It's Finally Here!

Thank God I...Volume 3 is now available for purchase at http://www.thankgodi.com/cmd.php?af=1333140. My story is on pages 208-212.

Commentary on Our "Busy-ness"

I'm reading the book, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm at the beginning, when she is experiencing Italy. This paragraph struck me so hard that I have to share it here:

Generally speaking, though, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions to keep themselves amused with everything from porn to theme parks to wars, but that's not exactly the same thing as quiet enjoyment. Americans work harder and longer and more stressful hours than anyone in the world today. But...we seem to like it. Alarming statistics back this observation up, showing that many Americans feel more happy and fulfilled in their offices than they do in their own homes. Of course, we inevitably work too hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pajamas, eating cereal straight out of the box and staring at the TV in a mild coma (which is the opposite of working, yes, but not exactly the same thing as pleasure). Americans really don't know how to do nothing. This is the cause of the great sad American stereotype - the overstressed executive who goes on vacation, but who cannot relax.

Anyone relate to this? Comments? Observations?

I Feel Your Pain

Literally. I love my friends. And when one of them hurts, I hurt too. When they are appalled at the depths to which a formerly trusted loved one went, I am horrified as well. This makes me quite an emotional person in general. 

Last night I was going to go down to the pool with Punkin and my friend offered to go and sit with me while I watched my daughter swim. I started crying because someone else thought of me and my needs.

I guess the "self-care guru" needs to read her own book, eh? 

So, if you find yourself sobbing alone in your closet and you are my friend, call me. If at all humanly possible, I will come sob with you. I'll even bring ice cream. If you're the selfish, cheating sonofabitch that caused my friend pain, however, invest in a steel plated athletic cup. I know where you sleep.

Yada Yada

Today was Day 1 of the PSI Conference. I am ashamed to admit I spent most of the day texting people and taking my acrylic fingernails off under the table. I seem to have the attention span of a gnat.

Fortunately, my energy has returned, so getting up early and driving downtown in rush hour isn't as unpleasant as it would be if I was still dragging.

I am putting my book out on the bookstore table tomorrow. We'll see how that goes. 20% goes to PSI, which I don't mind at all.

Punkin is officially out of school for the summer. I am so proud of her - she made all A's all year! That's the first time she's done that since she started public school 3 years ago. 

I am so looking forward to our vacation to San Diego at the end of the month. Being in the ritzy hotel today got me really revved up for a change of scenery.

The Ending Sucked!

This is what has been keeping me up at night, and waking me up early in the morning. Another Neil Peart book. This one, in contrast to The Masked Rider, had much more of an emotional undercurrent (to be expected, since this was his way of healing from the loss of his family).

Again, he offers great observations and lyrical prose as he describes the terrain - external as well as internal. It was the ending that disappointed me, as I finished up at 5:30 this morning. 

Peart loses his only child and his wife of 22 years within a 10-month period. Totally harsh. So to help him cope, he hits the road on his motorcycle. He takes us with him through the stages of grief, and the book wraps up around the 2-year anniversary of his wife's passing.

With such a deep thinker, I just assumed that he would turn a corner emotionally, and heal himself from the inside out. But no - it was a girl that pushed him around that proverbial corner. While I am glad that he found someone - no one should be alone if they don't want to be - it just fell flat that he had to find a new love to finish up "on the healing road." I'd like to ask him what he thinks about the previously rejected, "Everything happens for a reason."

My existential disappointment shall not keep me from his other 2 books, and I will start reading Traveling Music real soon. I feel like I have actually been somewhere after I finish a Peart book, and for a homebody like me, that's saying something!

Nightlife

This is what has been keeping me up at night. Anyone who has known me for any length of time is surely not surprised that I'm reading a book by Neil Peart. Even an old book by Neil Peart. Though I must admit, I am excited about reaching the destination so that I can start the new(er) book by Neil Peart.

There's something about the way he writes that makes me want to do things that I would have never even considered worthwhile before. It's like someone who is just thrilled about their new Russian underwater basket-weaving hobby convincing me that I, too, must learn to weave! That would take a damn lot of convincing. Yet 2 chapters and half an hour later, Peart had me wanting to ride a bicycle (ow.) through Africa (hot...sweaty...outdoors.) staying in 1/4 star "hotels" (definitely no room service.). Somehow he made it sound, well...necessary. You know, like something I should do before I die.

I used to be adventurous. Now I have to work myself up to hit around my whiffle golf balls in my own back yard. When did I become so complacent? When did I become so afraid?

I know that a bike tour through Cameroon is probably not the answer. But there has to be more to life. There just has to be.

It's Finally Here

This is Crap!

So I am working on a presentation about Self-care to be delivered to an audience of Education Office Professionals in Maryland next month (whilst waiting to have lunch with Reggie!). I am trying to explain exactly why Western society is so f*cked up. Then, I had a phone conversation with a friend that helped me sum it up.

We were talking about how people in Houston go bat-shit crazy when it rains - at least when it comes to driving. I was telling him about how it is in the small town where my husband grew up and how you know when you hit the city limits because everyone is not in a hurry. He said something like, "I envy them."

Then it hit me. In our society, busyness, productivity, speed, efficiency and sacrifice are the qualities held in the highest regard when it comes to everyday life - at work, at home, everywhere. So we are basically telling ourselves that self-sacrifice + productivity = GOOD. I even experienced this first hand over the summer when my business slowed down so much. I actually felt useless a lot of the time.

We feel like we are "wasting time" if we just want to sit in the backyard and listen to the birds or watch an "America's Next Top Model" marathon. We feel guilty taking sick days off from work or if we have to stay home with an ill child or pet. We get denied promotions or recognition if we take the time to take care of our Selves.

Folks, this is crap.

If you have found a good balance of "have tos" and "want tos" in your life, then good for you. But if you haven't - and you know who you are - then please start thinking about ways to increase your level of Self-care. If you don't take care of you, then who will?

We shouldn't have to move to the caves of the Himalayas to feel guiltless about slowing down a little.

Shameless plug: If you want to know more about my ideas for Self-care, consider ordering my book. They should be ready to ship this afternoon! (WOO HOO!)

Friday Update

School starts on Monday. As "slow" as summer was, it did seem to fly by. Punkin was very pessimistic about having to go to a new school this year. We went to "Meet the Teacher" yesterday, so she got to talk to one of her teachers, choose her desk, and even met the girl who will be sitting next to her. Then we went shopping for school clothes (though with the uniforms, we couldn't be very creative). So, I think she isn't dreading it as much as she was.

Did I mention that I am going to be teaching again this semester? It's a dual-credit class, which is for high schoolers that want to earn college credit. In theory, it should be a great bunch, since they will really want to be there - unlike a lot of the college freshmen I get.

Work is picking up, too. I have 2 new clients on the roster for next week. I should have a print proof of the book in my hands any day now, so that is on the horizon.

Yep, thoughts do become things.

'Tis Done!

The text and cover art have been sent to the printer. We shall have REAL LIVE BOOKS soon! Woo hooooo!

Coming Soon!

Preorder here!

Celebrate!

Today, I applied for an ISBN number and copyright for my book! That means I am wrapping up the manuscript and am preparing for printing. I honestly didn't know if I would ever be at this point - the process of writing and editing can be quite lengthy. I even have a couple of quotes for the back cover!

So...if you need a reason to celebrate, use this. The idea of people partying in my honor makes me happy.