After the Hurricane, Journal on These Words
It’s been a scattered day after all the destruction of Hurricane Sandy. Yes, damn it! I’m still going to call her a hurricane! All that energy stirring up for days. All that energy supposedly balancing the poles, but I’m not sure which pole they are referring to – north, south, or telephone pole. What must we all be thinking to manifest such destruction?
So now, after the hurricane, it’s time to do some writing… journal writing. Regardless of whether you write daily like me, or occasionally, journal on these words today. My suggested journal prompts:
Reflection – today I reflect on all the good in my life.
Gratitude – what are you grateful for in your life today?
Forgiveness – describe how forgiveness would benefit you right now.
Start today, and journal on these words. In your journal, use a page for each prompt, or write a paragraph for each prompt. Free write on these prompts for at least 5 minutes each. See where journaling on these words take you for the moment. Don’t alter your writing just let it flow – freely. After the hurricane, you may be surprised that life isn’t so bad after all.
Meanwhile… Life Happens
Meanwhile … Life Happens
What do you do when you are pulled in so many directions and your dreams get put on hold? Well…. You really shouldn’t put your dreams on hold – for any reason! However, they may be delayed for a day or two. Here are a few tips to recognize the crisis, the drama and the putting yourself aside for others.
1 – Take 5 minutes several times during the day for self check in. Whether you do a mental, physical or emotional check in, check in often. Make the necessary adjustments – each time.
2 – Journal each morning for 15-20 minutes to get your day organized, your thoughts straight and go deep into your subconscious to bring up the gems that need to surface.
3 – Take a Walk. Whether it’s 10-20-or 40 or more minutes, take a walk – it helps relieve stress and surprisingly inspires creativity.
4 – Meditate. Walking can be meditation and so can sitting quietly and deep breathing, or being aware of your breath. Focus on something other than the crisis going on around you -i.e.: focus on your breath.
5 – Do Something for You! If you are dealing with your own crisis or someone else’s, do something nice for yourself. I was having a crisis filled day, and while I was waiting for prescriptions to be filled, I purchased colored gel pens to use in my journal, knowing the colored gel pens would go well beyond the crisis of the moment.
6 – Eat Well! There is nothing worse than being in a crisis and eating poorly. Stay away from sugar, starchy carbs, alcohol, drugs and caffeine. Now is a good time to have a Salmon Caesar Salad and herbal iced tea.
7 – Take a Nap! A 15 – 20 minute power nap can work wonders while you don’t get the full 8 hours during a crisis.
8. – Be in the moment! As much as you may be in pain – physical or emotional, be one with it. Being in the moment can teach many lessons and we have to listen and listening starts with being in the moment.
9 – Let Go! Often our stress, pain and crisis is a product of us holding on – to the outcome … controlling the circumstances not listening to the Universe’s call to be in the moment. Let go and let your higher power take you. You may be surprised that remarkably much of the world and days events outside of your own self is out of your control. You can, however, control your reaction.
10 – This too shall pass. Whether you are facing family crisis or your own surgery, a big test, presentation or getting married, check your fears. Talk to your God and know everything will be alright – as long as you believe it. Our mind is a powerful tool. If you let your fear and worry control your will, it goes without saying you draw attention to that which you pay attention to. However you use your mind, It will yield results because of your focus.
Always remember to enjoy the journey.
Warmest Regards,
Rosemary Augustine
What’s In the Number 10-11-12
10-11-12
What’s in the number? 10-11-12? Add each number up and you get 1-2-3!
Today is the day for launching new ideas, new directions, and maybe even a portal into which we can travel to the next dimension. This is the year of numbers… we had: 2-12-12; 3-6-12 (3 times 2 = 6 and 6 times 2 = 12); 10-11-12; 12-12-12; 12-21-12 – the end of the Mayan Calendar. Last year we had 1-11-11 and 11-11-11. These dates are portals – I use the word “portal” out of context simply meaning a day of awareness of greater things in your life. A portal to rise up to – open up / go deeper into – a higher level of consciousness; a chance to grow spiritually; an opportunity to emotionally connect mind body spirit as one. There will be other dates but this is the year for numbers and definitely the year for the greatest change. Your awareness will deepen as a result.
