Mother's Day

Every night
Every day
I become my mother
In a whole new way.

How are you becoming your mother or father?

Why I Start My Day with My Journal

Some people write in their journal in the evening, unwinding and reflecting on their day. I prefer to start my day with my journal using it to make it a great day. Here is how I use my journal to set a positive mood for the day.

I get worries out of my head. "Sufficient unto each day are the worries thereof." (I know it's from the Bible, I just can't remember the book and verse.) Sometimes I wake up anticipating the troubles that might crop up and without my journal I might be off on a day of worry and wheel-spinning. To cut anxiety short, I open my journal and start pouring out all that worry onto the page. My worries are short-circuited. The act of writing down a worry lets my brain knows I am not going to forget about it. There is no need to keep reminding me, no need to dwell on it. What’s more I use my journal to brainstorm possible solutions.

I focus my thinking. I can plan my day on paper. It doesn’t mater if I use my journal to write a To Do list, a shopping list, or just think about how I am going to handle the day’s tasks. My journal gives me a place to think before I jump into my day with both feet.

I write affirmations. To put myself into a positive state of mind, I write affirmations in my journal. I don’t wait for anyone else to say what I need to hear. I know what I need and I write that positive thought five times. As the thought flows from my brain to my hand to the page in front of me, it takes residence in my being.

I daydream on paper. This is one of my favorite ways to use my journal. It is almost like a stream-of-consciousness affirmation. I write about what I would love to be doing – my ideal life. I describe in detail where I would be, what I would be doing, who would be with me. I describe my ideal habits. The more I write about these ideas, the better I see ways to make them real.

When I daydream about exercising every day, I am reminded that that is possible. I don’t have a personal trainer, but nothing is stopping me from taking the dog for a walk as soon as I finish writing. I picture myself in a warm, sunny place in the winter, and I know that I can’t afford a month in the desert. I can afford a visit to my daughter in Denver which is always warmer than Chicago, and has the added benefit of allowing me to see her and her family.

That's the way I like to journal. What about you?

First ezine article

Here's the report on the 30 Articles in 30 Days seminar.

It was great fun. Meggin McIntosh and Gini Cinningham sparked all kinds of creative ideas. And putting the new techniques and materials to work has already paid off. Ezinearticles.com has already accepted the first article I wrote during the workshop. I also generated ideas to write about for my blog, my newsletter and other outlets for months to come.

I also feel prepared now to become as a guest columnist for other people's blogs. So if you need an article, just let me know!

As you know...If you are a writer, it is more fun to write than not write!

Old Lady Shoes

Check out my post on the 50-something Moms Blog.

Writing Fast and Furiously

Well, I'm just so excited about writing these days. I have a few different projects in the works, and some of my clients have some very interesting projects going on. Last night we all had a great time working on our books. Deb DiSandro and I are leading a workshop called, "How to Write a Book the Slightly Off Way" (in honor of Deb's business - www.Slightly Off.com). Deb and I and a group of our writers participated in a teleconference with a great literary agent. After providing us with excellent written material and some general information, he invited each of us to tell him about the books we are working on. He then gave each of us specific advice on making our books more appealing to a publisher. What a great surprise that was.

Saturday, I am taking a seminar called, How to Write 30 Articles in 30 Days. I'm making up for all the years when I was too busy with technical writing to write about things I like! It time to start looking at writers conferences for the summer, too. Someday I want to go to the famous Maui Writer's Conference, and maybe a floating writer's conference on a cruise ship. Ah, so many dreams, so little time.