Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Book Report - Goal Update and What I'm Reading Now

It's about half-way through the year, which still really doesn't seem possible. There are 3 days left in June. Sunday, not even a full week away, R leaves for Orlando for the month. When they get back it'll be time for College Orientation. That also doesn't seem possible, mostly though because I don't feel old enough to actually have a college student.

At the beginning of 2017 I set a series of Goals, things I wanted to accomplish this year. One of them was to read 26 books. 20 whatever, 3 Non-Fiction, 3 Classics. At the half-way point it stands to reason that I should have read approximately 13 books. I haven't. I've read 5.

I finished:
























































































































































































I have enjoyed every book I've read so far this year.


I'm in the process of reading:




I'm about two-thirds of the way finished with this. I'm learning a ton. It points out the good things about writing by the seat of your pants and how to take your stories to the next level.






























 I've just started this, but I'm enjoying it.
































I have several books I want to read this year, plus I keep adding more. There are three or four self-improvement books I want to read this year in addition to my ever-growing to-be-read pile.

 I completely disconnected my cable, so that will give me time to read. Hopefully, I'll be finished with the books I'm reading now by the end of July and I can start on something else. I have books by Rick Reed, Charlie Cochet, and Rhys Ford to read.


I'm curious to know what everyone is reading, as there really aren't enough books to read.

Blessings,
Simone.



Wednesday, June 21, 2017

From the Writer's Desk -- Trying Something New

It's mid-June, Summer Solstice is today. Twenty days ago my only child graduated from high school. In ten days I send them to Orlando for a month long visit with their Godparents. I have never had more than a week without R, so this will be an experience. One I know I am ready for.  It's hard to believe the year is half-way done.

I think everyone has a limit they reach and say that's it - I can't do this any more - whatever their 'this' might be. I hit that point about three months ago. And hung on longer without really knowing how. I had heard of a book, mostly in passing, without any real conversation on what it was, that piqued my interest. Enough that I went and looked at it time and again. Then I bought it. Started reading it the next day or a couple of days later. Now, I've finished the book and started it again.

What I needed was to change my way of thinking. I was going to ask my counselor for anti-depressants, as my stress, anxiety, and depression sky-rocketed. I decided to try this first.

The book -- The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. I was about a third of the way through the book when I decided to try it out, mostly because I woke up to use the bathroom about an hour before my alarm clock should ring and decided to give a try.  Eleven days later, I haven't missed a day and it has been an exciting, eye-opening, sometimes painful few days. I love it. One of the things I realized is that I would rather give my most productive energy to my writing not to my day job. So, I decided I needed to write for an hour every morning, which means I need to be up earlier. That's what I've done. The only day I didn't write since I started was Sunday and on that day I was working on spreadsheets and websites and other writing related things before we had to leave for my step-sister's.

I'm getting used to waking up at 4 am, which a good friend of mind keeps telling me that no, I've got it all wrong 4 am is bed time.

So, I'm writing for an hour or there-abouts every day and am finding it easier to write, to figure out what is going to happen next. I have other ideas for more stories too.  I also happened across this book, which will be one my next investments...

The Miracle Morning for Writers.  It looks interesting. I enjoy the quiet part of the morning, it was also my favorite part of the night. But R is a night owl, so there is less quiet. And really, I wouldn't change that. I couldn't be prouder of my kid and the young adult they are becoming.

My goal is to finish BTM by the end of the summer, preferably by the end of July. I'm about half-way there, so that is doable. After that I have several books I want to write, but I have yet to decide on what will be next.

Weekly Goals - To write everyday and finish updating my website.

Wishing everyone a Blessed Summer.

Simone.