Writers Write and Journal
Writers Write and Journal
At a local writers group last night, I met some wonderful people, heard a great speaker, and had a good meal. However, I came away with a gnawing feeling since I had gone to this group many times before. Here I was proudly announcing my new book to a group of people who could really use it.
My observation started with the introductions, around a large room with a continuous U-shaped table of about 35 people: I’m Sally – Fiction; Joe – Mysteries; Pete- Horror; Kathy- Memoirs and on around the table. All ages, all various “daytime” occupations and nighttime dreams of being a writer. The key words here are “dreams of being a writer” and the occupation of writer just happens to fill in the blank on this discussion.
As I read about writing greats like Michener and Hemmingway, those writers wrote – daily. Julia Cameron continues to write daily. If you are a writer, you write. If you are an artist, you paint, and if you are a _________ you ________ – you fill in the blanks. This piece addresses the value of writing, and most importantly, the value of journaling for anyone – especially for writers.
When I hear that work is crazy, my life is on overload, and I just don’t have time to write – sure you don’t, because you are all consumed by something that is taking you away from something that is far more meaningful to you. For many, the distractions of overload dampen your passion and creative spirit. Who would have energy or time to write creative pieces when you’re being beat up emotionally during the day with stress, work and family?
If you ever used the book, The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, you are familiar with Morning Pages. If not, my suggestion is similar. She suggests 3 hand written pages every morning first thing. I suggest a minimum of 15 minutes (20 minutes maximum – use a timer if necessary) of hand written pages – before all the distractions of the day. Julia’s Morning Pages take just about 20 minutes. Hand written is the other key words in this piece, since the whole purpose of journaling in the morning is to get the garbage out and reach the real gems that ignite your creative spark and keep it lit. Hand writing vs. keyboarding your 15 minutes daily reaches a deeper level of consciousness scientifically proven not possible via a keyboard.
So if you are a writer, and you are not journaling every day, consider doing so to get that spark burning and staying lit throughout the day with additional thoughts and ideas to be captured … in your journal. Some writers view journaling as not writing at all, though I never understood that concept. Journaling offers the writer an opportunity to create more writing, generate ideas, mind map storyboards, and enhance characters. Journaling also helps the non-writer to work out solutions to problems in life and at work, polish accomplishment statements for the resume, and work on phrasing for that difficult discussion you will have later with a family member. Free writing using prompts, dialoguing with pain, journaling deep into your psyche to draw upon a creative side you didn’t know existed or knew it did and couldn’t find how to tap into it.
The only caution I have about journaling is it helps promote change. You start to peel away the layers of hurt, anger and resentment, you recognize toxic environments and toxic people in your life, and you begin to heal, grow and want more healing and growth – because you begin to see how much better life really is… all because of a simple 15 minute daily task. As a result, you start to change, you may find gossip or even TV no longer interests you. The toxic environments and toxic individuals can no longer be tolerated. By journaling you take a hard look at yourself and as a result you want to change … and you want to change things around you as well. You want more, you want a better life and you seek it out – first through journaling and then pursuing it in real life. This is where fiction writers excel with using journaling for their work with character building. Others find it valuable to journal on the things they want and how they can make that happen.
Change is inevitable…. Change is constant… change is part of growth and without it we remain stagnant, bored and constantly complain wanting others to fix us. By journaling you begin to see that you are the only one who can ‘fix’ you… journaling begins the journey to self-discovery and a more creative and fulfilling life. Happy Journaling!
Warmest Writing Regards,
Rosemary Augustine
Rosemary Augustine is the author of ‘365 Days of Creative Writing’ which offers daily writing prompts for all kinds of writers and those with a daily journaling practice. Her prompts have helped many see the change they want and have helped many writers break through writers block. Her book can be purchased at Amazon.com or on her website: www.RosemaryAugustine.com
Want more proof of the value of journaling? Click on the link below.
