Hello friends!
Apologies to not staying up on this site; senior year classes have begun and my schedule is rather hectic. However, my writing has not been completely ignored - I am currently working on my first fantasy novel and I am very excited to share the new website with you!
The is still quite a bit to update, but here is the work in progress! Thanks for your patience and support :)
Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish. The time will pass anyway.
http://regainingmoinaer.justalittlewritersblog.com/
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Growing Pains
Hello readers!
First off, apologies for being gone for so long; I just finished five weeks of biology (the bane of my existence) and when I wasn't sleeping, studying or catching up with friends for much-needed coffee, I was staring blankly at this screen....yeah, it was a tough month.
But it's over! Hallelujah!!!! For three weeks until fall semester arrives. Anyway, maybe it's entering into my senior year and not knowing where the past three years have gone, I realized it's time for me to grow up.
Now, you might say, "Victoria, haven't you already grown up? You have a job, pay your own cell phone bill, and cook four nights out of the week." And yes, I suppose that's pretty grown up. But there's a moment when it just hits you: I've got to stop this and actually GROW UP.
I think it hit me when I looked in my closet and realized I have nothing to wear, in the sense that I have a ton of t-shirts, mini-skirts and flirty dresses, but...pencil skirts? blouses? Nil. This, coupled with a look into my "virtual closet" (aka Pinterest) which consists mainly of office-appropriate outfits that also manage to be gorgeous, made me realize I have to grow out of the college student/ 21st century flower child wardrobe.
Senior year itself isn't a problem (two months from now I won't be saying this), mainly because creative writing majors don't have to write a thesis (the department figures that we'll be too busy writing literary essays and novellas). But in less than a year I'll be graduating. Then what?
The plan is get my masters in creative writing, go into teaching or journalism/Miranda Priestly's personal whipping girl while I work on my writing and then hit my big break at some point. Of course this is entirely hypothetical. And grad school alone means making a huge decision: wherever I decide to go - Bangor, Charlottesville, San Francisco - will make a huge impact on my life, and may even determine where I spend the rest of my life. That's just a little bit scary.
I guess the biggest thing I need right now is the support of my friends, just to let me know I'm not failing on life (big plans result in stress, and stress, yeah). And just focus on the positive; like in less than a year I'll have graduated! And I'm already starting to make serious plans for next summer, big plans. Will keep you posted :)
Any advice? Thoughts? Grad suggestions? Please comment!
First off, apologies for being gone for so long; I just finished five weeks of biology (the bane of my existence) and when I wasn't sleeping, studying or catching up with friends for much-needed coffee, I was staring blankly at this screen....yeah, it was a tough month.
But it's over! Hallelujah!!!! For three weeks until fall semester arrives. Anyway, maybe it's entering into my senior year and not knowing where the past three years have gone, I realized it's time for me to grow up.
Now, you might say, "Victoria, haven't you already grown up? You have a job, pay your own cell phone bill, and cook four nights out of the week." And yes, I suppose that's pretty grown up. But there's a moment when it just hits you: I've got to stop this and actually GROW UP.
I think it hit me when I looked in my closet and realized I have nothing to wear, in the sense that I have a ton of t-shirts, mini-skirts and flirty dresses, but...pencil skirts? blouses? Nil. This, coupled with a look into my "virtual closet" (aka Pinterest) which consists mainly of office-appropriate outfits that also manage to be gorgeous, made me realize I have to grow out of the college student/ 21st century flower child wardrobe.
Senior year itself isn't a problem (two months from now I won't be saying this), mainly because creative writing majors don't have to write a thesis (the department figures that we'll be too busy writing literary essays and novellas). But in less than a year I'll be graduating. Then what?
The plan is get my masters in creative writing, go into teaching or journalism/Miranda Priestly's personal whipping girl while I work on my writing and then hit my big break at some point. Of course this is entirely hypothetical. And grad school alone means making a huge decision: wherever I decide to go - Bangor, Charlottesville, San Francisco - will make a huge impact on my life, and may even determine where I spend the rest of my life. That's just a little bit scary.
