a cooking pot and twisted tales
Thoughts and Tales…A Lifestyle Blog with a Zing.
Today, we live in a culture where we horde Instagram followers, Twitter followers, YouTube Followers, Facebook likers, etc. It does seem as if the perception of our real lives being anything less than perfect has become a daunting notion for most.
The glossy instagrammizing and Facebookification of our lives can create a dangerous facade of success that harms those who fall prey to such peripheral endorsements.
Someone I know well has been telling fibs on Facebook about their lives. Hmm! 
Any writer that tells you that they don’t suffer from ‘writer’s block’ is lying. They may have discovered a few tips and tricks to help them shoot this problem down with a draw quicker than The Outlaw Jose Wales, but they still have moments where they stare at the blank page like a prison cell. It is only natural. It is sometimes inevitable. But, as the great Charles Bukowski so aptly said, writing about writer’s block is better than not writing at all. Amen.
With this thought treading water in our frontal lobes recently, we went and spoke to a handful of writers and asked them how they get themselves back on track and get the creative juices flowing once more.
Pick up a paintbrush and start splashing color around. Take on some poetry. Try your hand at graphic design. Go and dig out your old photos and make a gorgeous collage out of them. Go and build something in your shed or whittle something out of wood. Whatever takes your fancy, so long as it stirs your imagination. Just step away from the page for a bit and find a well of inspiration to get you going again. It could be a few minutes break or an hour, maybe a few days or a week. It doesn’t matter. Just step away and refill.
Writer’s block tends to creep into our being when we are writing something that has a purpose. So why not write without a purpose and start writing whatever comes into your mind. Start a sentence with the word ‘camembert’ or the name ‘Isaac’ and see where the pen takes you, see where you go. Don’t even concern yourself with grammar or punctuation, just write anything that comes to your head, and write as freely as possible. You’ll find that this freewriting exercise will inspire new ideas. Don’t ask us how just know that it will.
That is a fact of life, so why not allow yourself the chance to let it move. Go for a walk, climb the stairs, do ten minutes of yoga or take on a thirty-minute bike ride. Put on some music and dance. Even a simple stretch will do. Just make sure you move once in awhile. When your body starts moving and flowing so will you mind, and that is where words follow suit. It is to do with the endorphins that get released. They make you creative, and that’s what you need to beat back the blank page.
The mind can do amazing things when it is still half asleep. It latches onto the pattern of your dreams and that encourages you to be more creative and in touch with the subconscious, from which some of the most astounding results will fall onto the paper. Try it. Try getting up at 4 o’clock, or 5 or 6 o’clock, and see what your brain churns up while still unsure as to why you are awake at this hour. You’ll be surprised at how quickly any notion of writer’s block disappears.
…and I did eat the cake 😉
There’s something soo satisfying about chocolate cake.
Without Vision, The People Perish. Proverbs 29:18
Last week, I spoke about why it’s imperative to have a Blueprint for your life and the thing is that there’s no time better than now to have one.
As I began the journey of changing my life, my habits and creating the life of my dreams, I realized that people avoid creating a vision for their lives because they believe the exercise is futile.
I’ve also observed that the most successful, interesting and accomplished people all have a vision for their lives. They have a life plan.
While, on the other hand, those who are stuck in a rut with that sense of hopelessness and simply passing time in life without joy and aspiration, lack a vision. In fact, many of them don’t even bother to have any long-term goals because at the back of their minds they silently feel ‘why bother when it’s not going to be impossible to accomplish these things?’
Having a vision and being able to change your life complement each other. It’s not a silly waste of time!
Start from where you are. It’s never too late to begin.
I also promised to share my vision for my life. If you’ve got a moment to spare you can listen in and share your thoughts as well.
There’s nothing better than being a writer, other than a writer who has actually managed to finish writing a book! That’s an achievement in itself. But as you’re probably already aware, this is only the beginning of the journey of your book (and hopefully your writing career!).
If you want your book to be read by people other than your close friends and family, you’re going to have to do more than type ‘The End’ in your novel.
Source: Pexels.com
You think you’ve finished your book, but you haven’t. Even if it’s been through several rounds of drafts already, there’s at least one edit you can do! There always is.
Go through it and be as critical as you can be; even if you end up trimming fifty pages, it’ll be worth it if your book is as strong as possible. But remember: there is such a thing as spending too long on a book. Being thorough is fine, but being obsessed is not!
Unless your novel has a title and cover that instantly draws people in (they’re rare but do happen!), you’re going to have to build an audience for your book before it’s launched. This will involve being an active social media user, following like-minded people, and try to become part of a community interested in the genre of books you’re planning to publish.
As well as social media, you should also have your own website and blog, where you’ll be posting snippets from your book, as well as giving ‘behind the scenes’ insights into the process of writing and publishing. The more people who read your blog, the more chance you’ll have of selling copies to as many people as possible.
When it comes to finalizing the book, you’ll need to think about which avenues you want to sell it through. There are many good websites out there that allow self-published authors offer their book to an audience.
You’ll also want to have your book printer, regardless of whether you plan to sell it in a hard copy form or only digital; book printing is inexpensive, gives your book a professional look, and is useful for sending out to websites in exchange for a review. Also, it just looks pretty darn cool to have a copy of your own book just sitting there on your bookshelf!
When the book is out there, don’t sit back and hope for a surprise runaway success; be proactive. Send books out in exchange for an honest review, try to arrange interviews for websites (and local media if you think they’d be responsive), and make sure you’re making regular social media posts about it.
You won’t have gotten into the self-publishing game just for this one book. You’re in it for the long haul. While you’re promoting your present book, keep an eye out for ideas about your next book, and start writing as soon as you can.
