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Friday, October 25, 2013

Celebrating a Revelation...

Friday is celebration day thanks to VikLit's delicious blog.  Every Friday we sit back and notice something that has happened that is worth celebrating.  A nice cup of tea?  A vacation?  an accomplishment at home or work?  Anything that makes you smile and count your blessings.

Today I am celebrating the fruits of yesterday's revelation.  I had been feeling under a great deal of pressure for a number of reasons - my father's impending funeral in December, a book I'm finishing up, another book I'm getting closer to finishing, the fact that I really need to organize my house...

It all came to a head (almost literally) yesterday when I stood, left my desk at work, strode out the door and took a twenty-minute walk through the parking lot.  People walk there a lot.  It is beautiful, as I had noticed driving in there, but I had never done it.  However, I needed to blow off some steam, it was ten minutes to eleven in the morning, and I needed to get out.

Crisp breezes were rattling the dry leaves on the trees.  The sun was sparkling - it was splendid and beautiful, and I will jot the description in one or another of my notebooks.  I was, however, striding along, gritting my teeth and thinking aloud.

...and it struck me, suddenly, that while there was a lot of stress at that moment, much of it was my own doing.

Dad's funeral would go off in December at Arlington Cemetery with the caisson and the flag and the band and the buglers, and I would actually enjoy it, as would Dad.

And the books I was working on were publicly scheduled to be produced in 2014.

There was no reason for me to be spinning around like my cat chasing her tail.  I didn't have to finish them tomorrow.  In fact, I didn't have to burn myself out at all.

...The wind caught a gulley full of dry, red leaves and whirled them toward me with the sound of a stampeding herd.  I watched, transfixed.  It was splendid.

So...my being stressed out was my own silly doing.  I could set the projects down and work on my NaNoWriMo project, which promised to be fun  And I could spend twenty minutes a day decluttering.  (And maybe I should start with my mind?)

Twenty minutes later I was back at my desk, sipping a cup of hot coffee and smiling.  I put away my two WIP manuscripts.  I'll fiddle with them in December.

And last night I designed the (projected) cover for my NaNo effort (It's a fantasy/fable)  It needs work, such as making it apparent that we are looking at a crocodile and not a rock, but this is OK for now:






10 comments:

  1. We know best how to stress ourselves out :-/ I'm so glad you had that walk and got that uh-huh moment of realization. Take that little break from stressing over these non-impending projects & such and have fun with NaNoWriMo :)

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  2. We know best how to stress ourselves out :-/ Glad you had that uh-huh moment of realization during your walk. Enjoy the break from your non-impending projects & such and have fun with NaNoWriMo ;)

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  3. Such an enjoyable post to read! Thanks, Diana! Personally, I think your book cover is awesome! Tweak it or not, I think it looks great! Best of the weekend to you :)

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  4. I'm glad you took a break and re-grouped. I hope you carry this revelation into November, and don't get so wound up again. Have a good weekend! :)

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  5. Wow, it sounds like your Dad was helping you through your stress. I'm glad you were able to put your mind at ease.

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  6. Sounds like you took a good break and a de stress and a clutter. We all have those moments where we need a step back.

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  7. Hi Diana .. oh I've been there ... sort of overwhelmed, then realising things will pan out. Your father's Arlington Cemetery funeral .. sounds a very good and very satisfactory ending point ... I know tying up my mother's memorial service was very important to me ... it was in her home county at her local church .. but not at a major heroic ground ... I'm sure that will be a wonderful occasion for you and the family ..

    Working on your crocodile rock during November will be fun .. sounds different - cheers Hilary

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  8. Life's too short to let yourself get stressed about anything. No matter whether you worry about something or not... what's gonna happen is gonna happen.

    Sounds like you're kinda serious about the NaNo. A cover and all! I'm duly impressed. Good luck with it.

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  9. We are our own worst enemies sometimes, aren't we?? I admire how quickly you were able to understand what was happening, put a stop to it, and enjoy the rest of your day. It's incredible how often I catch my brain busily working on putting me in a bad mood, with zero outside help.

    The Croc rock looks great!! And sounds intriguing :)

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  10. I nominated you for a Liebster Award. The questions are posted on my site.
    Cheers!
    -Ad

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