I guess the biggest thing I need right now is the support of my friends, just to let me know I'm not failing on life (big plans result in stress, and stress, yeah). And just focus on the positive; like in less than a year I'll have graduated! And I'm already starting to make serious plans for next summer, big plans. Will keep you posted :)
Any advice? Thoughts? Grad suggestions? Please comment!
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Oh how I hate writer's block, plus a shout out to Bono for saving my mind
There are few things I hate in this world. (Actually that's not true; I hate a lot of things but my likes far outweigh dislikes). Writer's block is one of the big ones.
I bet anyone's run up against writer's block at one point or another, whether it's a thesis, a novel or just a simple journal entry. (Spoiler: pretty much everything I've ever posted on this blog is delayed by at least two days. The culprit? Writer's block.)
So there's this story I've been trying to write about my experience of finding joy and beauty in the slums of Lima, Peru. As of right now it's a good 1, 019 words but lacks a concise theme and satisfying conclusion (two crucial points). According to the date on Word I started this story last September. The actual beginning happened somewhere between July 17th and 21st. So, I'm looking at a procrastination period of 347 days.
Yeah...that's pretty bad.
I'll admit it, this article hasn't been the primary focus of my life during this 347 day drag. I've had to prioritize classes, academic papers, work, traveling, babysitting, exercising, walking the dog, well, you get the picture; a lot of stuff has come up and this story has just gotten shoved further back on my to-do list. And the times I do pull it up I just end up staring at those endless lines and thinking "****, where do I go from here?"
And that's when Bono saved my life. Well, my sanity anyway.
Recently I was looking up info on The Joshua Tree (because why not? Also because I really want to find a Joshua Tree on my cross country road trip which I'm planning for sometime in the close(ish) future), and found a quote from Bono describing the conception of the album, which began after a humanitarian visit to Ethiopia:
"Spending time in Africa and seeing people in the pits of poverty, I still saw a very strong spirit in the people, a richness of spirit I didn't see when I came home...I saw the spoiled child of the Western world. I started thinking, 'they may have a physical desert, but we've got other kinds of deserts.'" (Rolling Stone (1994), pp. 68–69).
It was crazy how much this description fit the memory I was trying to put into words but just couldn't. Almost immediately I was stoked to finish this story and put out for publication to share this amazing experience with my readers. Hopefully it'll be finished soon!
Moral of this: When in doubt, U2.
I bet anyone's run up against writer's block at one point or another, whether it's a thesis, a novel or just a simple journal entry. (Spoiler: pretty much everything I've ever posted on this blog is delayed by at least two days. The culprit? Writer's block.)
So there's this story I've been trying to write about my experience of finding joy and beauty in the slums of Lima, Peru. As of right now it's a good 1, 019 words but lacks a concise theme and satisfying conclusion (two crucial points). According to the date on Word I started this story last September. The actual beginning happened somewhere between July 17th and 21st. So, I'm looking at a procrastination period of 347 days.
Yeah...that's pretty bad.
I'll admit it, this article hasn't been the primary focus of my life during this 347 day drag. I've had to prioritize classes, academic papers, work, traveling, babysitting, exercising, walking the dog, well, you get the picture; a lot of stuff has come up and this story has just gotten shoved further back on my to-do list. And the times I do pull it up I just end up staring at those endless lines and thinking "****, where do I go from here?"
And that's when Bono saved my life. Well, my sanity anyway.
Recently I was looking up info on The Joshua Tree (because why not? Also because I really want to find a Joshua Tree on my cross country road trip which I'm planning for sometime in the close(ish) future), and found a quote from Bono describing the conception of the album, which began after a humanitarian visit to Ethiopia:
"Spending time in Africa and seeing people in the pits of poverty, I still saw a very strong spirit in the people, a richness of spirit I didn't see when I came home...I saw the spoiled child of the Western world. I started thinking, 'they may have a physical desert, but we've got other kinds of deserts.'" (Rolling Stone (1994), pp. 68–69).
It was crazy how much this description fit the memory I was trying to put into words but just couldn't. Almost immediately I was stoked to finish this story and put out for publication to share this amazing experience with my readers. Hopefully it'll be finished soon!
