Eliminating Distractions.

On day two of my reverb journey (see yesterday's entry) I'm to tell you what I'm doing daily that's keeping me from my writing. Honestly, my writing right now is about my life, if I wasn't living outside of my writing, I'm not sure what I would have to share with you. I'm careful not to let TV and things of that nature distract me from better activities (such as reading, writing, quiet time, excercise, etc).

I've always been a firm believer that your writing should be a reflection of your life, not the reverse. That being said, in 2011, one of my goals is to make a fair amount of progress (still in the planning stages of what to define as progress) on my book. I've shared with you all here before that it is my desire to write a book. Perhaps I haven't told you enough about that goal. I've spent the last two years reading books by talented authors and preparing my mind for what is next for me - being one of those authors.

The first question people ask about this illustrious book is, what will it be about? I sought out the wise council of my closest friends and relatives as I thought through what I had to say that was of any sort of value to the world. Everyone seemed to agree that it should be about one of 2 things - A. growing up as a coaches daughter, or in other words my life. The moving, the media, the chaos, the football, the famous people. A true inside look into what my childhood was like as a result of Dad's NFL career. Or B. how to be successful at life in your 20s. The good, bad, ugly, and untold of what it's like to be 20-something in a time when jobs are scarce, salaries are low, and expectations are higher than ever.

Still pondering these two and trying to determine which is the right choice. I'm certainly open to your thoughts as well. I will try as I pursue my writing this year to remain open and honest about it so that you all can be involved. Your opinion is important to me, afterall, you are the ones who faithfully read my writing.

Love,
B

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything.

I was struck by the title (and cover) of this book a while back and finally checked it out at the library after finding it on one of my 'lists'. Both addictive and a bit depressing I haven't been able to sort through all my feelings about the book. I'm over halfway through it now, a mere 3 days later.

Crumbling family structures are nothing new in 'the land of opportunity' so reading as a family goes through a tough divorce, infidelity, debt, drugs, lies, and sex. I mean, hasn't this in some ways become the new foundation of our country? I don't mean that to be flippant. It just seems that our culture has adopted all of the above as the new 'norm'.

This isn't a book review. In fact, it's the title of said book that inspired this entry. Isn't it true that at some point we really did want everything? I grew up playing Barbies and imagining myself as this perfect, beautiful woman who was going to dominate the work force and then skip out of the office in my too high heels to come home to my perfect little family (in a pink jeep, naturally).

Don't get my wrong...not everything about my dream life has changed. I still desire to be successful in my current career path and any I may come to next. I still want to prance around a top Christian Louboutins, preferably with a killer handbag slung over my tan and toned arm (hey, it's my fantasy - let me write it). I no longer see myself as the housewife type and I don't picture my dream life as involving kids of my own anymore, just my future nieces and nephews I can't wait to spoil rotten.

Do you ever feel like it's easy to lose sight of your dreams as we're bombarded with phrases like 'worst job market since the depression' or 'masters are the next batchelors degree'? It's tough being anyone in this economy (except maybe Chad Ocho Cinco and his 38 million dollar hands he keeps braggin about) but it's even harder to be trying to get your footing. What is the new dream for 20-somethings? Not having to live with your parents and eating something more exciting than Ramen noodles?

I think my Louboutins are still a few years off. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I'd rather have a Navy Audi than a pink jeep these days. Just for the record - in case you were thinking of buying me one.

Here's to chasing your 'everything', whatever that may look like.

Love,

B

The Preface.

Some of you may remember that I announced after my return from vacation that I’ve decided to write a book. This was a big decision for me in the since that I’ve always loved to write but was never encouraged to write abook until after this blog. As a result of the blog, several of my cheerleaders have asked me if I’d ever consider a bigger work, aka a book. After much consideration and talks with my family members, I have determined that yes I am going to write one.

So, this week I wrote my first page. My preface if you will. Though, after rereading it I already know there are a few things I’d like to change. Such is the writing process, right? I wanted to sit and put into words the point and purpose of the book I will write and muscle through who my target audience will be. So, that my friends is done and I look forward to continuing with page two in the near future.

This is an exciting adventure for me that may or may not yield any promising results. There’s something to be said for giving it a shot, knowing that you may or may not succeed. The process itself is somewhat of a success, right?

Love,
B

Home sweet home.

Well lovies, I’m back in the TPA and back on the blog. I hope you all had a wonderful week in your respective towns while I was visiting Myrtle Beach and Isle of Palms – two beach front cities in South Carolina. I am happy to report that I return to you tanned, rested, and motivated for the next big steps in life! I’m a believer that you go on vacation to enjoy the successes of the year and prep to hit the rest of the year hard. In that sense (and in others) this was a successful trip.

I report to you now that I have talked to my family about it and officially decided….

To write a book!

