Hurricanes and thangs :-)

Hola,

So, just survived Hurricane Sandy! Certainly blessed. Ultimately I'm just thankful to be alive and appreciative of the news reports and work of emergency units ensuring that folks are safe and can get help when they need it.
Still praying for those dealing with the aftermath.

Stay safe. Be blessed.

Love,

~Sam

A Little Self-Discipline Goes A Long Way

Self-discipline: correction or regulation of oneself for the sake of improvement

There isn't much I have to say about self-discipline. It stands alone shouting, "Hey, utilize me! Just do it!" Self-discipline has transitioned me from writing every once in a while and only when I'm inspired to writing at least an hour every day whether I'm motivated or not. One hour of writing yields 500 words on a slow day. If I'm to write about 70,000 words for the next novel, how many slow days can I have? Less than 5 month's worth... The great news is that my self-discipline has pushed me past the halfway point of completing book #2. I have less the two and a half months left before I can exhale and celebrate the completion of another fulfilling project. One day at a time, staying on track, not giving up will give me the results I want. No one can do it for me just as no one can do it for you. Your dream is yours and self-discipline is necessary to reach it. Step by step, taking one day at a time, remaining on task, you'll make it to your finish line.

Hope you'll take the time to write a plan, set a schedule to do the work and produce your dream.
Go for it!

Love,

~Sam
 

Blessing in the Unexpected

So I'm sitting here with a cold that had the audacity to show up on a week where work and my personal schedules are on crunch time. I'm busier than I've been in a while, which is exactly what I want, and yet a cold has come in and basically told me to "Saddown somewhere." Just when the momentum was growing and I'm implementing my new writing schedule, new workout schedule, new quality time with loved ones schedule and my cook more, eat less junk schedule, it stopped me right in my tracks. A cold, hmph...

But instead of continuing to whine and complain, I'm focusing on how to better take care of myself, how to better listen to my body and soul so that my core needs are met, and how to be still and live in the present. I do get reminders from time to time, like this cold, that it is time to sit and just be.

Today, I hope you'll find the time to just be. With only one life to live, I'm realizing that I don't want to zoom through it completing task after task after task. I'd rather take some time to be here, now, in the present and enjoy each moment for what it is.

Love,

~Sam

Face Your Fears

It's funny how the things I'm most afraid to do are things I'm actually pretty good at. Catch me before public speaking, presenting or teaching and I'm close to a mess. It scares me to talk, explain and engage other people. Before such events, my breathing is shallow, my teeth are clinched and my mind is on the “what-ifs”--what if I forget something; what if I get tongue-tied; what if my “Soufeast” comes out; what if I don't know the answer to a question?

What helps me is to think about these worst-case scenarios and answer them. It goes a little something like this: Well...I'll follow up with an email or bring it up at the end of my presentation if I forget something. If I get tongue-tied, I'll chuckle at myself (naturally) and slow down- I shouldn't be talking that fast anyway. If my “Soufeast” comes out, I’ll reel it back it and continue my  “professional speech.” My accent is a part of me and will always be there, but it can be controlled. And lastly, if I don't know the answer to a question, I can always say, "I don't have that information right now. I will look into it for you and get back to you as soon as possible." See? Those big scary monsters don't seem so big and bad when you break them down and face them.

I try to do this with many big scary events or tasks I face. This comes up for writing the next books. It’s quite the task to write more novels, more stories, more plots and develop more characters. I don't always remember this fear-busting method but when I do, it relieves most, if not all, of my anxiety and leaves me feeling confident. I just take it one chapter at a time, knowing that things will work out even if it's not as I’d originally planned. It might even turn out better than I'd planned.

How do you face your fears?

Love,

~Sam

How Do You Start Your Day?

I used to have an issue with fall. For me, it spelled the end of summer and fun, beaches and bathing suits, block parties and cookouts. But as I've grown, fall has become a positive change agent rather than a negative one. It's a time to restart, a time to reflect, a time to build and execute. This mind shift has started since I moved back to the DC area where season change is much more obvious than in Tallahassee, Fl (last home).

This particular fall, the dawn of the sky is so much more visible from my living room window, something I'd always wanted. I'll take a moment to sit and be still, watching the sky light up with colors of orange, pink, fiery yellow. It's a beautiful way to start my day, watching nature be itself, do its thing, and being in an attitude of gratitude for many things but mainly for being able to witness this every morning if I choose. It gets me going and reminds me to be natural, be myself, and to be consistent in growth and service. It's my Organic wake up call.

What's yours? What gets you going in a positive way?

Love,

~Sam