The last couple of weeks, I’ve dealt with some particularly difficult people. I don’t think they were trying to be difficult, I think they were just confused, scared, frustrated or having a bad day, but when you total them all up, it’s taking a toll on my ability to stay focused and positive. I just want to do this:
My last post was surely indicative of recent events at my place of secular employment. In addition to that, I am the President of our local writer’s group and along with that comes responsibility and the need to have thick skin and a super high dose of patience. I am also married and that comes with it’s own set of problems and needs. Not that my marriage is in any way adding to my recent angst, but I have to always be mindful not to let my mounting frustrations and stress carry over to my time with my sweetie pie. He deserves better.
As I sat down to write yesterday, I found my mind wandering to stuff that really should be purged from my brain. It’s inconsequential and takes away from my ability to concentrate on what’s important to me – my writing. My writing time is precious and I don’t need it mucked up with unimportant things. A lot of you know what I’m talking about when I say that people around me don’t appreciate what I’m trying to accomplish. They see my writing as a hobby or something I do to relax and unwind. They don’t know how hard it is, how challenging or how how rewarding it really is. That adds to my frustration and sometimes I just can’t take it any more. I want to scream.
So, as my mind wandered away from my WIP (work in progress) and refused to come back, I decided why not just take a few minutes and indulge in the pity party; maybe the negativity will get bored and move on so I can get back to what’s important – my career as a writer.
So, as a tribute to all of those people who sucked the life out of me the past couple of weeks (not you sweetie pie) and all of those nay-sayers or folks choosing to keep my writing career in their blind spot, I pay homage by saying, good-bye. I’m done with your negativity and whining and complaining. I am a writer and I shall write.
I’m choosing to do this:
I hope you’ll join me on my journey. Now put on your crown and let’s be successful together!
Word of the Day: Bumptious
Fun fact about me: I don’t like wearing shoes without socks in the winter time.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt. Video courtesy of YouTube
LOVE this, and NEEDED it!!
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I hear ya, Kay. Must be the rain that we so need that has changed everyone’s mood.
Hang in there. I’ll see you Wednesday and we’ll work it out in dance.
Patricia
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Huggles, Patricia. I understand as for the last five months packing has been taking my time, thoughts, and body. I need a break, but am determined to see everything in a box. I have managed a small amount of time each day to get writing done and did get a final copy of my next story done and to my boss two months early so that worry is off my back.
Taking a deep breath and saying it is okay to spend time doing what I have to do so I can write again.
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Packing and moving do indeed take a toll on your body and your mind. I’ve been there.
You’ll find the time you need. Just take it slow and don’t try to push the writing. That’s almost worse.
Hang in there.
Patricia
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Way to kick the haters to the curb, Patricia! You’re right – they just suck the life from you. Keep on writing! And socks are good in winter – keep your tootsies warm. 🙂
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Indeed. I put on my shit-kickers and gave them the boot. Enough is enough. I try and try and try to be accommodating and kind, but the complaints just keep a comin’. I say, enough already.
And I do have warm tootsies inside my shit-kickers. That’s the only way to rock and roll.
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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Great motivational video! And bumptious sure sounds deceptively positive. I guess it’s like the shiny, pretty apple that’s actually all icky inside. Btw I’m a big sock fan too. Hope you have a good week, with lots of writing and crown wearing. 🙂
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Hi Coleen – I’ve got my crown on. No socks today though. Pantyhose inside my stilettos. It’s that kind of a day for me.
I was surprised at bumptious as well. It does sound like a positive word. I guess if you have the red neck variety you’d have bumptious bumpkins. That sounds kinky.
You have a great week, too my friend.
Patricia
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Ooh, I donned my crown, and it’s already improved my posture and attitude.
How dare people consider your writing a hobby? I hope your regal demeanor inspires awe or so intimidates the difficult people that they reconsider the way they approach you.
Write on, Patricia/Jansen!
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Thanks, Pat. I think the crown definitely makes a difference.
Wouldn’t it be nice to wear that special ribbon on my conference lanyard this year in San Antonio that says “Golden Heart finalist?” That’s what I’m hoping for. That’ll show ’em.
I appreciate the support. Have a fantastic day and don’t ever take off that crown.
