Category: Growth & Expansion
Down a rabbit hole again
I am finally writing a memoir!!
It’s about a widow (me) determined to get through the grief process with her mental health intact.
I haven’t written a book before and am finding it quite difficult. I see why it’s called a craft. It’s takes a lot of trial and error to “craft” a good sentence, paragraph, or chapter.
I finally created an outline that feels right. One of the chapters is about selling our house.
It’s the first chapter I have really started digging in to and DAMN it’s hard!!
I knew it was going to be therapeutic for me to write it. But trying to keep a reader in mind or to keep the story flowing takes a lot more work than what you see in a book.
I’m going into some rather deep rabbit holes. For one, because the hole opens and I dive right in. I do that because writing this memoir is as much for me as it is for the readers.
So anyway, the advice I have heard says 30,000 to 40,000 words is a good size. With ten chapters, that’s 4,000 words each. I have ten chapters in my outline. I’m going for 4,000 words each.
I hand wrote most of this chapter first.
Then I typed the notes in to a computer file. The word count was just over 2,000 and I have only written about packing up the house. So, yay!!!!
Now I’m beginning to write about the real estate agent and the whole process I went through. I plunged head first into a rabbit hole about judgement, self confidence, and creativity. One just lead seamlessly into the next.
I can see why writing a memoir is therapeutic!! I’m diving deep. Or am I procrastinating? Ohhhhh, another rabbit hole I can distract myself with.
Ok now. I’m going back to the chapter. Thank you for reading this.
Presents to myself, from myself.
Crossing Bridges
Bridges help us cross difficult terrain, sometimes being the only way to get from here to there.
Are there memorable bridges in your life?
Speaking of bridges and crossings, and getting from here to there, I want to introduce you to a new endeavor I recently started. I am creating adult coloring books, journals, and to-do list notebooks. They are available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/author/suzannehorrocks
This new endeavor feels like crossing a bridge because it is a new avenue, a new path, a new road. Having a bridge connecting my wellness journey, my entrepreneurial journey, and my dream of creating a line of blank books is priceless.
What bridge have you built or crossed that changed your life? (Small changes count too.)
The Rule of Four
The Rule of 4 = 4 hours a day of serious mental focus.
Your brain can only handle 3 to 4 hours a day of serious mental focus.
Whether you are Jeff Bezos, Charlies Darwin, or you at your best, everyone gets 4 hours a day of focused brain power.
You can work through mindless administrative work or manual labor for longer but concentrated intellectual effort is maxed out at 4 hours.
It’s biological. No need to guilt trip or let your inner mean girl send you negative vibes.
Pick your golden 4 hours and time block it. Protect those 4 hours.
You will get more done with less aggravation. And then you can get the more mindless tasks done outside your brain’s power hours.
It’s good time management.
It relieves guilt and stress.
Remember, it’s biological. It’s natural law.
You get to choose a good day
How is March and Spring going for you so far?
Spring is time for new beginnings and awakenings. The flowers and trees are budding. We just took some of our houseplants outside for the warm half of the year.
Our bodies are ready to liven up after the rest and digest period of winter. Movement and cleansing are good areas to explore this season.
I have been drawn to cilantro recently. Chopping it up along with spinach and cabbage for a salad is amazingly refreshing and energizing. Cilantro is good for detoxing too. Perhaps that’s why it has come to me with such strong feelings this season. Give it a try. Or add some other light and leafy green if cilantro doesn’t float your boat. You can add it to sandwiches or salad. Use it as a garnish or make your own version of pico de gallo or a relish. Yum Yum!!
It’s your choice!
Along the thought line of “you get to choose”, how about choosing to NOT accept that guilt trip? Do you ever feel those? Either from inside your own head or from another person? You get to choose. Thank the guilt trip for reminding you to be mindful and let it go on it’s way. Don’t hang on to it. Seriously, guilt will find a home somewhere. You don’t have to hang on to it.
Life gets to be your choice. Live it as you like.
If you could make a change in your life, what would it be?
Happy Spring!