Moral of this: When in doubt, U2.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Summer, Surf, and Keith Harkin
Each of us has a summer album. One that calls to mind long
days, balmy nights and the sun, sea and surf. For me, Keith Harkin’s
self-titled debut album sums up all of these.
For those who may not have heard of him (or heard me rave about him), Keith is a 28 year
old native of Derry City, Ireland who has been touring with the popular group
Celtic Thunder since its inception in 2007. Not only does he have a beautiful
voice that will make you melt, he’s also a talented guitarist and songwriter as
well, which is evident on the album Keith
Harkin.
The album, which was released last year, is made up of
classic covers and Keith’s own songs. The album is a lovely blend of soft pop,
country and a bit of Irish flair on certain covers such as “The End of
Innocence” and “Tears of Hercules”. Keith’s angelic voice gives a new life to
these classics, as well as “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?” (sung with
Colbie Caillat!) His cover of “Here Comes the Sun” is, I think, even more
amazing than the original (and I am a HUGE Beatles fan, so that’s saying a lot!)
with some beautiful and intricate acoustic guitar.
Keith’s own songs are just as captivating as the cover songs.
“Daisy Fields” is a whimsical song about a first love, complete with Irish
flutes and whistles. “Nothing But You and I” is hauntingly beautiful (makes me
tear up every time I hear it) and “Orange Moon” has a country flavor and great
slide guitar. “Don’t Forget About Me” was inspired by Keith’s own boat trips
and passion for surfing, which comes out in the lyrics about escaping to the
tropics.
Unlike many artists who write top hits, Keith writes from
personal experiences: heartbreak, traveling on tour, and surfing. I was lucky
enough to meet Keith at a concert in Philadelphia last Christmas, and he’s a
lovely and very funny guy with a boy-next-door personality. He also has a very
genuine sense of humor and related several funny anecdotes, like the reason his
right hand was bandaged was from a skateboard spill while wearing a onesie, and
the advice his dad gave him when it came to girls: “When you think you’re
right, you’re wrong; and when you think you’re wrong, you’re really, really
wrong.” (I remind my brother of this constantly. He doesn't appreciate it.)
What's your summer album? Comment below!
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
The Temperaments...Beatles' Style
Growing up I had a really hard time remembering what each temperament referred to (melancholic was the only one I remembered, because it summed up my introverted personality). I really didn't pay much attention to the importance of the temperaments until I discovered Beatleology tucked away in the popular music section in Books A Million.
Beatleology is essentially a book on the four temperaments with each temperament correlating to one of the four Beatles (John, choleric; Paul, sanguine; George, melancholic; Ringo, phlegmatic). I'm usually skeptical of anything compared to the Beatles (and Beatleology does go overboard sometimes, like referring to the "Beatleverse" and how the Beatles are the ultimate answer to the theory of the human personality) but most of the book is pretty much spot on.
One thing I love that Beatleology brings up is the existence of "minor signs": basically, very few of us are one sole temperament (aka Beatle); the minor sign is a secondary temperament which exists along with our main temperament. So, you can have a fiery temper (John) and still be laid back and lazy (Ringo). Or in my case, my introverted, quiet personality (George) is lifted up by enthusiasm and popularity (Paul... not my favorite, but you don't choose your Beatle per se).
In many ways this minor sign is a good thing. I'm naturally introverted but in the right environment I can be outgoing. Pauls are generally tactless and demanding (this is coming from the book, not me) but Georges tend to think before they speak and bite their tongue when they really want to rip into someone and point out everything they did wrong.
Sounds like a good mix, right? Well, not really.
Beatleology doesn't just stop at your own major and minor Beatles. It goes into how these combinations affect your relationships with your boss, your kids, and your love life. Yeah, the love life section. It states that each temperament combined with another temperament will result in a very different relationship which can either be fantastic or disastrous. Here's where everything kind of fell apart for me. Each temperament is aligned with another of the four and the section goes on about the dynamics, the pros, the cons... Except for one combination: the Paul and the George. This one is summed up in three words: Resentful, Unaffectionate, Short-lived.
