good reading

I have been, as usual, reading voraciously this summer. I’m on a mystery kick that started with Lisa Scottoline and has brought me to Janet Evanovich and Alexander McCall Smith. And, of course, I am ever-reading things to help me develop into my best, brightest self. Lately, that has included one of SARK’s newer books, “Fabulous Friendship Festival: Loving Wildly, Learning Deeply, Living Fully with Our Friends.”

Sark writes about all kind of friendships, but I most enjoyed her chapter on self-friendship. I truly believe that it’s impossible to be a good friend to others unless you are - first and foremost - a good friend to yourself. I really applied this concept recently when I took a week off from work for a “staycation.” Every morning I awoke and told myself I could do anything I wanted. And I did. I spent quality time with myself, and although I’d known that I enjoy solitary time, that week I recognized that I truly enjoy my own company. And that is such a gift.

The week was glorious. I practiced yoga, lounged at the pool, drank tea, napped, went to the beach for the day, bought an awesome new couch, and read about 10 books. By the end of the week, I was tan, relaxed, and so pleased. It was so wonderful learning to be such a friend to me!

SARK has been a mainstay on my bookshelf for many years. (In fact, it was her book on creative dreams that gave me the idea - and bravery - to begin this blog!) So I’m always excited when she releases a new book. And guess what, friends? She just did! Yup, “Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper: Gifting the World with Your Words and Stories and Creating the Time and Energy to Actually DO it” is right up my alley. As you know, one of my struggles as a writer is actually WRITING. Blogging helps, and I journal regularly. But I suspect a good kick in the rear from this book will do me some good.

long time gone

Well, faithful friends, I recognize that I have been conspicuously absent the past few months, but all I can say is that this creative dream-living is keeping me busy! After consistently doing the next right thing, even when the hoped-for results were nowhere in sight, I am now living smack in the middle of a dream life. So for now, I will write from this new vantage point.

For one thing, I am seeing that to get to my ultimate dream, I must be willing to make sacrifices. In fact, right now I am consciously choosing a situation which I know is only a stepping stone, even though some days it grinds against me. I am learning to accept that, before moving on to bigger and brighter things, I must learn contentment in the smaller, grey spaces.

But even the grey has great swashes of color. At least when I’m willing to see it.

track your reading

Thanks to my good friend Amy’s recent post, I just discovered Goodreads,  a site where you can track the books you’ve read, are reading, or plan to read. Another dream come true…

great song lyrics

Just had to share these great song lyrics from Bonnie Raitt’s “I Will Not Be Broken.”

That was then this is now
Found my way back here somehow
Knew you’d have to let me go
Told you once I told you so

Take me down
You can hold me but you
Can’t hold what’s within
Pull me round
Push me to the limit
Maybe I may bend
But I know where I’m not going
I will not be broken
I will not be broken
I will not be…

Someone other than who I am
I will fight to make my stand
Cause what is livin’ if I can’t live free
What is freedom if I can’t be me

Take me down
You can hold me but you
Can’t hold what’s within
Pull me round
Push me to the limit
Maybe I may bend
But I know where I’m not going
I will not be broken
I will not be broken
I will not be…

I won’t let you near it
I will let my spirit fly
Fly
High
Oh take me down

Take me down
You can hold me but you
Can’t hold what’s within
Pull me round
Push me to the limit
Maybe I may bend
But I know where I’m not going
I will not be broken
I will not be broken
I will not be…

stepping out as a writer

Tonight one of my dreams came true. As part of my dream to live my life as a writer, I want to read and publish my work. Thing is, that scares the heck out of me. I read at coffee shops in college, but not since.

Until tonight.

At 7pm Wednesday night, I participated in a Salon hosted by Philadelphia nonprofit First Person Arts. It was amazing. I spoke about my work in front of a decent-sized group, read an excerpt from an autobiographical essay, and took audience questions. Intense. When I got the first publicity email, I almost fell off my chair. It was just so jarring to see myself - picture and bio - in that form!

In all honestly, I almost backed out. But I thought about my creative dreams as a whole, and how some day I would look back at this as the first of many steps. And I decided to feel the fear and do it anyway.

And I did.

a bibliophile’s dream come true

Last week I zipped up to New York for work, and while I was there I stumbled upon a dream come true: Strand Bookstoreкомпютри. Their tagline, “18 Miles of Books,” hooked me immediately, and when I walked into that place, I was home. I got a book, of course, but I also treated myself to a cute orange tote bag and a hip ringer t shirt.

What can I say? I was the ultimate NYC tourist.

catching my breath

Well, friends, after working on my creative dreams for some time now, they are really blossoming and keeping me super-busy. It’s wonderful and thrilling and exhausting living out some of my dreams. In the past month, I finished a big copywriting contract, began another one, and successfully coordinated a national conference. Whew. I am loving life and the way my career is blooming, but it takes up a lot of my time and energy.

SARK talks about our dreams going through growing stages, including: an egg, hatched, infant/baby, toddler, child, adolescent, and adult. My career is transitioning from the infant/baby stage, where it needed a lot of shelter, care, and attention, to the toddler stage, where it is now very demanding of my time and attention and can be charming and endearing. (I didn’t make this up, so for more on this concept, see SARK’s book, Make Your Creative Dreams Real.) Both my day job, which I have begun really enjoying, and my side business, are just booming. I am enjoying a new level of ease in my work role(s). But that ease comes with a price, and lately it’s been time.