She’s outside feeding the chickens
She’s outside feeding the chickens, checking the garden, and greeting the wild animals – the birds, squirrels, lizards, and the cats. She goes inside and grabs another cup of coffee and goes back outside, while it’s still cool and the bugs aren’t too bad.
She has about thirty minutes before she has to get ready for work. She sure wishes she had more control over her work, her day, her life. Two – or even three – days off in a row would be nice. Or even the same start time every shift would be nice.
But she doesn’t have that kind of job.
She likes working with the public anyway. Different faces everyday is nice.
She also wishes the pay was better. Worrying about money is unnerving. Living in fear of the future takes all the fun out of life. Not to mention what if she gets sick? Will doctors even be able to help or will she begin the rapid descent into death or disability?
See, there’s a lot to worry about. She’s not a spring chicken anymore.
If she gets “put” into a nursing home, it will be a sad, sad day. She may not be able to forgive her children for it.
So many worries. The weight of her world gets heavy.
Where did the fun go?
Gone fishing
Can I tell you a story? It’s from Timeless Simplicity by John Lane.
The rich industrialist was horrified to find the fisherman lying beside his boat, smoking a pipe.
“Why aren’t you out fishing?” asked the industrialist.
“Because I have caught enough fish for the day.”
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money. Then you could have a motor fitted to your boat to go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would have enough money to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats…maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.”
“What would I do then?”
“Then you could sit back and enjoy life.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”
Garth Brooks did a song about it too. You can watch the YouTube recording. Warning that the sound quality is not good. But you can hear Garth’s version of this very cool story. https://bit.ly/2wMO92W
And here’s a meme to go with it. I found this story on Facebook actually in this exact meme. 
At the end of this period of social distancing or sheltering in place (whatever it’s called), and we return to normal, perhaps we should look very closely at “normal.”
What do you think? And how are you doing during this pandemic?
I love Gaia.
You’ve heard that gardening, or hiking, or basically any outdoor activity can help alleviate depression, right?
Yesterday proved it. After checking the news yesterday, I was feeling very down and depressed. I wanted to crawl under the covers and hide for a few hours.
Instead, a fairly rare occurrence – the sun was out! – was happening so I went outside to feel it for a minute. I started piddling in the yard. Not intending to actually accomplish any tasks, but just to feel the warmth.
Next thing you know, we had planted all of our seeds. We had moved the house plants outside and got them all arranged and watered. And we got some light cleaning done. It was still early and bright and warm enough that I got some meditation in the sunlight done. Plus a sun salutation.
Talk about a good afternoon. My spirits were off the charts compared to the low vibration from the morning’s news.
How about you? Does Gaia heal you too?
Tapping Could Very Well Be Just Right For You
Have you heard of Tapping or EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)?
“It is a remarkable healing modality based on the same principles that have been used for thousands of years in acupuncture—but without the needles.” – Brad Yates
I first experienced Brad Yates and his teachings about a year ago while doing personal development as part of my network marketing income stream.
One of the top leaders of my company is an avid believer and practitioner of tapping. She partnered with Brad Yates and developed a packet of 31 days of tapping devoted to stressors specific to network marketing. We got a tapping session about not feeling qualified, not feeling deserving, worrying about what others think, procrastination, fear of being pushy and more. It was incredibly helpful. Amazingly helpful.
But obviously tapping/eft isn’t just helpful for network marketing. What about fear of going to the dentist? How about test performance anxiety? Or performance anxiety in sports or art? Would you like some help around quitting smoking? Or how about abundance mindset? The list goes on and on and on and on.
Seriously yall, sometimes a person needs some help. AmIright?
If there’s something you want, but can’t seem to get, why not? You’ve no doubt heard it said many times before…
If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.
In order to get different results, you need to do different things – or, in some cases, do things differently. You’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new or different.
Want to learn more about tapping? Here you go. And here.
In full transparency, I am an affiliate marketer for Brad Yates. By clicking here, you are helping me financially and I can continue to bring helpful healing modalities to you. I wouldn’t recommend a practice that I don’t endorse or practice myself. I highly recommend Brad Yates and his stress reducing techniques.
Thanks for reading and learning yall. I love learning. I bet you love it too.
Suzanne Horrocks 