I told you in a previous entry that it has always been a bit of a dream of mine to be an author. Now whether or not said book will or won’t be published and read, it’s hard to say. Especially since I haven’t officially decided which of my book ideas I want to move forward with first. However, I believe the process of writing said book will be good for me, stretching me beyond where my writing has been before and learning to express myself effectively. IF the book were to get published and you could all buy in bookstores someday, well that would be delightful now wouldn’t it? You can expect to be kept up to date on the process and no doubt there will be some funny blog entries on nights when I have writers block.

I did not do as much reading as I had hoped to accomplish on this trip, and now must continue to plug away this week. I am so close to being done with Breaking Dawn (book 29!) and after 2 years of leasurely reading the series between other books, will close the Twilight chapter of life. Meyer is not my favorite writer to say the least, but I appreciate adults who can allow their imaginations to run away with them on occasion – I abhor that as we grow up we lose the ability to be lost in our imaginations. For the rare writers who can hold on to that great inner entertainment and channel it into fictional literarure, I have a special place in my heart.

Also on the beach reading list (since Kindle is not allowed near sunscreen and water) I am halfway through ‘The Ivy Chronicles’ a ‘chic-lit’ book that is neither the best or worst of it’s kind. It’s interesting enough that I will finish it but I don’t forsee picking up another book by this author any day soon. I will leave my analysis at that.

After some great conversations with family and friends I do have a few entries swimming in my head…you can expect several more blogs this week as a result.

It is good to be home sweet home. I am fortunate that despite loving vacation and time with my family, I am never sad to return to Tampa. That is a blessing.

Love,

B

New Adventures.

At the suggestion of my new small group coach, Paige, I've signed up to start reading and reviewing books! It's seems like a great way to get FREE books and it will keep my skills for reading and writing tuned up as I have to write a review on my personal blog and for amazon or a similar company. I will be writing for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers (link at the bottom of my page).

Paige has been writing reviews for a while and you can check out her personal blog at www.sincerelypaige.com - she's great. I've enjoyed getting to know her more throughout my journey towards small group leadership (for my church).

I just picked my first book to review and it is titled, ' Fresh Start' by the youth pastor from Saddleback Church. I'm excited to receive it and 'get to work'. I have come to enjoy blogging so much in the past year that I want to continue to try out new ways to expand my arena as a blogger. Suggestions are welcome.

Also, I want to continue to review events, especially ones that benefit charities so please keep me posted if you have one in mind you think I should be attend and write about. I use the term review lightly because I haven't written a negative charity event 'review' yet. I enjoy experiencing events and helping out and writing about them gives me a chance to share that with you and hopefully encourage people to also get out in their neighborhoods and support the people and organizations that are trying to make a difference in our community! So keep me posted.

Love,
B

Author?

If you've seen the movie A Walk to Remember then you're probably already familiar with the concept of what my Dad calls "a bucket list".  These are your most grandiose goals. The few chosen items that you want to achieve, ultimately before you "kick the bucket".

My Dad once asked my Mom what was on her list and then proceeded to say that only a few of them were bucket list material.  My Mom is so selfless that most of hers were things she wanted to do for other people.  Namely, for us girls.  Some of them were small goals of things she wanted to try or learn.  

Dad never told me what his were now that I think about it, I'll have to ask.

So what's on mine?...

I remember when it felt like I would have truly lived when I got a drivers license or finally graduated high school.  Those felt like the ultimate goals at different points in life.  Then it was graduating college and finding a career.  Moving away to a new city on my own.

Not very grandiose, I know.  But as we grow, our dreams should grow with us.  We learned to see beyond the next year or two and think ahead to what we want our lives to look like.  That's something my Dad would always ask me, "What do you want your life to look like?"...I hated it growing up because I felt like it was such a loaded question. It was also alway followed with, "what are you doing right now to make that happen?".  I wasn't ready to think about forever - I just wanted to survive my next set of finals.

Let is suffice to say that I truly am my Daddy's girl because these 2 questions have come to haunt me in my new young adult life.  Ask any of my close friends - the ones I talk to for hours weekly.  They will tell you I've pondered these aloud to them and asked them the same questions with some regularity.  What I love about those same friends is that as we figure this out together we are growing and pushing each other through this together.

I'm not going to share my bucket list now - in part because it's always under construction.  But my boss told me this week that he thinks I should write a book.  He said my love for telling a good story would make for a throughly entertaining book, even if only about hilarious moments in my own life from childhood, through college, and now as a 23 year old sex ed teacher!

My Grandpa always wanted me to write a book.  He loved my stories (even ones about him).  I started a book once when I was 10 at his prompting, but to this day I'm not sure where that went too.  He asks me every Christmas when he visits where that is - and when I'm going to finish it.  But I never lost sight of that dream of his for me.  He has always been the biggest fan of my stories.  Laughing even as he tried to defend himself against my exaggerations.

And so, to my list I'm adding today that someday I want to be an author of more than just a blog.

Love,

B