Uh-oh.
Okay, so it's not like I'm a Paul dating a George or vice versa, it's just that I'm a Paul and George combined. So...what does that mean? I have to stay away from anyone who might share half of my temperament combination? (Actually a friend and I have joked about this before: "Oh, you're a Paul? Sorry, this isn't going to work.") But seriously, it's a problem. But there's an even bigger problem: I have two temperaments which according to this extremely helpful book don't get along. Ever.
Anyone who knows me really well can probably see how this makes sense. Sometimes I'm confident and have my whole life planned out but I often doubt my own abilities and feel like I'm messed up everything I've ever done. Sometimes it even happens at the same time, actually it does more often than not. I hate making on the spot decisions for this reason; I basically have to let the two sides of me argue it out until I can sort through all the pros and cons.
Which, maybe isn't such a bad thing.
People often tell me I'm level-headed, which probably has to do with taking days to make a simple decision or responding with an indirect answer, just to get a feel of how the other person feels or where this conversation is going. It doesn't happen all the time - I make a ton of mistakes and my mom is constantly calling me "spontaneous" - but overall it's okay. I might have to avoid guys who share both my major and minor temperaments but a Paul/George combination doesn't necessarily mean the disaster Beatleology predicts. I mean, I'm still alive, so it can't be too bad.
If you're curious about your own temperament according to the Beatles I've attached a link below (the major sign is the main outcome, but if you come up as say 5 John and 4 Paul, your minor is a Paul). Share your results below, in the comments on Facebook, or causally mention it to me the next time I see you :) Best of luck!
Which Beatle are you?
Beatleology is essentially a book on the four temperaments with each temperament correlating to one of the four Beatles (John, choleric; Paul, sanguine; George, melancholic; Ringo, phlegmatic). I'm usually skeptical of anything compared to the Beatles (and Beatleology does go overboard sometimes, like referring to the "Beatleverse" and how the Beatles are the ultimate answer to the theory of the human personality) but most of the book is pretty much spot on.
One thing I love that Beatleology brings up is the existence of "minor signs": basically, very few of us are one sole temperament (aka Beatle); the minor sign is a secondary temperament which exists along with our main temperament. So, you can have a fiery temper (John) and still be laid back and lazy (Ringo). Or in my case, my introverted, quiet personality (George) is lifted up by enthusiasm and popularity (Paul... not my favorite, but you don't choose your Beatle per se).
In many ways this minor sign is a good thing. I'm naturally introverted but in the right environment I can be outgoing. Pauls are generally tactless and demanding (this is coming from the book, not me) but Georges tend to think before they speak and bite their tongue when they really want to rip into someone and point out everything they did wrong.
Sounds like a good mix, right? Well, not really.
Beatleology doesn't just stop at your own major and minor Beatles. It goes into how these combinations affect your relationships with your boss, your kids, and your love life. Yeah, the love life section. It states that each temperament combined with another temperament will result in a very different relationship which can either be fantastic or disastrous. Here's where everything kind of fell apart for me. Each temperament is aligned with another of the four and the section goes on about the dynamics, the pros, the cons... Except for one combination: the Paul and the George. This one is summed up in three words: Resentful, Unaffectionate, Short-lived.
Uh-oh.
Okay, so it's not like I'm a Paul dating a George or vice versa, it's just that I'm a Paul and George combined. So...what does that mean? I have to stay away from anyone who might share half of my temperament combination? (Actually a friend and I have joked about this before: "Oh, you're a Paul? Sorry, this isn't going to work.") But seriously, it's a problem. But there's an even bigger problem: I have two temperaments which according to this extremely helpful book don't get along. Ever.
Anyone who knows me really well can probably see how this makes sense. Sometimes I'm confident and have my whole life planned out but I often doubt my own abilities and feel like I'm messed up everything I've ever done. Sometimes it even happens at the same time, actually it does more often than not. I hate making on the spot decisions for this reason; I basically have to let the two sides of me argue it out until I can sort through all the pros and cons.
