Editing Life

Sorry it's been a while. I've been researching, tweaking plot structure, and brainstorming chapter outlines for Book Two in The Ninth series. It's kept me busy:).

Coming up with post ideas isn't always easy, and like most of my posts, today's idea stemmed from life. As I've begun to dedicate much of my free time to my passion for writing, I've recognized the need to "edit" my life.

I think editing isn't just something writers do; it's something we all do. Probably on a daily basis. We make choices and decisions based on what we feel we want and need and we cut out those things we don't--most of the time. Sometimes we hang onto things that drag us down out of habit or convoluted ideas that we are somehow responsible for the happiness of others.

I follow this really amazing lady on Pinterest and by email. Her name is Diane Henkler and she's awesome! She can take anything and make it beautiful, and with her craftiness she always shares some words of wisdom.

This particular post of hers stuck with me. I ended up making a list of my own.
I hope you decide to read Diane's post. Maybe it will help you have the desire to create a list of your own, and edit those things in your life that might be stopping you from experiencing life for its real purpose.

Here's my list:

More of what is right for me:

• Family time
• Time to create/develop my talents
• Time to excercise
• More "light"
• More of the "right" details
• More simplicity
• More confidence
• More spontaneity
• Make the mundane more fun
• Embracing my beliefs
• Scheduled "me" time

More focus on what is important:

• Family
• Serving others (using my talents to help and/or entertain others)

More of what I desire:

• Time to create: Writing, painting, drawing, building things, working in the yard
• Time to relax: Enjoying nature, reading, movies
• Getting healthy

 Less of what I don't need/want:

• People who undervalue or under-appreciate me--stop worrying about pleasing them
• Not being comfortable with who I am. I'm different than those around me and that's okay
• Wasting time on worrying
• Loathing daily chores--make them more fun

More confidence to say "no" to the things that just don't fit:

• Stop scheduling things just to appease the unnecessary when it is inconvenient to me or my family  

Have a great day!

"What saves a man is to take a step, and another step." C.S. Lewis

I absolutely love the movie, The Princess Diaries. At a very critical point in the movie Mia finds a letter from her deceased father. He offers her some really great words of advice. This advice helps her to make the decision that will ultimately affect the lives of millions of people. (At least in the fictional country of Genovia.)

"The brave might not live long, but the cautious do not live at all. . . .
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the acceptance that there is something more important than fear."

Great advice right? We can allow physical ailments, or disabilities, or imagined slights, or real offenses, or discouragement, or disappointment, or failure, or fear of failure, to keep us from truly living our gift of life. We tell ourselves we're not really missing anything as we hide behind our wall of excuses and self-pity. But the painful truth is . . . we're being cautious instead of brave, and in the process . . . we are not really living at all.

"Men are that they might have joy." If we are wallowing in self-pity and excuses we will never truly find or experience real joy.

Those who truly live life are the ones who go out and find it.

Do something today you were too scared to do yesterday.

Take a step.

Be brave.

Live.

Live for those who have lost their lives to senseless violence. Live for those who no longer have the choice. Live for those you love. Live for yourself!