Hard to believe it's almost April. I'm still having trouble writing 2005!
Remember all the time we had as kids? I mean, really! I had time to read an entire novel in one day! Could play a video game for five hours straight and only stop because my thumb got cramped. Too bad you can't bank unused time. There's many blocks of wasted time I could sure use now!
I think time speeds up as adults because we weigh ourselves down with all this responsible stuff. Clean the house, do wash, shopping, bank, cats (sorry, don't have kids!), fix this, organize that, run errands, etc etc etc! And yeah, some of that needs to be done. But we overloead ourselves with trivial things. Basically, we overload ourselves, period! Everyone's afraid to say no these days!
I've learned to say no to some things. (Ask my husband, who's gotten really good at cleaning the house!) Harder to say no to people, though. I want to do everything for everybody, and sometimes that just doesn't work!
So here's to finding balance! And giving myself room to breathe.
(Maybe even a free hour to play my RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 game!)
Don't ask time where it's gone; tell it where to go. Gain control of your time, and you gain control of your life. - John L. Mason, "An Enemy Called Average"
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Rising to the top
I don't know if you follow sports or not, but the NCAA Tournament is incredible to watch.
What makes March Madness draw so many viewers? It's the best of the best, the cream of the crop, and at a level where the athletes are really trying to give it their all. These kids still have a love for the game.
Considering how much these players have on their plate - basketball, school, a social life - it's amazing they are able to accomplish it all! One of the players in the Final Four intends to be an ordained minister by the time he graduates from college. Now that's a busy schedule! Most of us can't even imagine such a juggling act. (Most people can't imagine doing what I do, so I guess it's all relative.) After writing about several athletes in my novels, I have full & complete respect for the struggles they go through to achieve in their sport.
We won't discuss brackets though. Outside of UNC, mine has gone down in flames! Guess that's why they play the game!
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation. - Pearl S. Buck
What makes March Madness draw so many viewers? It's the best of the best, the cream of the crop, and at a level where the athletes are really trying to give it their all. These kids still have a love for the game.
Considering how much these players have on their plate - basketball, school, a social life - it's amazing they are able to accomplish it all! One of the players in the Final Four intends to be an ordained minister by the time he graduates from college. Now that's a busy schedule! Most of us can't even imagine such a juggling act. (Most people can't imagine doing what I do, so I guess it's all relative.) After writing about several athletes in my novels, I have full & complete respect for the struggles they go through to achieve in their sport.
We won't discuss brackets though. Outside of UNC, mine has gone down in flames! Guess that's why they play the game!
The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation. - Pearl S. Buck
Friday, March 25, 2005
Fear
As I sit here contemplating a major radio interview tomorrow, that word crosses my mind.
I don't fear the interview itself. I've certainly done enough of them! It doesn't bother me to think there may be a million people listening. It'll just be me and the interviewer on the phone. But I think it's the potential for failure that scares me. I don't want to treat this so casual that it lacks spunk & enthusiasm, but I don't want to place such a value on those few moments that I freeze up. Fine line to walk indeed!
But hey, if I stumble, it'll still be okay. This isn't life or death. And as long as I learn something from the ordeal, then it was a success no matter what.
And you have to treat every challenge that way. Failure only comes from inactivity or the inability to learn. So as long as you do something and then try to do it better the next time, then that's what truly matters.
If something really rattles you, then get some encouragement from a friend. That's what I did today. Several friends. Just needed to know someone believed in me! (Back to that 'words of affirmation'!) 'I believe in you' mean so much to me!
So here's to tomorrow's interview! So long as I do my best, give it my all, then it will be successful!
If everybody feels fear when approaching something totally new in life, yet so many are out there "doing it" despite the fear, then we must conclude that fear is not the problem. - Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
I don't fear the interview itself. I've certainly done enough of them! It doesn't bother me to think there may be a million people listening. It'll just be me and the interviewer on the phone. But I think it's the potential for failure that scares me. I don't want to treat this so casual that it lacks spunk & enthusiasm, but I don't want to place such a value on those few moments that I freeze up. Fine line to walk indeed!
But hey, if I stumble, it'll still be okay. This isn't life or death. And as long as I learn something from the ordeal, then it was a success no matter what.
And you have to treat every challenge that way. Failure only comes from inactivity or the inability to learn. So as long as you do something and then try to do it better the next time, then that's what truly matters.