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/
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Dialogue Journaling
An Unexpected Dialogue with My Father
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This morning while doing my morning pages, quite unexpectedly I started having a dialogue. It wasn’t planned. I was listening to Angela Falco’s music CD (http://www.angelafalco.com) and remembered what she wrote about her Dad when she was playing one of her unnamed songs for him. His response was “You wrote that song? … why don’t you name it: ‘Don’t Know Where I’m Going’.” I began to sob thinking of my Dad – gone since 1984. Wishing I could see my Dad or be with him, I wrote, “I don’t miss him that much to be with him in death, but I’d like to have a conversation with him about life, love and business.” Then I wrote “Gee it could be a book with the title “Conversations With My Father.” My next words appeared on the page quite unexpectedly:
“Gee Dad, I’m baking a cake this morning, Chocolate Devils Food. You always liked German Chocolate cake, but I loved Devils Food – all that dark richness, I could eat just the batter. When did you start liking German Chocolate Cake (since I always baked the Devils Food as a kid)?” And so the conversation started… “Remember that lunch counter we use to go to in Atlantic City on the boardwalk? I had my first piece there and loved it, and you would bake one for me from time to time. It was delicious.” And so I continued to write a few more pages with questions and dialogue with Dad, writing as fast as I could with his responses.
Dialogue journaling is nothing new. I often suggest this kind of journaling to friends and clients to use dialogue journaling as a medium for zooming in on specific issues – especially when it comes to physical pain, emotional hurt, grief, loss, anger, resentment, jealousy… and some more happier dialogues such as a job interview, discussion with a boss, spouse, love one, friend or family member. Even dialogues with your inner child are common and healthy. Therapists have used it for years. Some dialogue journaling will also include sketches of scenes to address the anger, hurt and loss, heal the hurt and pain, and eventually move on with emotional growth and a new perspective around the situation.
I’m not a therapist, nor is my background in psychology (my college days were spent learning business). But I do recommend dialogue journaling and allowing yourself the time to feel the pain and hurt, and wash it away with tears of sorrow and eventually joy. If you are in therapy, work with your therapist on this as well.
I can’t promise I’ll finish my book “Conversations With My Father” anytime soon, since I just came out with 365 Days of Creative Writing – journaling prompts for every day of the year… but I do know with journaling every morning I can have a conversation with my Dad and build my book that maybe one day I will publish. In the meantime, it’s healing me to know that Dad was a huge influence in my life as an entrepreneur. His passion for music was undeniable, and his creativity and artistic expression was certainly passed down to me (well really all 3 of us). Two of my books have dedications to his teaching me perseverance, independence and self-discipline.
Meanwhile, I’ll continue my morning pages, journaling each day for 15-20 minutes and know that all of you are inspired to do the same. Regardless of whether you decide to dialogue, writing every morning has brought me many blog postings, newsletters, and book chapters out of that simple 20 minutes of journaling. Imagine what 20 minutes of journaling can do for your life? The possibilities are endless.
Make it a Great Day and I hope you write something in your journal today.
Love and Hugs
Rosemary Augustine
How To Dialogue Journal: When I started my conversation with my Dad, I asked some simple questions, I continued to write and listened for an inner voice. The responses came through that inner voice and my hand, making me write as fast as I could. I titled the top of the page “Conversations With My Father” so I could later find it among the hand written pages and transcribe it onto the computer.
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Live Life on Purpose with Journaling
Live Life on Purpose with Journaling
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron offers a chance for 12+ weeks of journaling daily – called morning pages – doing a weekly “artist date” and most importantly, week by week, helping you work through cleaning / clearing “your stuff” in order to reclaim your creative self.
Each time I have done the book, I have had a major milestone of creative accomplishments, most notably I wrote (or completed writing) and published two separate books. I could go on with my list of accomplishments, but what’s missing is yours. When others complete the 12 weeks, some continue to journal routinely, knowing the benefits. Others, continue their daily morning pages for a few weeks, and eventually drop off finding that they return to their old ways. Dropping the daily routine of journaling – or writing the morning pages – because other routines take precedence? What is more important than YOU and your inner child growing, learning, changing and enjoying life? Certainly not hurrying to go to work at a job you probably hate!