Which, maybe isn't such a bad thing.
People often tell me I'm level-headed, which probably has to do with taking days to make a simple decision or responding with an indirect answer, just to get a feel of how the other person feels or where this conversation is going. It doesn't happen all the time - I make a ton of mistakes and my mom is constantly calling me "spontaneous" - but overall it's okay. I might have to avoid guys who share both my major and minor temperaments but a Paul/George combination doesn't necessarily mean the disaster Beatleology predicts. I mean, I'm still alive, so it can't be too bad.
If you're curious about your own temperament according to the Beatles I've attached a link below (the major sign is the main outcome, but if you come up as say 5 John and 4 Paul, your minor is a Paul). Share your results below, in the comments on Facebook, or causally mention it to me the next time I see you :) Best of luck!
Which Beatle are you?
Friday, June 6, 2014
Exhausted and Still Packing
Moving sucks.
You would think for all the times I’ve gone through moving
(four in the past fifteen years and the annual back and forth from Mary
Washington) I’d be used to this. Au contraire. My usual experience usually goes
like this.
The parents announce we’re moving and it’s time to pack up
all our stuff (which accumulates to an awful lot after their twenty-five year
marriage). Pack all personal belongings in the first day. Live out of my
suitcase for three days or so. Clothes end up all over the floor. Realize that
digging to the bottom of said suitcase for a shirt is ridiculous and move them
back into drawers. Do the same with books after realizing I can no longer take
out library books because I’ll lose them in the move. Then I find out that
we’re moving in the next couple days, so I re-pack everything. And still have
to dig through tons of clothes for my PJs before the move is complete.
Unpacking in the new house is almost as bad. Having the
space to rearrange and place all my things is nice, but it seems like something
always gets lost. Sometimes I’ll find things months later in a box that was
mismarked. Sometimes they’ll never show up, like my Victoria’s Secret robe. (My
mom keeps saying that we’ll find it in the attic. But after two moves I kind of
doubt it.)
Meanwhile, there’s a whole house to pack up, and being the
eldest I’m naturally expected to do the majority of the packing/reminding
younger siblings to pack their own stuff. Usually that means making sure my
teenage brother isn’t playing online games when he’s supposed to be clearing
the attic and breaking up any fights (which is inevitable; there are at least
two or three outbreaks per day). AND take care of the menagerie that we refer
to as our pets: McTamney (the border collie), Clementine (aka Sméagol the
Beagle), Cindy, Sylvester, Francie, Alex and Polly (all lazy cats that seem to
think the kitchen counter is their personal domain).
Yep, it gets pretty hectic.
Most days it’s not too bad; I can delegate chores and as long
as my little sister doesn’t get any sugar things run pretty smoothly. Until
this past week. Enter allergies. All the responsibilities seem to triple and of
course it would be the week that both parents are tied up between work and
getting last minute things for the move. It hasn’t been fun, let me tell you.
Someday I’ll probably look back and realize this has been a
great training experience. I’ll be a boss at packing a house. Everything will
be neatly organized. My kids will quietly pack their stuffed animals and the
pets will sleep or at least stay out of the way.
Until then, please keep your distance and if you say
anything to me make sure it’s confirmation of a pizza delivery. It’s for your
own safety.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Escaping the Past
"You can't repeat the past."
"Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!"
"Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously. "Why of course you can!"
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
If you ask someone if they focus more on the past, present, or future, most will probably say the past or future. For some reason we just don't like to focus on what's happening right in front of us, right now, or maybe it's that the past and future are so distracting. The future holds so much to plan for: school, a career, life goals. And the past, well it's hard not to dwell on memories, conversations with people I might never see again...it can be positive, going over the past. But more often I can't forget about the negative parts: what I wish I could have said to my grandpa before he died, wanting to change my mind about sending my horse to be trained, wishing I had never said things to people who I've cut ties with or wishing I had said something that would have kept them with me.
