Stoking the Fires

It’s funny sometimes how life tends to synch up. Some call it fate, others karma, or even divine intervention. I’ve always chalked up to luck.

Whatever it is, it happened to me this morning. I went to yoga for the first time in a long time. It was a new class, and a different teacher than I had ever had, and it was awesome. Aside from being a kick-ass workout, I happened to drop in on the day that the instructor was discussing the third chakra. Apparently this class has been working its way up the energy chakras class by class and the third is about the core. On the more metaphysical side, it’s about the strength that we all need, the burning fire that keeps us motivated and powerful.

The instructor talked throughout the class (without ever doing that annoying yoga voice – the one I use with my kids when I want them to sleep), about how we all have to nurture that inner fire and strength, and that we must build our own core (physically and metaphysically), before we can branch out and help others. It was kind of about being selfish, so that you can then be a source of good in the world.

Anyways, I’m sure I’m getting that all wrong, but the takeaway for me is that it’s okay to say no. Sometimes you have to turn down things you would really love to work on, because if you spread your fire too thing it will die out. It’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about. A friend send me this link the other day to an article about just that – How to say No.

It’s something I always have trouble with, because there are so many things I want to do and support in this world. Right now, with two small kids, a freelance career and a novel that is chugging along by the tiniest of baby steps, I really just need to focus. My plate is full.

In the meantime, I need to practice saying no. Not to sound too California hippy about it, but I need to stoke the fire that is my third chakra. Right now it’s a tiny little flame, but I think it has the potential to be a bonfire.

Maurice Sendak is Cool

As I’m busy today with some freelance work I’m just going to share this and say how very cool I think Maurice Sendak is. Sometimes I wish I were a cranky, old, (highly successful) writer. It’s good to have goals.

Busy Bee

I have a bad habit of taking on too much. I know I’ve said this before, but the fact remains that there are so many things I want to do in this life. I’ve actually gotten much better at turning down offers, and yet I’m swamped. My mom laughed at me this morning and told me that I’m happiest this way. She’s right. 

And the truth is, I’m only feeling overwhelmed because a couple projects are at critical points. The Digging Deep website just launched, my new business writing website is almost done (just waiting for the logo to go up), I’m doing a big final push to finish up my Northern California book project by the end of the year, and then there’s just the usual of keeping up with current clients, blogging, and oh yeah, raising two kids while I’m at it.

I do love it. If I could bear to cut anything I would, but it’s all fun. So I guess I’m not complaining about being busy reallly, I’m so much as I’m blogging about it because I don’t have room in my head for any other topics right now. Gotta run.

Missing The Novel

My friend asked me yesterday how my novel is coming.

I told her it’s on hold, with what I hope sounded like breezy nonchalance. It is on hold. For babies, and paid work, and launching the new Digging Deep site (any day now – so excited), the passion project is languishing.

I think about it all the time. I even dream about it. Now and then I even have a great idea that I quickly jot in my notebook, but as for actually writing a word, it hasn’t happened since we moved into our temporary digs here in San Francisco.

All I can say is that I miss it, and I can’t wait to get back to it.

In more exciting news, I’ve almost lost the baby weight! I bought a new pair of jeans at H&M yesterday and I’m feeling sassy for the first time in while. Fun.

Life/Family/Career

Forget everything I said about how easy it is to spend the days with the kids and write at night. That worked for about two weeks. The fact is, business is done during business hours. Sometimes there’s just no getting around that. What’s more, working at night means I get a lot less sleep than I’m used to, which, when I’m trying to keep up with the kids all day, is a serious detriment.

So I’m back to feeling stressed about trying to keep my own career moving forward while supporting my guy in his filmmaking work. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to do it. Daniel worked two jobs for two years while I got my masters degree. I am thrilled that the tables have turned and I can now support him in what he wants to do, but it is challenging.

In looking for things that could be cut, to make my life easier, this blog keeps raising it’s little hand, but the fact is I really like writing this blog. Still, we’re about to launch the Digging Deep Campaign website which will require some blogging, and the time may come that something has to go.

It’s a continual work in progress, this life/family/career. I just have to figure it out as I go along.

ps – I’m hoping to blog a little more about the film soon. I just need to pick Daniel’s brain a bit. They don’t start shooting until June 5. All I’ve heard recently is that the production office got a kick-ass espresso machine. Color me jealous.

Special Time

Wait. What? How did a whole week go by? I’ve been pretty distracted with the full time mom thing. In fact, between that last sentence and this one, I helped my daughter finish her art project. I have about ten seconds before she needs my help with the next thing. Yipes. Wait. Be right back.

I have two phone meetings today with freelance clients, so I’m planning a double feature for the big kid and hoping, hoping that the little guy will sleep. It’s been working out pretty well to do my writing after everyone else is asleep, but I will admit that it’s been weeks since I’ve worked on the novel. As long as the freelance work keeps up (and I hope it does) the novel will just have to wait until my girl is back in preschool.

The plus side is that I’m having a lot of fun hanging with the kids. We went to the beach twice last week. As long as I just accept that I won’t get any work done until around 9pm, I can just relax and enjoy this special time. Before I know it they’ll both be in school, and I will finally have time for my own projects, and I know there is a big part of me that will miss this.

Gotta go play hide and seek now. Cheers!