More than anything else, my habits are what’s keeping me going right now. There’s no reason to wake up at a certain time… unless my writing is waiting for me. There’s no reason to eat healthily… unless I’m paying attention to my body through exercise. Habits anchor me to the present day and keep me […]
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2020 Anticipation
The first two reflection posts have served their purpose. In the past few days, they’ve prompted me to re-read my journal from 2019 (well, I skimmed it– it was tens of thousands of words long), write a list of my 2020 commandments (I’ll share it soon) and start my why/what/how goal and habit systems for […]
Don’t Tell Me To Relax!
People are always telling me I should relax more. When they do, I assume they’re referring to the traditional things we associate with relaxation: sitting, possibly with feet up; reading or watching TV; eating or drinking something sugary and/or alcoholic. Well, I did all of those things today and I’m completely exhausted. The point of […]
The Downside of Empathy
One of the biggest reasons to read fiction with a child is to develop his capacity for empathy: a good novel will put you into another person’s mindset. That’s a vital life skill. Empathy helps with everything from navigating relationships to negotiating business deals and peace treaties. If we all taught empathy to our children, […]
What A Writer Does Over Summer Vacation
I went on vacation this past week, and for the first time in years, I didn’t plan to write anything. That in itself is a personal triumph: I’ve finally understood that I need to stop working occasionally, and I need my own permission to do so. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of girl, and sometimes I require […]
7 Reasons To Abandon A Book
It’s the struggle of every reader. We’ve started a book, and for whatever reason, we’re just not feeling it. But we’ve already invested time and money in the book, and it feels like we need our own permission to abandon it. What Does It Mean To “Abandon” A Book? You’re mid-read, and you decide to […]