Optimism

Optimism: The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful, including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and everything right that is wrong.

        
Ambrose Bierce

Kyler's Optimism - I'm Awesome, why don't you get it?

I got a good chuckle when I read this quote on my Google Home Page.  I am an optimist and to keep myself from wallowing in the mire, I am sure I have tried to think this way just to keep from falling into the pit of pessimism.  “Good” things come with great trials, frustrations and lessons and it takes a positive attitude to keep moving through them.  Hindsight is 20/20.  Looking back on the events of my life, I can truly say it was all good and for my growth and upliftment, but in the midst of the struggle, it just plain stinks and I can not wait to be free from its hold.

Kegan's 16 Year Old Optimism - My teachers are out to ruin my life!

I’ll use marriage as a perfect example.  When I met my husband and we began dating, our relationship was flowery and giddy.  He appeared to be the answer to all my prayers and no matter the obstacle, we would overcome.  We were strong, optimistic and crazy in love.  (Yes, I do fully mean insane - for the mind cannot think clearly with the biological forces at work in a fresh, new relationship.)  As we faced the challenges of family, finances, personality traits, leftover baggage from the past, all the schmaltzy love disappeared.  Like sandpaper on weathered wood, we scraped against one another with painful realities of the truth of our nature.  I just wanted to get away from the situation; it seemed to be a disaster.  As we accepted the fact we were stuck together because there was no escape, we began to work together, forgive and listen.  The rough, splintered boards have transformed into a work of art.  Not to say the work is done, but the renovation on us was well worth the effort and I am a better person for forging on and I believe my husband is as well.

Perhaps the trails in my life really are all good though they may have been caused by my own foolish choices, the final result is something quite beautiful to behold.  I remember the common, yet wise cliché, “This too shall pass” because it will and I have the opportunity to grow from it if I choose.

Let me know if you can relate or if you disagree.  I love reading your comments, for they too smooth my rough edges.

Jody

Do Something

Don’t Just Sit There, DO Something!

Or it is

Don’t Just Do Something, SIT there! 

mansanity.com

Finding the balance in life is no small task; it’s a constant challenge for me.  In December, I began working with a book/class called The Artist Way by Julia Cameron.  It is a spectacular resource for opening up your creative self.  I found it to be helpful not only in writing, but in basic problem solving as well.

It’s one thing in life to be a dreamer and another to be a doer.  I believe the perfect balance is a blending of the two.  I can visualize my goals with precision, but getting there is my enigma.  How do I balance my creative imagination with physical results?  Do I follow my heart and write when our finances really do not allow for this luxury?  Do I return to what I have done for years in the construction/cleaning business and hope the time for writing will come?  Neither one works for me.  I can not effectively survive without “X” amount of dollars and trust me I have tried and cut every expenditure imaginable.  Yet, I would betray my heart if I returned to a job I no longer wanted to do nor am physically able to do.

Kegan with the same dilema!

I woke up one morning a few months ago at 3 am with a business plan in my head.  Could this be the answer?  After much research and advice, I am moving on the venture with the hopes of meeting my financial needs in a positive way which will eventually allow me to write.  I am excited to introduce to you a healthy, innovative, environmentally responsible company, Kuzala Gluten Free Delectables.  I am privileged to be partnering not only with my immediate family, but my brother Jeremy, my parents and friends to make this company a success.

 

Kuzala opens for business at the end of April and will bring low glycemic, naturally sweetened, gluten free products to Denver and the surrounding area. 

Putting trust in myself to make this endeavor a success has been a task all its own.  Gently refining and balancing the priorities of my spiritual and physical life will prove to be prosperous either way.

Shared journey’s make light the way.  I’d love to hear from you about venturing into the unknown.

Love & light,

Jody

New Adventures

 Fantom-xp.com

My dream of being a writer is here!  It’s not what I expected, but its part of the journey and I embrace it with both arms.  I have had the great pleasure of writing creatively in a non-fiction environment for the past couple of months and although I have done quite of bit of this type of writing in the past, I find my writing has matured over time.

"Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver." - Ayn Rand

I am excited to tell you about some wonderful opportunities I have taken advantage of to earn money needed to write the books which reside in my heart.

Check out http://www.indiasgardenvilla.com/ for my recent work in promoting a fantastic Mexican vacation destination in LaCruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico.  Our writing group in planning a relaxing writers retreat in November. 

           

The next thrilling business venture we are about to embark upon is:

Kuzala Gluten Free Delectables

This new company is set to launch in late April.  Our wholesale gluten free bakery will storm the Denver Markets with exquisite low glycemic, gluten free, low sugar cookies and desserts.  Our website will be up and running soon.  Please follow our events page and check us out!

It’s amazing to observe synchronistic events leading me down an unknown path to a destination I know I will love.  Life is wondrous and awesome as I enter the flow without resistance to see where it will lead me.  A prayer I have in my heart daily is for “The light for the highest good”.  Since I do not know what is for my highest good, it’s interesting to see where the path will lead.  I hope you will join me on this journey into the unknown and share your story with me.

Squirrels + Coffee
Dear God.  Help us!

                                      Funny-pics-fun.com

Chips

What a week!  I am working fervently launching businesses which when mature, will enable me to focus on my books.  I would like to introduce you to some of the exciting happening in our household. 

