Eat That Frog! part 2

Eat a small toad in the morning, and it will be the worse thing you do all day. Art Fettig

What better way to celebrate leap year than a story about eating frogs? The original post Eat That Frog! explains the concept behind the book Eat That Frog! (watch on YouTube). The reader is strongly encouraged to begin his or her day by doing that one thing he/she would prefer to procrastinate over. The practice of frog-eating, unpleasant but usually necessary to making days as productive as can be, is a positive change in attitude and action, overall freeing the rest of the day for desserts. I just made that up. Author Brian Tracy is not advocating sugar, but he is saying to eat that frog makes for a sweeter rest of the day for the doer.

But how much sweeter still is justification? When I listened to a friend talk about procrastinating and finding all sorts of additional creative projects besides making wine lights, which she sells at art and home shows for her livelihood, I thought, “If my frog was wine lights, I’d have no problem getting to work.”

Oh, really? “Woe is me” that my frog is writing? I’ll want to address why (when I figure it out) we choose procrastination over our dreams but for now, we’re making our diet plan.

WRite wHere I’m supposed to be – When I eat that frog first thing in the morning, it works. “Works” for me means my minutes and hours seem longer, I feel accomplished as well as liberated, and the remainder of my day (after the frog) I relax into projects that are more start-and-finish friendly. I’m an advocate that we begin now, since it’s leap day and we have extra time. Are you with me?

Faith, Hope and Love

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

At our mountain house, we have three words (well, four if you count “and”) spray-painted on an old screen window hanging as decoration in our living room. When we stopover at night, even before lights are turned on, the screen is the first thing I notice when we open the front door. The reflection from the streetlight by our driveway keeps the message lit at night, like a beacon.

Lots of times I wonder about each word, think about which I’d choose if I could only pick one. I like the game “Which is your favorite?” Being a visual learner, the symbols are especially meaningful as well. If you could only choose one, which would it be?

Faith   + [cross]
Hope  o–) [anchor]
Love   ♥  [heart]

Write wHere I’m supposed to be – I smiled big the first time it occurred to me the chapter and verse for faith, hope and love is 13:13, our lucky number. I don’t just play with words. I’m also pretty crazy about numbers.

Just In Case

Every time you let go of something limiting, you create space for something better. Stephen C. Paul

I was born a Girl Scout. Living by the organization’s motto “Be prepared” was second nature. Having a Plan B and C and D, planning a backup plan to the backup plan, making sure i’s were dotted and t’s crossed, being anticipatory instead of impulsive. I made responsible decisions as far back as I can remember.

That’s why I ignored recurring thoughts about canceling my certification as a Zumba Fitness Instructor because, you got it … it’s my backup moneymaking plan, just in case I need it. I keep paying the monthly fee for certification, just in case. Just like in the past when I turned in job applications to places I didn’t want to work, just in case I didn’t get the job I did want. And I stored furniture and kept clothing I wanted to give away, just in case I couldn’t afford to buy new. I can list example after example of times I was too afraid to let go but masqueraded the behavior as dependability.

When the place I taught Zumba Fitness closed its doors, I knew I didn’t want to teach any longer. Instead of regarding that, I spent hours and days inquiring about the half a dozen Zumba Fitness opportunities in my inbox. I sent emails, dropped off applications, and interviewed at a couple of fitness centers. I was afraid to let go of my fallback attitude. I was afraid to admit I only wanted one plan, to write full time.

It took a while, however, eight months ago I stopped turning in job applications other than ones for writing. I finally gave away all the furniture in storage, and for the first time in my life, the only clothes in my closet are ones I love and wear. That leaves cancelling my certification, which I’m following through on this week because I’m tired of saying, “Just in case God isn’t trustworthy, just in case I don’t deserve it, just in case the dream He and I came up with together doesn’t work out …”

WRite wHere I’m supposed to be – Long ago, when I started on this writing path, I asked an artist friend for the best advice she could give. She said, “Don’t compromise and give into the belief that writing may not work out. Work at it like it is all you’ve got, like it has to work, and it will.”

Annoying Words and Phrases

Readers shared words and phrases they disliked, were tired of hearing and downright hated. Use with caution around our Facebook pages and website.

Words:
Awesome
Hub
Hubby
Literally *
Moist
Pedagogy
Plethora
Preggers
Preggo
Random
Stuff
Uh **
Whatever

Phrases:
My bad.
I am like …
It is what it is.
I’m fine. It’s fine.
To tell you the truth …
Can I be honest with you?
I’m a Christian (but actions look contradictory).
Initials for anything and everything like CEO and EEO and SEO and …

Here’s the final word on popular and unpopular words for 2012. I’m like happy you stopped by to read. To tell you the truth, there’s nothing I’d appreciate more than for you to be honest with me. Leave a comment if you want and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

* when used incorrectly
** the non-word

Disclaimer: S. Kim Henson and Well-Written Days are not responsible for unfriending that may occur if you keep up this vocabulary.

My Word for 2012 – Incremental

Words matter. S. Kim Henson

“It’d be easier to hear this stuff in increments. You know, along and along,” said our son during a recent phone conversation.

“I’ve never in my life done anything incrementally.”

That was his point. And that’s when I knew I needed to start.