Yet as “life happens.” Life unfolds and gets tangled up at the same time. Journaling can help you see the reasons why things get tangled up and help you have less confusion with those tangles.
Change is hard, yet change is growth. “Change and you shape your future” was one of my quotes in my first book, aptly titled, “Facing Changes In Employment.” For some, fear enters the picture and overtakes your life in various forms such as “too busy”… “not enough time” … and “overwhelm” just to name a few. It is at this time it is important to keep writing. Keep writing the story of your life, creating new scenes, new plots and new outcomes using your journal. As I para-phrase Dale Carnegie, “if you do what you’ve always done, you will get what you’ve always gotten.”
It’s easy for us to forget to write daily in our journal… we get up too late or have other chores to do that are more important – or so they seem. It’s not laziness and it’s not procrastination that stops you from journaling daily. Julia calls it FEAR and she hits it straight on. I call it fear as well, and definitely fear living on a deeper, more sub-conscious level. You might not even know you are doing it, thinking it, or letting fear rule your life. Yet it really is true that your thoughts control your life. What you think about you will manifest in time whether you know it or believe it.
“Dwell on Possibilities” is a quote I have on my wall. You can dwell on good thoughts or bad. We can dwell on positive or negative. We can dwell on our future and all the possibilities as endless – depending on the possibilities your mind thinks about.
Life has many twists and turns, and ups and downs, but when you live life on purpose you gain so much more than you could ever imagine. Daily journaling for 15-20 minutes a day can open so many doors for you, helping you resolve issues, identify patterns, take you on a journey to discover all the possibilities to explore, and maybe even implement them. Journaling arouses the senses and raises your level of awareness, where you are able to notice more, listen more and recognize signals when they come.
Fear has played a major role in my life – for most of my life. I’m not sure how I did this or when it happened but I learned to turn fear into productive and artistic creations – with my art, writing and publishing. By doing so, I have been a role model for others to do the same. Fear is a choice and so is laziness and procrastination (which again is only fear in disguise). Choose to recognize that fear can control you or you can control it. Fear is your little child saying, “Please can we play?” Instead of saying “yes” to your inner child, you let fear say “no” and smack him/her at the same time just for asking.
Next time you hear your inner child ask “can we play?” take his/her hand and say “yes, absolutely.” Ask fear to join the two of you in play and watch fear melt away. Fear is a four-letter word, but so is Play…so is Love… so is Life… and so is Home. Give your inner child a chance to come out and play, to see the world and beam with happiness.
Say YES! And start your day with daily journaling (morning pages). It takes about 15 minutes and my experience with Julia’s morning pages (3 pages written long hand) has lasted no more than 20 minutes. When your inner child starts to hear YES more frequently, you’ll find that living life on purpose starts with allowing yourself to play – everyday. And by journaling regularly, you learn to recognize and listen to the signals.
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Writing as Therapy?
Creative writing has always been a means for addressing problems, identifying solutions, help deal with grief or provide a juicy story for sharing. Since I’m not a therapist, I can only speak from my experience with clients who are in therapy. With therapy, the healing takes a long time, usually is accompanied with pharmaceutical drugs and issues are not quickly resolved. Comments like: “let’s cover that next time” are frequently heard. Creative writing seems to get deep into the matter, quickly, more quickly than therapy, or so it seems.
Writing Coaches dig deep into the soul with questions that stop you dead in your tracks. Questions like – Mirroring Relationships; dialogue with pain; anger directed at yourself, etc. Call it what you want, writing is the means to creating what you really want in life by helping you deal with the pain of not having it so far. Art comes in as a close second for healing. Though many of us are not artists nor consider our stick figures something to hang in a museum. But those stick figures still hang in our hearts waiting to be coaxed onto the page to create a visual scene of something your heart is quietly mourning – because you continue to stuff feelings, guilt, anger and more.
Writing gets the words on the page, begins to heal your psyche and eventually your soul. Writing takes work. The work is a walk in nature, a chance to think, ponder and in the moment, put your thoughts on paper. Notice I said, writing takes work. It doesn’t take time, although that is the excuse I often hear… “I don’t have time to write.” But we do have time to watch TV, play video games, work overtime or waste time worrying.
