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Inspired by Bloggers

Before this blog was a reality, while still in the planning stages, someone asked me if I ever read blogs. That was a great question! My answer was no. I mean, I had read a few blogs but did not really follow any or read any blogs regularly other than news blogs. I remember asking myself if I am qualified to start a blog if I don’t really read them? Haha!

Now I read blogs regularly, follow several blogs, I am inspired by many, and I live vicariously through some of your stories and experiences. I appreciate the time and effort it takes for you to blog your thoughts and experiences.

Live, Love, Grow

Today was an interesting step in our aging process. My husband’s knee surgeon with whom my husband had a six-week follow-up appointment said that we are all dying. It is a part of life. We need to make the best of life at each stage. And, then he wrote a prescription for a jazzy scooter for my husband, along with a prescription for continued PT so he can keep what strength he does have and slow the process of weakening over time.

My husband’s numerous medical challenges have never stopped him from working hard to keep moving with as limited assistance as possible. He is an inspiration for never giving up or giving in. To him, a jazzy scooter feels like a step backward.

I do not see it that way. From my viewpoint, nothing has changed, except it will increase his level of safety when we are going to events, sightseeing, or on trips. It will expand the distance he can safely go and do things around the neighborhood and a greater opportunity to visit with friends and neighbors without someone necessarily needing to be there to push him in his wheelchair. 

Life is not without its difficulties, and it may not always be comfortable, but with adversity comes growth. Someone said once that there is no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone. So, if we, as adults, are all dying anyway, we might as well make the best of it!

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Fact or Fiction

The discovery tonight that fiction writing is not my inspiration or gift. Rather, non-fiction journaling of thoughts and experiences holds me captive to the words I want to imprint on paper.

Stephen King’s dark, scary novels do not interest me, but his Memoir of the Craft of Writing called On Writing has held me captive for nine hours of listening and learning. He is a master writer and teacher, in my opinion. Are there greater authors? Possibly. The fact Stephen King wants to share his thoughts about what he has learned as an experienced novelist, so that others may glean and benefit from his suggestions and the techniques he uses to craft great stories, all while telling great stories, which help do the teaching, opened my eyes to the fact he is a great human.  A thoughtful person. He is not just some evil horror storyteller. He is much more. He had a childhood. He has a wife and children. He has feelings.  He cares. He loves his family.

I doubt there is a lot of money to be made for simply sharing thoughts about a person I admire or a personal eye-opening experience I had that turned a negative judgement about a person, because of a particular genre of writing, into a positive judgement about the person behind the writing. I don’t know that Stephen King is the type of guy I would want to strike up a friendship with. But, I could listen to him tell stories about his life and teach about writing for hours upon hours.

Not to get overly political, but this question came to mind: Is my realization that Stephen King is not such an awful evil person because he writes beyond scary, horrendously dark fiction similar to the realization that Donald Trump may not be such an awful human being because he made awful choices in his past? Some might think so. I do not compare the two men to each other. They are very different men. The only parallel I want to draw is that some people believe Stephen King is good for the writing world, just like some believe Donald Trump is good for the political world.  

The pressure is off. Becoming a fiction novelist is not in my future, more than likely. (Did you see me leave the door open to the possibility, still?) However, blogging is in my present. Blogging is a place I can share my thoughts and experiences. My written musings may connect with my fellow bloggers from time to time, just like theirs connect with me. That is what brings me joy and that is what inspires me.

Who knows? Maybe the more I blog the more I will realize there is a fiction story in me that is waiting to get out…. Someday.

Posted on by ChatterLei · 1 Comment

Makenna’s Post

When Breath Becomes Air

SPiNNiNG ViSiONS is one of my favorite blogs. The way this 21-year-old blogger weaves her words together to form beautiful descriptions of deep thoughts, feelings, and opinions has me looking forward to the next post, again and again. The wisdom if her words is far beyond her years.