But it can become destructive, running through all these moments that could have been. If you're learning from an old experience ("Well, that proved that nothing good happens after 2 AM...or 1", "...And that's one more reason I want to travel abroad again.") that's okay, it's even a good thing. But too often I just beat myself up over what I should have done differently; and if I dwell on the past too long I start to see almost everything I've ever done as a mistake. I could have said goodbye to my grandpa. My horse might still be alive. I wouldn't have opened up to people who then turned on me. I wouldn't have lost my best friend.
No, you can't repeat the past. And it hurts that you can't, especially if there's just one thing you could have changed if you had only thought how much you regret the outcome. But maybe that's the way things were meant to be. I hate thinking that all this destruction is somehow impacting my future in a good way; right now I can't see how any of it can possibly be a good thing. But maybe those people weren't supposed to be in my life, even if I would do anything to bring them back. Maybe I'll look back one day and realize I'm happier or at least better off for all those moments which nearly tore me apart.
Who knows. All I know is I have to live with my past, but not in it, and viewing it from a positive angle is better than regret.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Last Friday Night
It's late, past midnight.
I can feel the rhythm pulsing through my veins. Gentle but compelling. My head is giddy but I follow the urge to move forward. It's been forever since I've actually danced, really danced. For a moment I wonder if my body can match what my heart is dying to do. Simple steps at first: a tentative step forward, reaching out into infinity. Then the music sweeps me up into a whirlwind and I can't stop.
I can't describe the motion, but imagine flying: you stretch out your arms and the air lifts you upward. Spinning effortlessly until you should collapse but somehow keep going, breathless and exhilarated at once. And your head is filled with unearthly music and the voice of an angel too perfect to belong to this world.
It's a weird sensation of being present in and outside my body: being present in the moment and observing from afar. I stretch my limbs to limits they haven't experienced in almost a year. They move in a motion as foreign to my brain as the words...I am nymph, dryad and goddess. Divine. Superhuman. Nothing can tear me down.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/92504197?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
I can feel the rhythm pulsing through my veins. Gentle but compelling. My head is giddy but I follow the urge to move forward. It's been forever since I've actually danced, really danced. For a moment I wonder if my body can match what my heart is dying to do. Simple steps at first: a tentative step forward, reaching out into infinity. Then the music sweeps me up into a whirlwind and I can't stop.
I can't describe the motion, but imagine flying: you stretch out your arms and the air lifts you upward. Spinning effortlessly until you should collapse but somehow keep going, breathless and exhilarated at once. And your head is filled with unearthly music and the voice of an angel too perfect to belong to this world.
It's a weird sensation of being present in and outside my body: being present in the moment and observing from afar. I stretch my limbs to limits they haven't experienced in almost a year. They move in a motion as foreign to my brain as the words...I am nymph, dryad and goddess. Divine. Superhuman. Nothing can tear me down.
http://player.vimeo.com/video/92504197?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Ugh. Snow
Okay, blah title, but really. I'm more than a little sick of getting teased by a bit of spring weather and then getting plunged back into 30-some degrees, snow, shivering-while-walking-to-class chill. Maybe it's not winter I'm so sick of as much as the inconsistency of winter, spring, winter, spring, winter. I may be an easygoing person, but this is a bit too much.
(Maybe there's a metaphor in this? Don't read too much into it though.)
So, life. Things have been a little crazy but I'm starting to see this as a plus. Yeah, I get stressed over trying to make the right decision but at least I have a choice. Years from now when I'm settled in a career and maybe have a family who counts on me I'm not going to have the freedom to move across the country or take a chance job. I've been told over and over again that college is the best time of one's life; though that seems like a bit of an exaggeration right now, they probably have a point: it's the one time I have a chance to take risks without a committed job or relationship, and I should make the most of it.
"Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together" - Marilyn Monroe
"If you're not scared, then you;re not taking a chance. If you're not taking a chance, then what the hell are you doing anyway?" HIMYM
(Maybe there's a metaphor in this? Don't read too much into it though.)