To get acquainted with incremental living, I’m divvying up projects, the hours in my day, even my feelings into smaller portions for manageability’s sake – mine and theirs. I don’t need to write 15 blog posts in two days; a third that amount is plenty. No to-do list with a one day deadline should be two pages long. And our son doesn’t want to hear backlogged emotions from a couple of years ago. The previous week’s recap is more than enough.

The definition in Merriam-Webster Dictionary of incremental is “of, relating to, being, or occurring in especially small increments.” An increment is “something gained or added.”

Write wHere I’m supposed to be – In 2012, I’m adding incremental living.

Behind the scenes: Readers submitted guesses including balance, rest, friendship, engage and fun. I had in mind choosing, “Think Big” but instead, I was given a word that didn’t even come with a cup of coffee.

 

What My Word is Not

 

What words could fall off the pages of every publication ever written and I’d never miss them? The highlighted posts below got me thinking,

USA Today, in their lengthy title, includes at least some of the words deemed under liked and overused by Lake Superior State University, “List of banned words for 2012 includes ‘man cave,’ ‘baby bump,’ ‘occupy’.”

The school released its 37^th annual List of Words Banished and used a couple of them to describe their accomplishment, “an amazing list that is bound to generate some blowback.” I italicized the words they’d prefer to never read again.

At least for tonight, here is my list of words and phrases:

skillset
plethora
paradigm
deal breaker
I heart you.
Got milk? (or anything else)

I have to admit, I’ve been tempted to use a couple of these like Got Recipes? during Christmas when sharing cookie ones on my blog. Or Got Editor? when writing got slow and I got frustrated. And I caught myself just last week saying deal breaker in a conversation with our son. I thought it sounded hip. I’m sure he did also.

Finally, my husband’s list includes random. Figured I’d mention that one for a laugh considering the photo I just shared with him, the one I told him I’d be using for these random posts.

So, what’s your word peeve?

Lake Superior State University 2012 banished words list

USA Today’s banned word list

I Want to Be a Ghostwriter

Does God have a sense of humor or what?

On my writer’s CV, I didn’t want it to just read “freelance writer.” I got this notion I also wanted to be a ghostwriter. I liked the idea of writing in someone else’s voice although I haven’t mastered my own. I wondered, though, how I’d break into a market where everyone I know who does the job is far beyond my reach as far as skill and notoriety. That didn’t stop me from adding “I want to be a ghostwriter” to my prayer list, my bucket list, my vision book and my notebook full of professional goals. After that, I went about planning our daughter’s October 22nd wedding.

A little over a week after the festivities, while loading hundreds of wedding photos onto my Facebook page, I received an email from one of my far-beyond-my-reach friends who I met at a writers conference and who mentored me back in 2009. She was overloaded with work (a great problem for her and me) and she asked if I could help by ghostwriting for one of her internationally known clients.

“Why, yes, I can.”

Dance. Call my husband. Google the ghostly personality. Walk in circles, giggling and giddy. Email a friend.

Next day, I settled down to write. Referring back to the original email while working on the project, I noticed its date. It was sent October 31, 2011. I officially became a ghostwriter on Halloween.

Word of the Year

For the past seven years, I’ve focused on one word for the year … it’s been life changing. Beth Vogt

Writer friend Edie Melson’s blog title “Clinging” is noteworthy since that’s her word for 2012.

Beth Vogt’s word for this year is trust. The author’s words for the previous six years are equally significant. They include gratitude, simplify and content. Forgiveness was her word for two consecutive years. Last year’s was hope. When I read “content,” I thought about writing but knew she was focusing on satisfaction. I related to her advanced course in forgiving.

Finally, at a luncheon and talking with a friend, Peggy said, “My word this year is ‘no.’ No to stuff that doesn’t support my core values and priorities. And no to things that may be urgent but are not necessarily important.”

I’d managed to dismiss my word throughout January. Instead, I had occupied my weeks with frenzied work and lack of sleep, followed by days of blank stares onto Facebook’s newsfeed. All the while, friends kept bringing up their words.

Write wHere I’m supposed to be – No more ignoring what needs attention. I have a word for 2012 and I’m using it today. Any idea what mine might be? Share yours. I’d love to hear it.

If you’d like to read more from Edie and Beth:
Edie Melson
Beth Vogt

Following Our Dreams

Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It's our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit. Mary Lou Retton

“When is it going to be my turn? When do I get to do what I want?” says my friend repeatedly.

Sometimes I want to shake her and say, “Who is stopping you?”

However, when it comes to me, I convince myself postponing action is justified. Our daughter’s October wedding was a respectable reason for paying more attention to her dream wedding than my life’s ambition. More important than following my dream. It was downright fun to give her bridal plans most of my time; that was, until I felt guilty about ignoring my blog. Then I’d argue, “Good grief. Who wouldn’t do the same when attending to my only daughter’s only wedding?”

The seasons of gratitude and merriment came just after the DJ played the closing song at her reception. I wrote an extensive to-do list including gifts to buy, decorations to hang and recipes to bake. Holidays are a priority … end of that debate.

And just before the first of the year, my husband asked me to work on a project that took weeks to complete.

Before I knew it, I was saying to myself, “When is it going to be my turn? When do I get to do what I want?”

Even though I fully participated and cherished each occasion, I wish instead of making lazy excuses, I had made time for personal writing alongside wedding plans, holidays and someone else’s lengthy project.

WRite wHere I’m supposed to be –I believe it’s not only “our goal” like Mary Lou said, but also our purpose and responsibility to accomplish the “fire in our hearts.”