Thanks, Makenna, for creating a blog that is interesting and informative.

Posted on by ChatterLei · 3 Comments

Journaling and blogging

There is something about putting pen to paper. Handwriting is becoming a lost art (as you can tell from my sloppy/shaky writing).

I love reading my mom’s beautiful handwriting. She was born in the early 1940s, so it was a priority to write well. No computers to take the place of human artistry.

An article I read recently talked of the importance of journaling for mind health and to help reduce anxiety. Blogging is also a great way to put some organized thoughts on “paper” (a screen) so they do not stay bottled up inside.

Hope you can read this. Will use a different pen next time. This one leaked. 😉

Writing is good for the soul!

Posted on by ChatterLei · 3 Comments

Blogging… Seriously!

What could you do more of?

I could do more blogging! If only I did not work full-time!

My job satisfies my need to work. I like my job and my coworkers, which has not always been the case with other jobs I have had. Currently, I work in an environment that encourages cooperation, respect, and fun. It is a good balance. It is easy to go to work when you like it. BUT…

Working full-time cuts into my available time to blog! If I could, I would get up early, go for a walk, listen to or read the news, or listen to a podcast, and read a few of my favorite blogs. Then I would write all morning.

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Fascinating Blogger

Someone once asked me if I read blogs. At the time, I hadn’t really spent time reading many personal blogs. There are a few personal blogs I enjoy now. Particularly, there is a 21-year-old college student I follow. Her name is Makenna. Her blog is called Spinning Visions and can be found at spinningvisions.com. Makenna is wise beyond her years and an amazing writer! Her writing style really speaks to me. The way she strings her words together to spin a vision in my mind is beautiful. My hope is to write like her “when I grow up.” There are times I feel old. I suppose I am. (My oldest granddaughter is the same age as Makenna and is in college. With her whole life ahead of her.) Anyway, when I read Makenna’s words, I feel like I am right there next to her, seeing and feeling the same things she is describing. She increases my longing for that college experience, for the people I could have seen when walking on campus, had a I gone, or simply sitting and watching other campus walkers pass by, watching me and assessing my situation at the same time I could have watched and assessed theirs. I did not go to college. I gained knowledge and wisdom in other ways. It’s ok.

One time, while walking on campus, Makenna passed someone she referred to as a ghost, someone she knew in high school. Time stopped for a second…. He did not see her. She let that memory pass by without saying a word to him. She was taken back in her memories to the time they shared a class together and even some of the same friends. He never knew she had been within a few feet of him. It made me wonder how many times someone from our past – from high school, a coworker from a previous place of employment, a childhood friend, etc. pass by, and we never know. They know. But, we are oblivious to the moment of reminiscing in their mind, as time stands still briefly for them. Has that ever happened to you?

Makenna talks about being a senior in college and that her college years are quickly approaching the end. She is looking forward to moving to a big city and being a writer there, yet trying to breathe in the present moments that will soon become memories. She writes in her journal and writes in her blog because, well, she loves to journal and write. She always has. I enjoy her blog and hope she continues to share her life with us even after she moves to the big city.

There are several middle-aged or older bloggers that I follow as well. It is interesting to read the wisdom from their life’s experiences. I can relate to much of what they share – aches and pains, empty nesting, finding and enjoying hobbies, traveling, and, of course, writing.

One blogger I follow likes to share pictures of doors. Incredible doorways! Colorful. Ornate. Huge. Old- country type of doorways. I would have never thought to blog about doors. It truly is fascinating.

People are fascinating. Blogs emphasize this point.

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A Wannabe Writer, Burgers, and a Paintbrush

I sat down tonight to write. It was going to be an exercise in writing fiction, using my imagination to write from story prompts. First, I wanted to start with one paragraph, then multiple paragraphs, then chapters, etc.

It seems that my imagination is not deep enough to write anything interesting enough to read. My memory is not good enough to write cool stories about my childhood. My vocabulary is lacking depth, so my writing seems simplistic and probably boring.