The first and most fun by far, is Kegan’s blog début. My eldest son Kegan, now 16 years old, has shown an interest in writing.  He excelled at poetry in his middle school years, then struggled his first year of high school, but has returned to try his hand again in this creative endeavor.  Seeing life through the eyes of my teenager is an entertaining and wondrous experience.  So without further ado, here is Kegan Johnson.

Chips

I love chips. The salty, crunchy sensation from this delicacy known as chips is the corner stone of pleasure in my life. Mom doesn’t want me eating them. She is crazy not letting me have these chips. Two weeks I have to live without chips and I have no idea how I can last this long. My mind tells me to resist but my mouth will do anything to get a hold of the good stuff; I do not know how much longer I can resist the best sensation in my life. I remembered when I bought my first bag of chips; it was my favorite flavor, Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips. When I ate them, I thought I was in heaven; just thinking about them rekindles my cravings for them. Temptation kick in, my mouth begins to water. I close in on the idea of sneaking one, just one, bag of chips a week. Just to hold me over. I feel myself slowing losing control. It won’t be long before I go totally mad.

Post a comment and let his know what you think.  Have a great week! 

p.s. Thank you for your name suggestions.  I’ll let you know soon the name of our new bakery!

Bakery Name Contest

My nose is bloodied from being put to the grindstone.  I am setting up several new businesses so that one day I can write full time.  One of the toughest things I have had to do is name the bakery.  I, unlike many writers, name my pieces very early in the process.  If provides direction and the piece becomes alive; it no longer is just an idea, it breathes and grows.  In my quest, I ran into some fabulous websites you may want to check out.

Who remembers Snigglets? They were a small section on Not Neccesarily the News back in the 80’s.  Snigglets were great made up words and I believe it is where “spork” got its origin.  Squidoo is a fun site for fun or forgotten words like “blowsabelle”.  Can you guess its meaning?  (This is so me on a bad day.)  blowsabella (n.) a rough, romping red-faced female whose hair is dishevelled and hanging about her face. Gotta love it!  Just call me a “Bleached Mort” (fair complexioned female) and you’ll love this word - circumbilivagination.  You’ll have to look it up to find out what it means.  Find it here:  http://www.squidoo.com/weird-words-starting-with-c   Here is another for those of you who love words:  http://www.vocabula.com/VRbestwords.asp.

Beggar's Velvet

Beggar's Velvet (n.pl.) downey particles which accumulate under furniture from the negligence of housekeepers.

I would love your help in naming our newest business scheduled to open May/June of 2012.  It is a gluten/sugar free wholesale bakery.  I have in mind “Happy” or some variation.  Leave me some suggestions.  If your name is chosen, you will receive $50 in free baked goods.  Thanks for your help!

p.s. Kegan’s blog is coming…next time. 

Illustration Credit: The Gross Uncle at flickr.com

Windows

Isn’t it amazing what a day can bring forth?  How about a week of synchronistic events?  I stand amazed by the power of creativity.

My week began with worry and frustration. I find it near impossible to create a good piece of writing while our financial ends wave at each other from across the creek.  I spend my time floundering for a paddle in which to connect them.  So I ask myself, how do I have a profluent life and still do what I love?  The answer comes in not one solution, but several. 

I woke at 3 am Tuesday morning fully alert. A near complete business plan in my head.  As an entrepreneur most of my adult life, I love contemplating new ideas.  I thought, if I can build several small businesses, the combined dividends of each will enable me to write and earn enough money to not sweat out the bills each month without consuming all my time and energy.

With my phone as a light, I scribbled notes down for an hour before I could rest again.  Excitement filled every cell and I was running on its energy and working hard to make the ideas come to life.  As I followed the call, numerous business owners expressed interest in my sales as a wholesaler which in turn, fueled my enthusiasm.

Then, like any good story, conflict enters and my character is challenged.  It won’t go.  I can’t do it.  It was probably a stupid idea anyway. I will have to go back to a job I don’t want to do.  I’ll not find time to write.  I won’t have money and we’ll probably lose the house.  Nice pity party, wouldn’t you say?  I sent myself to my room and began to journal.

Hope poked its head from behind the dark clouds of dismay.  A window opened and brought with it not only the fresh air of a new idea, but knowledge through the closure; I opened to a better idea.  Fantastic ideas are flowing and again I am filled with confidence.

My you find many windows in your life!

P.S. I’ll announce the new business ventures soon!

New Windows!

Mission Impossible

jonathanhilton.com

One of the significant rewards in following my passion to write has been the amazing people I have met along the way. I have met writers from various walks of life and in different stages of their writing pursuit.  Each one has given me a gift to take on my journey, although it may take some time to ascertain it.  It’s like finding money in the pocket of an old pair of jeans.  It makes you smile and you feel just a little more ahead of where you were a moment ago.

I have been guided and encouraged by the most unlikely sources and found friendships in a vulnerable society.  Writers must put themselves out for criticism and critiques from readers at large and fellow writers.  I appreciate gingerly stepped advice and caring encouragement of my peers not only to myself but to others attempting to make their story heard in a compelling way.

On days when I think I must be totally irrational for trying to make any kind of living doing what I love, I remember the brave souls who have done it before me and those who share my journey.  We encourage and cheer each other on to face the fear and/or the obstacle.  Creativity now becomes indispensible in every area of life to reach the goal. 

In a world of realism, truth emerges in what at first appears nonsense authoring wisdom to the seemingly impossible.

“There is no use trying,” said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen.  “When I was your age, I always did if for half an hour a day.  Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” 

Lewis Carroll

What impossible task will you believe in today?