Category: Life – It doesn’t live itself

A Groundhog Day Baby

~ Sahara ~ Leave a comment

As the seconds and minutes of February 1st tick away, I edge ever closer to that threshold to the “wrong side of 30,” which I cross at midnight. February 2nd is my birthday, and I will be 36. Closer to 40 than 20.

“Honey, time marches on and eventually you realize it is marchin’ across your face.”

Ten years ago, when faced with a similar, though younger, reality, I was really upset.  There I was, closer to my 30s than my teens, my finger slipping ever father from the pulse of coolness.  I had a college degree, yet no discernible use to which I had put that degree. I was again living with my parents.  I was losing the good parts of youth without getting the benefits of age.

Continue reading “A Groundhog Day Baby” →

Inspiration Engine Vol. 1 – Healing and Creativity

~ Sahara ~ 3 Comments

A series or round up of the blog posts I find most inspiring this week!

1. My attempt at a fairytale-esque story, from Fairytale Corner. It seems like this is a relatively new blog, but I think it holds a lot of promise and I look forward to what it will come out with.  This post, according to the writer, is their first attempt at adapting a fairy tale, and I think it’s brilliant. Simple, well written and well paced, and inspiring to me as I think about writing fiction.

2.  Inspire Your Creativity, (almost made for this round-up, eh? 🙂 ) from MisBehaved Woman. In this particular post, the author posts a link from NPR’s Ira Glass about fostering your creativity and getting to it, that valuable stuff we’re looking to get to. Sometimes I fear it’s not there in me, so this kind of positive affirmation helps.

3. Healing Touch, from One Day at a Time: Thoughts on Getting Out of B.E.D. I am really struggling at work right now. “Fake it till you make it” is an old adage that has been working well for me in the last few years of my practice. I may not be as into something as I think I should be, but I can pretend I am and then I get there. Right now, it’s too much work to even pretend. I am mad that I have to pretend. I resent pretending, and I’m miserable right now. This blog post reminds me to not give my “feelings” too much power – they are only feelings, and those can be fleeting.  Feelings change, and I won’t be in this position forever.

What do you think of these picks?!  Are there any posts you’ve found this week that have inspired you? And check out the next installation next week!

My Surprisingly Super and Sweet 16

~ Sahara ~ 4 Comments

In this past week’s Downton Abbey, as our dear Mr. Carson said, in the best quote of the episode, “The business of life is the acquisition of memories; in the end that’s all there is.” <sigh>

And to that end, I roast chestnuts over the memory fires about my 16th birthday. As it happens, I was not really deserving of the wonderful celebration and events around that year, which may even make them more special.

Continue reading “My Surprisingly Super and Sweet 16” →

I assure you, we’re open!

~ Sahara ~ Leave a comment

After lunch at work the other day, I escorting a a man in a wheelchair out of the building. During our trek, he was talking about the injury to his spine, but mentioned he could still walk “because I was an athlete and a Marine.” Since then, I’ve been marveling at how remarkable the human body is and especially what exercise does for someone.

Which makes me think of my hip. After the accident, my pelvis was shattered and reconstructed in a feat of orthopedic-magic. Seriously.  Today, my ex-rays bring a crowd of nurses and doctors, because they can’t believe the work they did inside me.  It’s like a museum in my pelvis.

Continue reading “I assure you, we’re open!” →

Headlines or …?

~ Sahara ~ Leave a comment

I don’t remember exactly what the inspiration was, but since last night, I’ve been mulling over a new idea about news.  Like, The News. Tom Brokaw and the New York Times. (I know; exciting, right?  See why I had to tell you about it?)

I briefly heard someone talk about today’s news stories as something they go to for entertainment, rather than true information. Bread and circuses to keep us entertained. The implication was that current news stories are hyperbolic, a little bit made-up and sensational. As I type these words, I suppose in some sense, this is true, but… really?

Continue reading “Headlines or …?” →

What is “mojo,” and why do I want it back?

~ Sahara ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been silent for the past several weeks, not trying to write or respond to prompts like I usually have. On Sunday night, I got my last three PhD applications in. I did eight in all, and am still considering applying to Oxford or the London School of Economics.

I’ve been working on this for several months, although I wish I had gone longer. Crash studying for the GREs and figuring out how to describe my research interests, seeking out scholars, trying to figure out what I want to do. Making sure all the scores and transcripts and references are sent in the particular format the school requires. And writing. Writing. Writing. Making my personal statement sing, or at least warble, enough that they will want to hear more. Then suddenly, with a “send” to UC-Santa Cruz…

Continue reading “What is “mojo,” and why do I want it back?” →