Wellness
Recovering, Reading, and Revising
A few weeks ago, I was hospitalized for appendicitis and sepsis. The infection was so severe that they put me on a long course of antibiotics, and I’m hopefully having surgery soon to remove my appendix. But even now, I still don’t feel great. My side hurts, and some nights, it’s impossible to get comfortable.
Slowing Down, but Not Stopping
When you’re weak, tired, and not feeling like yourself, you have to listen to your body and do what you can with the energy you have. For me, that means reading. And thankfully, that’s something I can still do. I’ve been rereading my published books—not just because I love them, but because we’ve updated the covers and are tweaking the copy. If you’re with a small press like I am, you often have more flexibility to make small fixes post-publication. If you’re with a big traditional publisher, that’s a lot harder—but if you ever get the chance to refine your work, take it.
Why 15 Minutes Is All It Takes To Be Kind
Having gratitude essentially enables us to not take things for granted. There are times when seeing the silver lining is a challenge, and I do not want to undermine real struggle and hardship. However, obstacles in life can lead to great rewards because we cannot come out of struggle without being inherently changed by it. Nevertheless, it’s up to us to make sure that change is good rather than bad. Read the rest of this entry »
Trying vs. Doing: Choose Your Verb
I heard the titled phrase from an acquaintance who happens to also be a teacher. It struck me as an easy “go to” phrase to keep tucked away and ready to pull out when you need a little motivation. Read the rest of this entry »
When Ordinary Humans Become Extraordinary: The Power of Will
On January 4, 2017, a senior citizen who is definitely retired set an inspirational record. He biked 14 miles in one hour. This measly 14 miles in an hour is considered beginner’s speed by a livestrong.com article. Not to mention, 14 miles on a bike in one hour is a snail pace compared to Denise Mueller of San Diego, who is the world’s fastest female bicyclist. Read the rest of this entry »
What Death Looks Like: A Short Story
[Warning: Not a Typical ‘Lil Pick Me Up’ Post]
The decaying fabric of his skin was melting off his bones, like wax off a long lit candle, and the whites of his eyes downgraded to a shade of gray with veins now elevated, making them bulge from the sockets. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing With Hope 