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Comment on Why Do You Write? And How? by Emily-Sarah

Emily-Sarah — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:34:17 +0000

Barbara, sometimes I choose Law & Order SVU over sleep, even though I know my body needs the sleep much more than my “mind” wants a break. … But the craving wins out. Ditto on wasting time when I should invest in writing or reading or walking the dog or playing (100% engaged) with my son. We just need to be careful not always to make the auto-choice.

Dave, that would be great, wouldn’t it?!

Liz, isn’t it odd how many acts of writing we must do before we’d dare apply the “writer” label? And that plays into why I truly don’t think it’s a bad thing to say we’re writers — along with sitting down and doing the writing part. Too many of us who do actually write (in many formats and for many things) don’t feel legitimate. And we should. We are. Even when pay starts being attached, we still waffle or downplay. Oh, we’re just writing a little bit. Just messing around. Just a little assignment… And THAT kind of language/mindset doesn’t do anybody any good! So I DO write — and I’m a writer too. Ditto for you! And it IS a wonderful-favorite thing to do, isn’t it?!

Comment on Why Do You Write? And How? by Liz

Liz — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:39:52 +0000

I loved Patti’s post too. I didn’t actually start to think of myself as a writer until about 3 years ago. Whenever I needed to think something through, I’d grab a pen and paper and start to write… but that was never meant for anyone but me. I spent my time in college and graduate school continually writing papers, but never thought of myself as a writer. I wrote essay-length emails to friends and family about our experiences in the aftermath of Katrina, and would still never have called myself a writer. It wasn’t until we moved to Colorado and I hadn’t written anything longer than a grocery list for months that I realized I really missed it. I found a ‘literary non-fiction’ adult ed class and was so grateful for the excuse to write again, I started to think maybe I really was a writer. Then I volunteered to write some articles for the local (very local!) paper about our school and eventually got myself hired as a general assignment reporter. That kinda made it official… I guess I really was a writer!
Having that job and the reassurance that every now and then someone wanted to read what I’d written gave me tons of confidence when I started writing my own blog. Now this is one of my very favorite things to do. I still write to figure things out, and now I’m doing it in public!

Comment on Why Do You Write? And How? by Dave

Dave — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:53:11 +0000

I admit I want the easy button, the magic pill, the cake and ice cream too and no adjustments to my belt.

Comment on Why Do You Write? And How? by Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:20:29 +0000

I suppose that’s the problem with why I never seem to lose the weight I say I want to lose. And I never have written that book I say I want to write. … I give all kinds of excuses but really it’s that eating Chinese food and watching Law & Order is more important than exercising my body and my keypad. Feeling and looking healthy and writing ARE so VERY important, but life is tough and I’m tired at 5 o-clock. (I’m tired at 8 in the morning some days!!)

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by Emily-Sarah

Emily-Sarah — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:54:13 +0000

Liz, I like your points about the Olympics (and I *do* find the training and devotion inspiring). I believe you’re right about “the illusion of doing something, rather than the actual doing.” I hadn’t thought of it in quite those terms. Those pseudo-activities can be gratifying (getting to the next level of a game, for instance), but what have we truly accomplished? And how has it impacted our life (or others)?! … Thanks, Liz. I always enjoy your comments (and I’m still benefiting from the Christmas talk)!

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by Liz

Liz — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:53:58 +0000

Oh so true! Oddly enough, the Olympics are the only reason we got a TV 4 years ago, and the reason we finally subscribed to cable this year. I hate the over-produced, hyped-up and often manufactured drama, but I love those moments where you can see an athlete pull the very best he/she has to offer. I love the (true) stories of triumph over adversity, and underdogs surprising the experts. I find the Olympic ideals inspiring.
Having said that, I couldn’t agree more that most of our leisure time is spent in unsatisfying ways. (and farmville- seriously! who thought that up?) I was going to say I don’t get it, but I sort of do. It’s the illusion of doing something, rather than the actual doing. Easier to click a few keys (I’m guessing that’s what they do!) than to actually haul rocks away or dig garden beds. But the rewards of a home-grown tomato have to be so much more satisfying than chasing down those cows that get loose! Psuedo-activities indeed!

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by Emily-Sarah

Emily-Sarah — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:46:31 +0000

Scott, yes, we’re far too passive in many ways. It’s not enough to assume we/our children learn through “osmosis”; we need to take responsibility for our lives and those within our sphere of care.

Barbara, I’m right there with you (I had to think hard to conjure up the list of what I ate today). Auto-pilot can be a nice thing in emergencies, but when we engage it all the time, we’re missing the moment! But we do have to disengage in a proactive and deliberate way, don’t we? Or I do!

Dave, this is so true (different seasons to be more or less active), and I know people living in both extremes of activity/passivity, and some are quite deliberate in the extreme, meaning they’re consciously choosing/limited in what they do or don’t do. Again, I’d argue it’s the mindfulness aspect. Do we know why we’re doing what we’re doing? Are we making thoughtful choices? Good ones? Or just hitting the rewind button of life, pressing (re)play, and then wondering why things don’t improve/change/”get better”?

Thanks, guys! Keep the thoughts coming!

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by Dave

Dave — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:37:49 +0000

We don’t need to always be a spectator, but I do think there are different times and circumstances in life where we can be more active or less active. For everything there is a season …

But yes, you’re right about we should put more thought into what we do. It’s easy to get into habits and then stop thinking about what we’re doing or even hardly recognize we’re doing them.

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by Barbara

Barbara — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:18:00 +0000

This is powerful and simple but much harder to DO. What a nice reminder about being mindful. I think that’s really underneath it all. Sometimes I run through the day and look back and can’t remember what I ate. I suppose the automatic pilot statement is me?!?!?!

Comment on Be Judgmental (Toward Yourself) by SCOTT

SCOTT — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:52:15 +0000

We’re a passive society. Our entertainment and leisure time is often spent consuming what others are doing to a more extreme degree. Instead of playing tennis, we watch pros. We’re lazy and watch instead of do. We condition our children to do the same when we allow them to be more engaged with video games than playing outside or creatively inside. (I’m already seeing signs of this with my 5-year-old.) So while the post is about our own lives/actions, our societal habits become the the norm for next generation. We’re out of balance!