The article posted in the New York Times Magazine, March 25, 2012 certainly talks about a trend that has been quietly taking a lead for quite some time. Creative writing as a healing tool! As a means of therapy – creative writing heals those wounds deep in our souls. The wounds that make us sad, in pain, angry and feeling unloved. Journaling can even be included as part of this “creative writing therapy” process.
Let’s look at an example: you have a problem with someone at work. You feel there is jealousy and undermining going on sabotaging your position. Hmmmmmm! I picked an interesting example for you. The writing exercises for this one might include:
* Describe the mirror in all of the relationships at work and life;
* What makes you angry about this situation?
* Why do you feel there is undermining going on?
* What are you doing to contribute to the problem?
* What can you do to create more harmonious relationships at work?
* What are you doing to love and accept yourself and others in the process?
* What does your inner child say to the other inner children in the office?
Wow! Now there are some interesting questions that creative writing can generate as an unexpected fiction story of children at play; or an opportunity for you to address what is going on within you, and the wounds it opens up from earlier times in your life. These are just a few examples of how to resolve the issue at work.
The journey is a long one since we all know we eventually get to the destination. Yet, along the path, we encounter obstacles that we create – whether we want to believe that or not. And when we see those obstacles, we learn through creative writing how to turn those obstacles into opportunities for personal, professional and spiritual growth.
Don’t want to do therapy? Then write. If you are in therapy, and your therapist tells you to journal everyday… then write! If you would prefer some guidance along the path… then ask for help via your writing! Asking for help is really a sign of strength. Yet asking for help has been interpreted as a sign of weakness by society, churches and even some employers.
Do you feel safer writing in a group? Groups come together with a common goal to love and support one another without judgment as each individual gets their words down on the page. Sharing is optional. Fixing the problem or fixing you is not the group’s goal. The group is merely there to love and support you along your journey. Occasionally, one or more in the group may want to work one-on-one with the writing coach to bring issues to the surface and help clear the way for a more fulfilling life.
Prefer to write independently? Staying on task with daily writing can be a challenge. The book, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron is an excellent source to use for independent writing and healing. Yet, many cannot finish the book on their own because of the issues it digs up. Writing coaches help keep you on task with turning the challenge into daily writing exercises steering you into your direction of choice. Meanwhile, helping you bring to the surface deep issues for clearing so your life can be more full and complete.
So, writing as therapy? You be the judge. My years of writing solutions to problems, building self esteem, identifying feelings vs. emptiness; dialoguing with pain; and more have taken me on some pretty interesting journeys. Along the way I have met some very interesting people, changed my thoughts, learned how to love and continue to grow – personally, professionally and spiritually. I’m not a therapist, though I have coached people for 20+ years on issues of careers, life and business. Funny, I always incorporated some type of writing in the assignments for my clients. Now, my creative writing workshops offer a variety of opportunities for you to grow, bring your inner child out to play and create a path for a journey of fulfillment.
Consider taking one of my creative writing workshops – to play or go deep. Some workshops offer fun, light exercises to skim the surface and let your inner child play in a safe environment. Other workshops of mine offer insightful exercises to get at the heart of issues deep inside – buried so deep you probably forgot they are there. Ongoing coaching using writing as the model, helps us work together on specific issues, while you use creative writing to bring to the surface solutions for you to heal and grow.
Take a few minutes to reflect on this page and wonder how my creative writing classes and individual coaching will offer you a chance to see the brighter side of life, have more love for yourself and others, and begin to heal those old wounds buried deep inside – wounds that surface when you are least expecting, and sabotage even the best laid plans.
If you’re not ready to take this journey, you may know of someone who is. So, please feel free to pass along my info to anyone you feel might benefit from my creative writing classes or individual coaching. Wishing you the best in your creative writing endeavors.
Warmest Regards,
In the Spirit of Love and Light,
Rosemary Augustine ~ Artist, Author and Coach
If the New York Times link doesn’t take you directly to the article, please google the following: New York Times March 25, 2012 article on creative writing and select the listing that says: Why talk therapy is on the wane… Note: Repeated attempts will request you to log in at the New York Times website and not take you directly to the article.