Something unknown lies behind that door. Sometimes, I prefer to let a closed door stir my imagination to provide exciting answers than to find out the boring truth.
The lower bottom panel looks like peering eyes.
© Jacqueline
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.” (Andre Lorde)
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis over eleven years ago now, after my immune system attacked itself in error, following the birth of my wonderful baby boy. I have learned to adapt, adapt, and then adapt some more. Life did not go as planned and I have had to realign my whole way of thinking.
There have been many changes since my diagnosis, but the biggest and most visible change of all is my walking. A passer-by may see me and think of me as a ‘disabled’ person. But I am most certainly not. I am ‘differently’ abled, but able nonetheless. I am a very active, busy mum. I am a writer and exercise daily. I cook, I clean (sometimes), I dance (only in my room), I socialize, I travel, I read and so much more. I do all these things differently and the world would be a better place if we all began to think this way.
The one big thing where there has been absolutely no change is my ability to think and to learn. I am still the same me inside. I have the same dreams and aspirations. None of that has changed. The most hurtful thing in this entire journey was not getting Multiple Sclerosis. It was the fact that colleagues, some friends and strangers alike began to stop seeing me as their equal.
They began to retreat and separate themselves from my new world. They no longer wanted to stand side by side with the ‘disabled’ person. It was going to challenge them too much. Ask too much of them to alter their ways to include me. It may have hurt me somewhat, but it made me determined to prove that you can still achieve great things and live a full and enriched life, despite being ‘differently’ abled.
I decided to take myself away from the negativity and rejection I was experiencing. I decided to rebuild my life as a ‘differently’ abled person. To become an author and motivational writer. To raise my son in a world of positivity where it is not what happens to you that defines your life, but how you get up and deal with it. I work every day to achieve and my learning never stops.
I have opened up a whole new world since my diagnosis. I write, meditate, practise yoga and ‘earth’ on the rugged Scottish beaches to name but a few things I do now. These are all post MS additions to my life, never forgetting the joy of being a mum to the wonderful Elliot. I ask each and every person to look inside themselves and question if it really matters how someone looks or presents?
Do we really need to label them? And for whose benefit is that label? Can’t we just accept them as who they are and focus on what they can do? ‘Disability’ conjures up so much negativity for me and I’ve always thought of disabling something as stopping it working. Rest assured I still ‘work’ very well. Just very ‘differently.’ I have to find new ways to do old things, adapt and shift my perspective. But I am ‘able’ to live a full and active life this way. We can all start by shifting our perspective and seeing what someone can do first and not the ‘disability’. Celebrate difference and we could all look forward to a better and more positive future together.
Written by Patricia Gachagan.
Connect with Patricia on her site, patriciagachagan.com
We are mere stewards of these gifts that we receive and so long as we have them, we owe an obligation to use them well.
Sometimes, when I hear people say, ‘it’s my life, therefore, I can live it the way I want,’ I am tempted to remind them that ‘even their life is not truly theirs and that maltreating their lives in the name of living how they want can be likened to a drunken captain who chooses to run his vessel aground because he’s the Captain of the ship, forgetting that someone put him in charge of that vessel.’
If truth be told, none of us can add more time to that which has been assigned to us, it is, therefore, imperative that we use the gift of our life in edifying ways that would bring glory to the giver.
Jacqueline
Going about your business, sometimes the daily wear and tear of life, chores, cooking and cleaning has a detrimental effect on some of the things you love most dearly. These items you cherish with your heart, you may want to one day, pass on to your kids. Or maybe, when you gray and old you want to look back on the great memorable days you had. Some possessions you have to hold true meaning, they’re near and dear to your soul, and you wouldn’t ever want to lose them. So in order to take care of them, you need to act now.
Image by – ArielGold
Marriage and engagement Rings are a symbol of love and connection with another human being’s soul. As you go through life, the ring you wear every day might get scratched, damaged or even lost. If you plan on giving your wedding or engagement ring to your daughter-in-law one day, you may want to keep it from harm’s way. Think about taking off your engagement ring and keep it in a safe place, while replacing it with another ring. There are so many affordable diamond engagement rings out there to choose from. Modern manufacturing techniques produce high-quality craftsmanship at reasonable prices. So, don’t see it as a step-down, but a safety net for one of your most-loved possessions.
The daily cleaning chores include acidic cleaning fluids which have adverse effects on precious metals and gemstones. It kind of makes sense to keep your rings in tip top condition as they’re a symbol of love and should transcend any form of wear and tear. Your children will one day reflect as you did, about the ring they wear every day, which you have passed down to them. Take care of it and swap it out for a symbolically less valuable alternative. The age-old advice is to, take the ring to an artisan, have it polished and cleaned before you store it in a safe place and perhaps make it a part of your will.
Source – woodleywonderworks
Remember those late nights you sat up reading stories to your children? Oh how their eyes lit up with imagination, their smile and laughter are unforgettable. Those books you read from, may have been put in the attic somewhere or left in a dusty bookshelf in the corner of a room. If you want to save this treasured piece of culture, and hopefully one day pass it one to the kids of your children, follow these steps.
When your children’s children grow up, they can read them stories from the same book you read to their parents. You’ll be able to pass on the book in pristine condition and who knows, it may be further passed down and loved generation to generation. It’ll take the importance of a family heirloom, with love and memories behind it.
Mundane Monday challenge is created to find beauty in almost everything.
The challenge is simple. Find beauty in everyday mundane things, capture the beauty and upload the photographs.
I feel as if the bird is singing, ‘am on top the World, high up in the clouds’ tweet, tweet… watch me’
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