A blogger needs to blog. A writer needs to write. I am not going to give up, but it may take me a long time to get this blog and/or story writing to a place that is worth reading. Until then, I guess I will journal about my days….

Thursdays are my favorite days of the week at work. It is the slowest day of the week, and, I get off work at 12:30pm and have half of the day to enjoy hanging out at home with my DH or working on a project or writing or whatever I want.

Climbing into the pickup after work where my husband was sitting and waiting for me, I smiled and asked him what he wanted to do today. The click of my seatbelt barely registered. We drove the short distance to Five Guys for lunch, talking all the way.

The juice dripping down our hands and onto the burger wrappers in front of us was proof of the deliciousness of the dill pickle slices, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo, mustard, and ketchup, loaded atop the melted cheese on the freshly grilled burger patty between the two halves of a toasted bun. The stack of napkins given to us with our lunch in the bag, was much needed, and should have been our first clue about how messy and delicious the meal would be.

The freshly cooked fries made from Idaho potatoes, grown in the next county over, are my favorite. Blowing on the fries to cool them before dunking them in the fry sauce (it’s an Idaho and Utah thing) gives a false sense of security that I would still be able to taste after slowly lowering the long fry-sauce-covered fry carefully into my mouth, while leaning my face over the table, hoping not to drip onto my t-shirt or jeans. “OUCH!” Nope, still hot. Burnt taste buds are the worst! The remainder of my meal did not seem to have much flavor. 😉

Opening the driver’s side door for me, leaning in, and whispering, “Your chariot awaits,” my DH always brings a smile to my face and a warmth to my heart.

“Thank you, My Darling,” I often reply.

He lovingly closes the door and walks around to the passenger side. I start the engine. I hear the click of his seat buckle. And, we are off.

Arriving home a short time later, we decided to get a jump on our weekend project of painting the master bath and bedroom. The frameless mirror we removed from the wall above the sinks and countertop is heavy. I walked backwards, hoping not to trip, as we slowly and gently carried it to the front bedroom where it will rest until the painting is complete. The bathroom appears smaller and feels bare from the missing lights, light switch and outlet covers, and toilet tank, but is prepped for the “cutting in” to begin tomorrow.

My DH will start with the brush work while I am at work. Then, when I get home tomorrow evening, I will roll the paint on the walls. It is my favorite. And, it should go quickly with the 14-inch roller I use. I will paint all I can in the two hours we will have between the time I arrive home from work and the time we leave for Mom and Dad’s house for our weekly “Friday Night Card Night.”

Posted on by ChatterLei

Blogging

Blogging can be exciting, yet perplexing and overwhelming. If you like to write and you like the social aspect of blogging your thoughts and opinions, blogging is a great way to go about getting your thoughts out there. The questions that come to mind when beginning to blog are: How and Where to begin?

There are several blogging options, depending on whether you want to use a free blog or a paid site. Either works fine. The best way to get started blogging is to start. Somewhere. Anywhere. My first blog was on blogspot. It is a great place to begin blogging. Just click on the link and get started.

If you want more control over your blog creation, WordPress.com is a great place for learning and using more advanced features available to create your blog the way you want it.

There are a few decisions to be made prior to starting a blog. A few are: What will you name your blog? Will your blog address a particular topic? Do you have an area of expertise you are willing to share? Will you blog about your favorites? Will your blog be a personal blog and be written like a journal?

These questions have been a big stumbling block for me, in the past. I haven’t wanted simply to be stuck blogging about one topic, even if it is a topic I am passionate about. I want to write about a variety of topics. I want to share experiences, opinions, thoughts and insights about the things are interesting to me at this time in my life. And, I want to learn from others. Mine is a personal blog that will cover a plethora of topics that I hope will spur interesting discussions and shared thoughts.

Do what I did. Just start blogging! And, see where it takes you!