I suppose it’s natural, right, that once we work so hard to get a dream to come true, it will take some energy to keep it growing? The thing that amazes me is that the dreams themselves grow as I live within them. They get bigger and deeper, more glorious. I’m full of gratitude for the good things in my life, and encourage you all to keep on dreaming. Because one of these days, your dream will come true, too.

vote, vote, vote!

Calling all PA residents! In this hotly contested race for the Presidency, I am encouraging everyone to get out and vote. We are so lucky to live in a country where we can let our opinion be heard, and what better way to make our dreams real than free music real ringtones info motorola personal remember ringtones free ringtones for verizon wireless phone dash mobile ringtones t free ringtones for cingular phone free mp3 ringtones for t mobile free sms ringtones polyphonic ringtones for sony ericsson free real music ringtones for nextel free pcs ringtones sprint free ringtones for sprint phone download free midi ringtones free boost ringtones 24 free ringtones make your own free ringtones free music nextel real ringtones ringtones for nokia phone verizon lg ringtones download free ringtones tracfone 24 ringtones by electing officials who can work to change the world?

No mater where you fall on the political spectrum, get out and vote today!! Especially (no offense, guys) you ladies–our foremothers worked hard to make this day possible.

springtime

Springtime is finally here, at least in Pennsylvania, and I am thrilled. Rittenhouse Square is brimming with people, all sun-starved from the wintertime blahs. Nannies are out with the toddlers, dogs are running for Frisbees, and some brave souls are even picnicking.  As for me, I’m just enjoying having my windows open.

So I’m just posting a brief creative update, y’all, and then I’m off to romp in the grass. Let’s see…well, on March 15 I submitted three poems to the Bellingham Review’s 49th Parallel Award for Poetry contest, and am keeping my fingers crossed. On April 3, I emceed a benefit concert at World Cafe Live. And on Friday, I landed another big copywriting project.

Things are good, friends.

I’ll leave you with my grandfather’s favorite poem:

Spring has sprung,
the grass has ris,
I wonder where the birdies is?

readaholic

Debbie Ridpath Ohi is a freelance writer and artist I’ve come to love the past few years. I check her site, Will Write for Chocolate, every week, and her writing comics are just awesome. I totally related to this week’s, called “Addicted to Reading.”

I read from the moment I wake up until the time I put my head on the pillow. Once I’ve got coffee, I’m curled up with my Bible and journal. At breakfast, I read from three different inspirational books. Lunch is lighter - a magazine or, if I feel vigorous, the front page of the Times. During dinner, I crack that week’s novel, which I keep open the rest of the night until I fall asleep.

I am, you might say, a readaholic. Whichis apparently a real condition, at least according to the American Literature Abuse Society. You might be, too, and to be sure, just take the Self-Test for Literature Abuse:

Self-Test for Literature Abuse: How many of these apply to you?

1. I have read fiction when I was depressed or to cheer myself up.
2. I have gone on reading binges of an entire book or more in a day.
3. I read rapidly, often “gulping” chapters.
4. I sometimes read early in the morning or before work.
5. I have hidden books in different places to sneak a chapter without being seen.
6. Sometimes I avoid friends or family obligations in order to read novels.
7. Sometimes I re-write film or television dialog as the characters speak.
8. I often read alone.
9. I have pretended to watch television while secretly reading.
10. I keep books or magazines in the bathroom for a “quick nip.”
11. I have denied or “laughed off” criticism of my reading habit.
12. Heavy reading has caused conflicts with my family or spouse.
13. I am unable to enjoy myself with others unless there is a book nearby.
14. I seldom leave my house without a book or magazine.
15. When travelling, I pack a large bag full of books.
16. At a party, I will often slip off unnoticed to read.
17. Reading has made me seek haunts and companions which I would otherwise avoid.
18. I have neglected personal hygiene or household chores until I finished a novel.
19. I become nervous, disoriented, or fearful when I must spend more than 15 minutes without reading matter.
20. I have spent money meant for necessities on books instead.
21. I have sold books to support my reading “habit.”
22. I have daydreamed about becoming a rich & famous writer, or “word-pusher.”
23. I have attempted to check out more library books than is permitted.
24. Most of my friends are heavy fiction readers.
25. I have sometimes passed out or woken groggy or “hung-over” after a night of heavy reading.
26. I have suffered ‘blackouts’ or memory loss from a bout of reading.
27. I have wept, become angry or irrational because of something I read.
28. I have sometimes wished I did not read so much.
29. Sometimes I think my fiction reading is out of control.

If you answered ‘yes’ to five or more of these questions, you may be a literature abuser. Affirmative responses to ten or more indicates a serious reading problem –seek help now! Fifteen or more “yes” responses indicates a severe or chronic “readaholic” personality. Intervention is seldom effective at this stage.

Well, friends, I think there are worse addictions. Read on…

(If you want more of Ohi’s stuff, check out Inkygirl: Daily Diversions For Writers.)