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Leap Year Day – 2012
This year we celebrate Leap Year… with an additional day in February. Since it only comes around once every 4 years, I thought I would suggest making it a special day – a Special Leap Day! Instead of doing the same ole, same ole… why not use the day as a bonus day, setting aside some time for yourself, letting your inner child have a day filled with fun, play and plenty of leaping goodness. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. Call off sick.
2. Sleep in.
3. Plan a vacation or personal day and use it.
4. Just shut off – the TV, the internet and the phone just for the day (and shut out reading the paper too).
5. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time.
6. Visit an elderly person and bring them ice cream.
7. Eat ice cream – so who cares if it’s February, pretend it’s July!
8. Lunch at a Café and listen and observe others around you.
9. Take a long walk … or take a hike.
10. Cook up something special – something you don’t eat often.
11. Visit a toy store and find your favorite childhood toy.
12. Meditate about your life and your future.
13. Sing, dance and/or be silly for at least an hour … or all day.
14. Tell someone you love them.
15. Walk the dog and be in the moment with your pet.
16. Go green today… eat, drink and live with the environment in mind.
17. Walk or take the bus to work.
18. Clean out some clutter and make room for new things.
19. Read a favorite childhood story to yourself.
20. Journal your thoughts, goals and timelines for completing them.
21. Wear something that is colorful and stands out.
22. Work through any fear… Suggest reading “Fear of Transformation.” (ask me for a copy)
23. Sit quietly and be still for 20 minutes – set a timer.
24. Photograph the day of the world being ordinary on such a special day.
25. Recycle all that you use today.
26. Pray for yourself…your family… your friends … the earth… and the world today.
27. Be kind to yourself and others.
28. Be grateful for being alive to experience the day.
29. Just Do It! Do all the things I suggest or wait another 4 years for the day to repeat.
So there you have it… 29 things to do on Leap Year Day 2012. Better yet, why not do these things everyday not just on a day that happens once every 4 years.
Leap forward today. Happy Leap Year Day!
Warmest Leap Year Day Regards,
Rosemary Augustine ~ Artist & Author
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Valentine’s Day Greeting
A Different Kind of Love on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a much dreaded time of year for singles. Or, you can take a different approach and look at it as a special time to show love – in a very different way.
For the last 35+ years I have been single. And for the first 10 years, I yearned for someone to show up and make Valentine’s Day special with love, flowers and chocolates. Then one year, I had an idea. I had just gotten a beautiful 8 month old kitty named Byron. He was a beautiful long haired tuxedo cat and a personality to go with his looks. He was very photogenic, so, I decided to take one of his pictures and mount it on a greeting card with a little “love” saying and sent it off to all my friends – who were also single and longing for the day to be filled with love, flowers and chocolates. So the tradition began 25 years ago – making Valentine Cards for all the people in my life that gave me love over the year.
With a picture of your pet (or someone else’s) and a clever saying “I’ll always be true to you” goes a long way in extending love to someone. When Byron passed in 2003, my other kitty Maxx stepped in for a few years, and now Ziggy and Zack extend the Augustine Love Tradition.
One year, while stranded in a snowstorm, and waiting for the storm to lift, I designed my Valentine Cards using hearts in an art journal format – which I later pasted onto a blank card and sent off in time for the Love Day. The greeting varied based on who I was sending it to. However, most of them had something written around the heart saying: “Wishing you Valentine greetings with love, hugs and a bunch of kitty kisses, wet noses, fur balls and litter paws… Hearts and Hugs for you! Happy Valentine’s Day!”
Now, some of my single friends have dogs, cats, birds and a few have no pets at all. Each has thoroughly enjoyed my Valentine Greetings and look forward to it each year.
However, for a twist on this idea, you can send a valentine greeting to your friend’s dog (or cat) from your pet. I’ve done this too and it gets a rousing applause every time. However, if you are not so artistically inclined, there are many cute cards to purchase both in stores and online.