If something really rattles you, then get some encouragement from a friend. That's what I did today. Several friends. Just needed to know someone believed in me! (Back to that 'words of affirmation'!) 'I believe in you' mean so much to me!
So here's to tomorrow's interview! So long as I do my best, give it my all, then it will be successful!
If everybody feels fear when approaching something totally new in life, yet so many are out there "doing it" despite the fear, then we must conclude that fear is not the problem. - Susan Jeffers, Ph.D.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
It's the little things ...
A little enthusiasm can go a long way ...
So can a kind word.
Sometime people just don't realize the power of the spoken word. But think about it - God spoke our world into existance and then made us in His image. Do you realize how much power that gives us with our words?
No one glows brighter than after a compliment. And it doesn't have to be something big, either. Women tend to favor compliments on their looks or personalities while men prefer encouraging words on their work or actions. (Although, switch that around, and you just might surprise someone with a compliment they were not expecting!) Every person needs affirmation that they are a worthy human being. A compliment costs so little, yet gives so much!
And this goes double for those whose "Love Language" is Words of Affirmation. They simply thrive on compliments! (I should know - that's half of my Love Language!)
You want to make a big difference today? Say something nice. To as many people as possible!
Daily Encouragement-
"I believe it is possible to say something positive to everybody about everything all the time if we want to." - Charlie T. Jones
So can a kind word.
Sometime people just don't realize the power of the spoken word. But think about it - God spoke our world into existance and then made us in His image. Do you realize how much power that gives us with our words?
No one glows brighter than after a compliment. And it doesn't have to be something big, either. Women tend to favor compliments on their looks or personalities while men prefer encouraging words on their work or actions. (Although, switch that around, and you just might surprise someone with a compliment they were not expecting!) Every person needs affirmation that they are a worthy human being. A compliment costs so little, yet gives so much!
And this goes double for those whose "Love Language" is Words of Affirmation. They simply thrive on compliments! (I should know - that's half of my Love Language!)
You want to make a big difference today? Say something nice. To as many people as possible!
Daily Encouragement-
"I believe it is possible to say something positive to everybody about everything all the time if we want to." - Charlie T. Jones
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Success is a thousand setbacks, less one
As I sit here holding the first copy of my latest novel, I contemplate the journey that brought me to this moment ...
Wow!
Gone are all the obstacles, the moments of fear, the long days of wondering why the heck I am doing this in the first place. I usually spend most of my time looking forward optimistically, but occasionally I look back and say wow! You'll never know how far you can go until you've given it your all!
Of course, the moment you arrive at a goal, a new one must be ready to take its place. And while this is a big moment, I know I have far from arrived. This moment opens a whole 'nother world of trials and tests!
Call it faith, that I know God will not forsake my labor of love.
Call it determination that I will not deviate from my path.
Or call it being completely naive that if I think I can, then I can!
There will be a wall in my path sooner or later. But that's okay! I'll either go over, under, around - or maybe just right through it!
"A setback is a setup for a comeback" - Willie Jolley
Wow!
Gone are all the obstacles, the moments of fear, the long days of wondering why the heck I am doing this in the first place. I usually spend most of my time looking forward optimistically, but occasionally I look back and say wow! You'll never know how far you can go until you've given it your all!
Of course, the moment you arrive at a goal, a new one must be ready to take its place. And while this is a big moment, I know I have far from arrived. This moment opens a whole 'nother world of trials and tests!
Call it faith, that I know God will not forsake my labor of love.
Call it determination that I will not deviate from my path.
Or call it being completely naive that if I think I can, then I can!
There will be a wall in my path sooner or later. But that's okay! I'll either go over, under, around - or maybe just right through it!
"A setback is a setup for a comeback" - Willie Jolley
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
The Spunk is up and running!
Welcome to Diane's blog site, brand new and begging for use!
Here you will find daily triumphs, words of affirmation, and the belief that all things are possible to those who never give up!
There will be travels, encounters, and the making of new friends, as seen through the eyes of an optimistic author.
When the dream's big enough, the facts don't count!
Here you will find daily triumphs, words of affirmation, and the belief that all things are possible to those who never give up!
There will be travels, encounters, and the making of new friends, as seen through the eyes of an optimistic author.
When the dream's big enough, the facts don't count!
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