Accentuate the Positive

You know that grumpy troll/sneaky bad faerie/negative nancy voice that everyone has? The one that stops you from taking leaps of faith {he's sure you won't make it, and not only will you fall splat on the ground, but you'll do it in an extremely unattractive way}. The one that says "Yeah BUT", the one that convinces you that the safe way is the only way there is?

Well I am really really REALLY sick of that voice. That voice needs a good swift kick in the pants and he is certainly a little too big for his britches. It's time for a showdown.

We all have our doubts about our own abilities and we all have moments of fear. Am I good enough? Should I follow this mysterious path or stay on the well lit road? Do I really deserve to be successful and happy?
The answer is an unequivocal yes, but sometimes the troll's voice wins merely because it is so much louder than that other voice. The quiet, sure one. The one that says we can be anything we want to be. The one that is ready to climb mountains, take that scary road and do it with style. The one with the courage to make her dreams come true.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to make a concerted effort to accentuate the positive. Everytime the troll says, "You can't survive, you have no money, go get a real job."
I'll say, "I am surviving. And I may be low on funds right now, but I still have a roof, food, a new computer, and a reservation for the writer's conference. Not to mention the support of my family and friends. So it can't be that bad."

And when the troll says, "You aren't good enough. You're asking for rejection. Go flip burgers instead. You aren't a writer."
I'll say, "I want to write. I love to write. I am writing. So I AM a writer. I am getting better and learning more everyday, and if one publisher doesnt like my work, it doesnt mean I wont find another down the road. I'm not afraid of a little rejection." {thats a hard one-I'll need practice-A LOT-I'm sure lol}

And so on and so forth-from my hips to my family to my writing. I will no longer let that scared little posturing troll affect my life or my decisions. I am just as stubborn-and for every no from him I have a yes to combat it. Eventually he'll just go away and pester someone who'll actually pay attention to him. I won't give him anymore satisfaction.

Hear that you irritating bugger? :}

I've been tagged

I just wrote a post and then I find that MG at http://mgbraden.com/blog/ tagged me{my first tag! lol}so here's my excerpt.

"Fatiha-the short opening sura of the Qur'an, beginning,'In the name of God, the Lord of the Worlds...'. It is held in special reverence by Muslims and much used liturgically, in some ways forming a parallel to the use of the Lord's Prayer in Christianity. It is an indispensible part of the worship or salat, being recited at the beginning of each prostration,and is further used as a prayer for the sick, the dead etc."

The above from my ever near companion Dictionary of Religions edited by John R. Hinnells. {I know-I'm so thrilling lol}

here are the rules:

1. Grab the book closest to you.
2. Open to page 123, look down to the 5th sentence.
3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
4. Include the title and the author’s name.
5. Tag 3 people

How about 2 people? I will tag Lisa/Eden Bradley and Rhonda-we'll see what happens. :}

ACHOO!

Thirteen Things That Stink About Being Sick 1.It's the one instance when chocolate does not make you feel better. 2.The fact that your world is suddenly wrapped in a foggy shrinking bubble filled with white noise and one tinny neverending whistle. 3. The issue of tissue. If you buy generic you will wind up with a scab the size of Utah where your nose used to be. However those lotion filled fancy hankies have their own special and slightly oily quirks. 4.The Pea-as in the old Fairytale The Princess and The-? No position, no location, no downy soft pillow or egyptian cotton sheet is comfortable enough to suit your aching limbs. 5. The weird cure alls you're willing to try after Dayquil and Flu-Be-Gone arent doing it. Onion and mustard neck wraps, Cayenne tea, nasal irrigation {that's always fun} 6.{Warning-icky ahead} Throwing any ladylike class or elegance out the window. There will be mucus. It wont be pretty. You will look like a plague-ridden character from Stephen King's The Stand, you may sound like a wounded bear. This is not a sexy time. 7. Lack of concentration. You could play a computer game, watch a lot of tv, and nap. But if you need to write or concentrate, or do anything that requires more than groggy slightly nonsensical conversation-you are out of luck. 8.Being a grown up. Being sick is just not as satisfying now that I'm an adult. I mean-no one likes to be sick but I remember being pampered. I got to stay home from school, propped up on the couch while people fed me soup and patted my head and let me watch anything I wanted. My hubby does spoil me and no one is a better caretaker-but I am different. I have things to do-errands, plans, WRITING. I dont have the luxury or time to thoroughly enjoy it :} 9.The fact that I have to stop at 9 because I'm too tired to write out the rest of the reasons being sick stinks. LOL {cough}. But you get the picture. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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Brownies and Gremlins {Warning: medicated diatribe}

I've been seeing the little devils out of the corner of my eye for a few weeks now. I keep losing things-got a whopper of a virus that just wont go away-and there have been multiple blips in the machinery of my life that lead me to believe someone is trying to tell me something.
Mini chaos like this usually happens when I let things go-procrastinate-or dont face a particular issue I need to deal with. Life just shakes it's head and throws curve balls my way until I'm forced to look closer. What is it that I'm missing?
Although introspection now-when my ear is clogged and ringing out a painful tone...when my throat looks and feels like I swallowed a large chicken bone sideways {ugh}-is not exactly an easy feat.
Wouldn't it be nice if the Universe just sent a letter. "Dear So and So, please get your head out of your posterior and follow this to do list that we've alphabetized for your convenience."
If only.
Anyway-if any of those adorable imps are listening-I promise I'll figure it out, so please stop misplacing things and allow me to get better soon.

I have cookies. They'll be waiting on the table.

I Can't Wait to Read This!

Up In Flames by Ember Sinclair
Available January 12, 2007
from CobbleStone Press
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/
www.embersinclair.com

Kat Ashbrook has two things on her mind—catching a murderer
and sexy new boss, Connor Mercer. She never expected his
come-hither looks, but she’s betting she can resist if she keeps
her mind on the job. Too bad a prank leads to her surrender and
possibly their deaths.

13 Thank You's to the Divas

For all the chanting and the heartfelt help and wishes-I made my 13 early just for you :}



Thirteen Thanks To The Divas



1.For making me laugh everyday

2.For listening to me whine and moan and stomp my feet

3.For teaching me about true grace in the face of obstacles, true joy in the face of challenge, and true determination even during flowus interruptus {Lisa's latin}

4.For being the muses for my current WIP

5.For teaching me all about this business I dove into blind

6.For not pointing out how often I am hanging out with you guys instead of doing my work {very polite of you lol}

7.For challenging me to improve my craft, participate in the fun of life, and push my own personal and insecure envelope a little further each day.

8.For the hugs and the chocolate and the sincere and powerful prayers.

9.For the Daily Fix :}
10.For the focus you give me just by being there-reminding me everyday that I am a writer.

11.For cracking that whip when I have a goal.

12.For your generosity of spirit and time-no one ever comes to RD without an open armed welcome, and no one ever leaves without a smile.

13. And finally, thank you all for the chanting today-even when you didnt know what you were saying. I have never felt so at home with another group of women {and dudes} in my life. And I wish you all the greatest new year anyone could hope for!





Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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