I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I feel this primal thrum of fear and anxiety due to the pandemic, the political divisiveness in our country, and the social unrest around the world. I keep waiting for the next shoe to drop. Practicing self-care is vital, but sometimes I don’t even have the energy to get up and get a glass of water. However, I got a great piece of advice the other day. A new approach called “Can I just…” I give full credit to Derek Doepker. I’m currently taking a class in audiobook Read More
Category: Writer’s World
So, What Am I Afraid Of?
Okay, today I’m going to talk about fears because, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been pretty afraid lately. Spiders. Full stop. Now while this might seem like an ordinary fear, let me explain why I’m so freaked out by spiders. When I was sixteen, my parents took me along on a vacation in the Catskill Mountains in New York State. I shared a room with Eileen, the ten-year-old daughter of my parents’ friends. She went to bed early, and her mother left the light on for me. When I opened the door to the bedroom, the walls and Read More
Did I Really Say That?
I’ve been thinking about language lately. Maybe because we’ve just celebrated Pentecost, maybe because I’m at the point in the revision of my book where I’m word-smithing. Every. Single. Word. Maybe because with all the social justice marches taking place, I realize more than ever how much language matters. When I taught high school literature classes there was always the inevitable lesson on conflict, and I would write on the chalkboard (yes, I’m that old) the following: Man vs. Man Man vs. Nature Man vs. Supernatural Man vs. Society Man vs. Self Man vs. Technology It was a standard basis Read More
How I’m Staying Sane During the Stay at Home Order – Part II
As I said last week in How I’m Staying Sane During the Stay at Home Order – Part I, I thrive on structure. I think it’s because during my teaching career, my days were so structured that I knew I could use the restroom at 11:55 a.m. and lunch would last from 12-12:20. I do not exaggerate. In this post, I in no way mean to dismiss or minimize the emotions many of you are experiencing right now. I, too, fight this fear and have to intentionally keep myself as positive as possible, and it’s exhausting. I’m just sharing what Read More
5 Ways I’m Staying Sane During the Pandemic – Part I
I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. This is a strange time we live in, and we require new coping mechanisms. Since I work from home, my adjustment probably isn’t as great as yours might be. Still, not being able to hop in my car and go to the bookstore/office supply store/hairdresser, etc. is bizarre. In an eerie way, for me, knowing I can’t do these things is worse than not being able to do them. I knew early on that I would need some structure—I thrive on structure—to carry me through. Here are some ways Read More