVs transfixed to those two towers just burning with smoke billowing out. And then before our very eyes, Tower 2 comes down with what only seemed like minutes … [Read more...]