So, forget all the wasted energy yearning for a Valentine who isn’t in your life – yet! Go buy yourself flowers and chocolates! And, consider sending a card to your closest friends extending the greeting of love from your own unconditional love bug – your pet. It’s guaranteed to enchant even the most committed single and in the process give a lot of love back to you.
Happy Valentine’s Day My Friends!
Love and Hugs Today and Always,
Rosemary
xxx
What’s Your Excuse?
What’s Your Excuse?
As January 31st approaches within hours, are you sticking with your New Year’s Resolutions or did you already stop because of some excuse? What did you want to start in 2012? And why, after 30 days have you stopped?
Here’s a question that is often asked by coaches, counselors and facilitators working with individuals in various forms of healing: “What’s holding you back?” Time? Money? Family? Work? Unable to make a commitment? Not Interested? It just doesn’t work for me at this time…? Or, is there another excuse?
All of these are certainly excuses… even valid excuses nonetheless… or are they? So maybe the word excuse is not appropriate? Here is an interesting (and somewhat creative) take on having an excuse but dancing around it and calling it something else. Well, it’s still an excuse!
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Reason – we always find a reason to say no.
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Justification – usually we have to justify our excuse.
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Explanation – we usually have an explanation convincing others of our excuse.
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Pretext – just another word for excuse.
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Defense – usually meaning resistance when it comes to an excuse.
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Apology – we are always apologizing for our excuses.
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Plea we may even plea with you to accept our excuse.
Oh, but the best excuse I get is… “I have too much on my plate.” Of which then, we then find a reason, justify it, explain it away, defending it while apologizing why we can’t, and offer a convincing plea for the future.
OK… so let’s take a look at what this really means? Oh, here I go analyzing again.
On December 31st, I offered a creative exercise on my Blog asking what would you like more of in 2012. My example that I chose for me was more SPACE. Room to grow, expand and spread my wings (so to speak). What was your response to that request? And, are you giving yourself more of what you asked for?
More time, money, space, love, joy, creativity, etc., are within your reach. All you have to do is reach out. The secret however, is to reach out for yourself. Give yourself a gift of love, joy, time, money, space… etc. , to unblock all that is holding you back. You may find something as simple as daily journaling helps you succeed as long as you keep at it on a regular basis. Some may need more discipline with help from a professional to keep them on the straight and narrow path to success.
Whatever your thoughts were when you read my December 31st Blog, carve time for yourself in your busy schedule to accomplish your desire. Remember, small blocks of time work just as well and even better than trying to carve out huge blocks of time that seem overwhelming to take out of your busy day. Give yourself the gift of time – 15 minutes a day to start – to sit quietly, ponder life, meditate, breathe, journal, write, sing, dance, play, paint, nap or whatever else comes to mind – just for you – for those 15 minutes. Ideally, you eventually want an hour – which is really only 4-15 minute segments each day. Work up to the 4… meanwhile, take 15 minutes tomorrow – to get lost in your thoughts over a cup of coffee in a quiet spot at work or home.
Now, if you really can’t take 15 minutes out of your day for yourself, then, you need to reconsider what you are really doing that has you so consumed. And, if that consumption is really helping you live your dreams.
Meanwhile, just a reminder that The Artist’s Way starts this week. Tuesday night, January 31st at 6:30 pm at Panera Bread in the Gateway Shopping Center. Thursday night at 7pm for my private CSL Group. Give yourself a gift of life – your life – a creative life that is filled with love and more for 2012 by participating in The Artist’s Way. The Artist’s Way will take more than 15 minutes a day. And, it is oh so worth it.
I’ve had a few requests for private groups – 4-5 people at a host home. So, if you are shy and want to do The Artist’s Way or another one of my creative workshops with your friends at your home, please give me a call. I would also consider the Teleclass for my out-of-town readers and would need at least 5-6 people for the Teleclass to be supportive to the other attendees on the call. Let me know if you might want to do a home group or over the phone for my long-distance readers.
Farewell to the warmest January I’ve experienced in many years in the Northeast!
In the Spirit of Love and Light,
Warmest Regards,
Rosemary Augustine – Author
