On Writing

I've done some huge soul searching and decided that it's now too late to keep mulling over what I want to be when I grow up. I remind myself daily that I am truly lucky to have the job I have which pays me well (not well enough but it beats the alternative) and Nano and I get along pretty well for the most part.

I decide it was time to grow up so rather than saying "I'm just never going to get to retire", I have started actually saving for retirement and now say "I'm going to retire at 70". Sounds less depressing. Feels good to have a plan.

I've opened up a share builder account and am taking steps to budget, cut waste, simplify and clean the clutter from my life. I am trying to enjoy life rather than continue to day dream and pipe dream and waste valuable time I could be enjoying.

I am living healthily in an attempt to be in good shape when the magic age of 70 comes and I can tell Nano "ta ta" and really live. For the first time in my life....I know who I am and where I'm going.

Now, what does that have to do with writing? See, I still have one little dream left. I have decided that there is still one vocational dream I can keep active and if I work towards it and it never comes to pass, I can still enjoy the journey. I have always love to write things.

Others tell me I am good at it. I started my Diaryland blog with the handle "yarnsmith" because working at the pallet company, I had so much fodder for yarn spinning and I wanted a place to tell my tales.

I joined up with some others who are still present in my life today. Wonderful friends whom I still keep in contact with. I read them and they read me. My blog became more of a diary than a story telling venue and journaling and the comments received from my online buds helped me make huge changes in my life like getting a better job, doubling my salary, moving to my dream city and dream house, etc.

In the past few years though, I found journaling my life rather depressing. This job I have, although a blessing wears me out. Nothing of note happens there and in my position, I really can't discuss the goings on of Nanoland anymore.

Those of you who have been reading me know of my struggles with this hopeless husband of mine and frankly I'm tired of bitching about him. I obviously don't have the heart to kick him to the curb so here he is and I imagine here he'll stay until the good Lord grants me the favor of removing him from me. (you all can take that to mean whatever you want it to mean.)

So, I stopped writing. Until I realized that this so called talent and passion of mine could very much be the little bitty pipe dream I could hold onto. Something to get me through the next 17 years....heck....perhaps even fame and fortune.

(HERE I GO AGAIN!!!) LOL!!!!

I bought a little book years ago called "The Writers Idea Book" by Jack Heffron. I cracked it open and inside are all kinds of little prompts. I have decided to pick a prompt every day and sit down at this site and let it be the framework for my posts. This way, I don't have to talk about my job or my husband and can get back into the discipline of writing every day and perhaps.....a nice idea may form...something I can run with....perhaps even finish that novel I started and got stuck with.

There is nothing to lose....only the gain of the love of a hobby I lost and an outlet for my soul....and....possible fame and fortune (Gawd Paula...give it up).

Last night I saw the cutest movie called Julie and Julia. It is about a young woman who dreamed of being a writer, working in a dead end job (like me) who decided to cook her way through the Julia Child cookbook and blog about it. In the end she learned things about herself, her marriage and got a book deal and a movie deal.

The history of Julia Child (played expertly by Meryl Streep) was fascinating. I truly enjoyed this little comedy and it inspired me to sit down today and write on of the prompts from the "Writer's Idea Book".

The prompt was to list the positive messages I have received from writing.

I hope I have just done that.