So, life. Things have been a little crazy but I'm starting to see this as a plus. Yeah, I get stressed over trying to make the right decision but at least I have a choice. Years from now when I'm settled in a career and maybe have a family who counts on me I'm not going to have the freedom to move across the country or take a chance job. I've been told over and over again that college is the best time of one's life; though that seems like a bit of an exaggeration right now, they probably have a point: it's the one time I have a chance to take risks without a committed job or relationship, and I should make the most of it.
"Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together" - Marilyn Monroe
"If you're not scared, then you;re not taking a chance. If you're not taking a chance, then what the hell are you doing anyway?" HIMYM
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Twists, Turns and the Point of It All
So...what's my purpose in life?
I've been over thinking this question a lot these past few weeks, maybe because I just started my second semester of junior year and the end is finally in sight (like today I filled out my degree application. What? I'm actually graduating next year??) And probably because I tend to over think things anyway.
But this is a question that always comes up in life, whether you're 21 or in your forties. Is there a purpose to your life? How do you find it? And why does it seem like right when everything is going smoothly one little twist completely turns your world upside down?
Honestly I'm not sure what the exact answer is. Having said that, there's one thing I know what to expect: you're part of a bigger picture and what you think is the answer probably isn't.
Yeah. That sounds fabulous, I know. Even trying to view it from an adventurous point of view doesn't really help (because someone freaking knew what was going to happen in the end, right?)
Turns out Someone does. He's just not giving me any answers right now.
Or maybe He is and I'm just skewing it through thinking I know what I want.
A few years back, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a lot of lousy stuff that makes me cringe when I look at it now, but that was okay - I knew I was good (?) and that I would just write and life would be perfect.
Then - BANG. Reality hit.
People began telling me that I wouldn't get published right out of college and I should put that dream aside and do something practical with my life. And I listened to them; well, not really. I agreed to focus on a "real" career but I never stopped hoping that creative writing would work out.
Last semester I wrote "Loss", a short story about a girl, her cat, and a pretty muddled relationship. That was the turning point for me when I realized I could do this "impossible" dream. Maybe I'll have to go out of my way and do something that's not completely my thing, but that's okay. Because who knows what might in store for me?
So take risks, stretch your boundaries, but always stay true to your dreams. And maybe that's the ultimate risk, daring to do what everyone tells you is impossible.
Oh, and when things really look bleak and I have know idea what I'm supposed to be doing, I just remember these words from a guy who made his impossible dream come true: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" (John Lennon)
:)
I've been over thinking this question a lot these past few weeks, maybe because I just started my second semester of junior year and the end is finally in sight (like today I filled out my degree application. What? I'm actually graduating next year??) And probably because I tend to over think things anyway.
But this is a question that always comes up in life, whether you're 21 or in your forties. Is there a purpose to your life? How do you find it? And why does it seem like right when everything is going smoothly one little twist completely turns your world upside down?
Honestly I'm not sure what the exact answer is. Having said that, there's one thing I know what to expect: you're part of a bigger picture and what you think is the answer probably isn't.
Yeah. That sounds fabulous, I know. Even trying to view it from an adventurous point of view doesn't really help (because someone freaking knew what was going to happen in the end, right?)
Turns out Someone does. He's just not giving me any answers right now.
Or maybe He is and I'm just skewing it through thinking I know what I want.
A few years back, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a lot of lousy stuff that makes me cringe when I look at it now, but that was okay - I knew I was good (?) and that I would just write and life would be perfect.
Then - BANG. Reality hit.
People began telling me that I wouldn't get published right out of college and I should put that dream aside and do something practical with my life. And I listened to them; well, not really. I agreed to focus on a "real" career but I never stopped hoping that creative writing would work out.
Last semester I wrote "Loss", a short story about a girl, her cat, and a pretty muddled relationship. That was the turning point for me when I realized I could do this "impossible" dream. Maybe I'll have to go out of my way and do something that's not completely my thing, but that's okay. Because who knows what might in store for me?
So take risks, stretch your boundaries, but always stay true to your dreams. And maybe that's the ultimate risk, daring to do what everyone tells you is impossible.
Oh, and when things really look bleak and I have know idea what I'm supposed to be doing, I just remember these words from a guy who made his impossible dream come true: "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" (John Lennon)
:)
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