Shifting of priorities

With the last month almost over and having taken most of the month off from writing it's time to get back to it. I know I've talked in the past about finding a life balance between work and play, and that it's important to take a mini break every once and a while to refuel your creativity, I am only realizing how true that is.

I've had a long conversation with my mother that helped put things into perspective. We both don't put ourselves and fun anywhere close to the top five of our top priorities. We put work, family, friends, and all the other important things in our lives first. And it's only now in the later side of my mothers life that she is starting to even attempt to put herself on that top five list. It took me until the last few years to really get to know my mother and all the things that she has done and I'm realizing just how much respect I have for her. For those that know my back story my life wasn't the easiest with family. We love each other very much but it was a lot of hardships with divorced parents, and while there are a lot of regrets it's now as an adult that we are moving on. We are getting to know who we each are. And that the hardships only helped shape the strong woman that I am now. But here's the big thing that I picked up, you have to work your ass off to get to where you want to be in life.

We didn't have the luxury to take a lot of vacations or do many fun things but we still found some time to take care of us. Now as an adult the fight for everything you want in life and work your ass off is taking over my life. The finding time to have fun is personally the hardest thing to do.

Writing is fun. Reading is fun. These are things that I do to relax and escape the real world. But here's the slap in the face, it's WORK. These are things that I've turned into a job that I love doing but it's still work. This month I found fun. I found that I need to find the time to put in with friends that don't have me thinking about the other things that I should be doing. I went and got a massage. I went and sat in a steam room and sauna full of other naked women and didn't once think about the work I should be doing. Ok, I did think about a few good story ideas that could come from that experience of being in a bathhouse, but still I relaxed.

So, now that I'm antsy to get back to writing. Along with fighting off all the insecurities that come with it, I think I'm ready to put the effort into making me a priority. The funny thing is that it might be harder to do then finding time to write. But hey I've always like a good challenge. Why not make this one even more important that any other one that I have.

With that being said things have once again shifted. Shifted for the better I hope. Along with that it means that I've removed the release date of my debut. Don't worry readers. I haven't given up my goals. I'm still going to release it this year. I've just had to take reality into part of what I'm doing. Before I didn't take reality into consideration. You know what? I'm not panicing about it. For the first I feel confident that I can make it all happen. As soon as I have the official details I'll tell them. But this is why I haven't announced a date. When I do I'm going to keep it. I have to keep it. Until then I will only dangle teasing information to you all.

Now if you'll excuse me I have to dive head first into writing. I've missed it and I want to get some done before the rest of my priority list kicks me in the face to pay it attention. Till next week my lovely readers. I hope to have something else to talk about other than struggles of being a writer. Not that I'd change anything. :)

Deep Healing Breaths

The phrase, 'deep healing breaths', has been said in my family for as long as I can remember and I still use it today. What does it mean? And why do I say it? Well, life is full of stress and anxiety and can be overwhelming at times. Deep healing breaths is a reminder to take a second to relax. To fill your lungs with new fresh air and breathe out all the stress that seems to radiate through our lives. With working a full time day job on top of writing with every minute I can. If not writing, then thinking about it along with everything that goes along with the self publishing process. Needless to say there is more than enough to worry about. Deep healing breathes may only be a small relaxation technique, but it's also a reminder that we all need to relax more.

So, with last weekend being my birthday I took the weekend off and relaxed. Not only relaxed but was able to not worry about what I should have been doing, working. Then the work week happened and the evil stress monster came back with a vengeance to get my shoulders up to my ears with tension.

With the not so subtle nudging by a co-worker to spoil myself, to truly relax, and book myself a massage. Let's just say that it was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. As well as a smack in the face that I need to do a better job of balancing a work, play, a social life, and the big one, relaxation.

That being said I'm determined not to burn myself out before I even have my career going full force as a writer. So, take the time to do more than deep healing breaths. Spoil yourself every now and again. It will be more refreshing for your creativity then you will realize.

With a deep healing breath I will dive in to making sure that I renew my creativity. To take advantage of true relaxation. Of living a life that can balance out the workaholic that drives me to reach my dreams. Cause without those deep healing breaths we will be a big bundle of nerves that will end up being miserable.

Still happy as a clam after last nights massage, I'm going to enjoy a classic film I've never seen on the big screen at my local theater. That's right Labyrinth. And after that some writing to top off a nice night of game night with the roomies.

Remember deep healing breaths, take time for yourself and keep chasing those dreams to make them a reality. I know after this weekend I will be making sure to do this far more often then I have done in the past.