Patricia
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Great video. And so spot on for what you’re going through. YOU are in charge of your destiny. Just as we can’t always understand how (or why) something is important to others, we cannot expect others to understand what’s truly important to us. It’s okay. Writing is important to you, it’s a part of you. That’s all that matters.
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Hi Suzanne. Thanks for stopping by with kind words today. I need the pick me up.
You are so right about me being in charge of my destiny. Instead of trying to explain to others that it’s not a hobby, it’s a career, I just ignore the “insult” and carry on as if I were a best-selling author. As the video says, there’s no “perfect time” to start so just start even if you don’t feel ready.
And blast those people who are standing in the way to the curb.
Good to see you my friend.
Patricia
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Don’t pay no mind to the trolls, haters, and negative nellies. Just do your thing and write. People in general are sometimes negative and you just can’t listen to them, as they will bring down your mood too. Some people told me that having a blog was a waste of time and useless. I disagreed and did it anyway. Still going strong.
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Thanks for the pep talk, Phil. Every once in a while I get sucked into the mire of negativity and I hate it. Last week’s post was along the same lines, but with a lot more snark. I’ve mellowed over the past 7 days apparently.
And, I can’t believe someone would tell you not to blog! Your blog is awesome. Good for you for taking the high road and doing it anyway. Be true to yourself. I’ve found blogging to be a great way to express what needs to be said without all the face-to-face grief often associated with speaking your mind. (Again, I refer you to my last week’s post.) I like how you speak your mind. It’s refreshing.
I appreciate your support.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Haters gonna hate, but winners gonna win. You are a winner, Patricia! Wear that crown proudly, follow your passions, and do what you need to do to make your life the best one ever. Everyone else be damned.
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Thanks Jessica. Sometimes I need these little boosts to keep me mindful of what’s important. It’s great to have a wonderful cyber support group.
Patricia
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Oh, I can just imagine the kind of negativity you encounter working in a law office! Working for the government when there are furloughs going on has nothing on that. I get the “hobbyist” treatment too – so annoying! I want to bring in more money just so my family will see that my writing really is a second job, although the money itself would be nice, too LOL. Thanks for the smiles and have a great week!
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I’m sure working for the government has it’s share of frustrations and stress. The private sector is certainly challenging at times. Nothing in life is perfect so you have to take the bad with the good, but it seems like the bad is always compounded by more bad, whereas the good only trickles in.
It is hard to consider writing a “job” when you work full time in the regular world, but . . . Someday, when I get my first sale, and my second, and third, hopefully this first “job” can go away and I can work in the not-so-regular world. I keep hoping and working toward that anyway. Or my husband could get a better paying job. That would be sweet!
Thanks for swinging by. Have a great week.
Patricia
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Wow, hang in there. Your post makes me grateful for all the support I’ve been getting from family and friends. Of course, it helps to be a student and not working in an office!
I love the Invisible crown – not just for the posture that’s implied in the picture, but the attitude that would go with it. Gracious, yet powerful – yeah, that’s what I want to be.
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Hi Jennifer. It’s nice to know that you’re getting support from your family and friends. I think for the most part I do, too, but they’re always the first ones to say, “well you’re only writing today, let’s go do this,” or “this will only take a few minutes and then you can go back to your writing.” They would never ask me to take time off from my “paying” job to do those things, but they don’t understand that writing is as important as that other job.
Some day they’ll get it. Some day when the royalty checks start rolling in, they’ll understand. Hopefully that day will be soon.
Thanks for stopping by and keep that crown polished. It does improve posture and attitude.
Patricia
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That’s an awesome video. Okay, I’ll be wearing some invisible bling bling on my head from now on! 🙂 I can relate quite well to the attitude of others toward our writing. My family would be sooooooo happy if I gave it up, but I have no plans on doing that!
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Good for you, Lynn. Don’t give up what you love. My husband doesn’t get it at all. He thinks I just sit around doing nothing all day. I told him I got 4,000 words one day and he just stared at me like I told him I swept the floor and it took all day to do it. Clueless.
We writers have to stick together. Only we know how much blood, sweat and tears go into those stories.
Thanks for coming by and sharing your pain. I feel ya, girl. Hang in there.
Patricia
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