Wednesday, August 6, 2014

IWSG 8/6/14

Hey if anyone is interested in joining up to this awesome group click HERE



So, today is my return to blogging. Today is also my birthday. 32. Just over three decades spent on this spinning ball. Long enough to learn that the statement "The only constant is change" is quite accurate. In my 32 years I would wager I have moved maybe 15-16 times. I have become quite the pro at it in fact. I can have a house packed and moved in days. 

Well that theory was tested as I just recently had to move again. I won't go into the details, but let's just say the environment had become toxic. So we moved and on very short notice. When these changes happen in our lives we tend to take stock, so to speak. So over the last week and a half I have been reflecting.

The questions hit. Am I where I should be? Do I have the strength to get to where I want to be? Is my skill enough to get me there? Those type of question haunt us all I believe. In fact, how we answer them often define us. 

The place where we moved has some land, 5 acres. Some of that is woods, but there is still a hefty amount of yard work to be done. My son is 10, he has mostly been an inside kid. Playing video games or reading and occasionally going outside to play. I figured it is a good time to change that here so yesterday morning I woke him up and made him go outside to help with the yard.

Handing him the rake I instantly got a flashback of a younger me. I grew up for part of my life on a dairy farm. Coming from the city I was clueless. Luckily a great uncle of mine took me under his wing. I learned so much from him and have benefited from his lessons to this day. I have a step-father now that reminds me of him and I am learning all I can from him as well. 

Some of you may be thinking, "Interesting tale my friend, but how does this apply to a writing group?" Great question. The answer is, there are many stages in our craft. Like in life. You have to start as the one holding the rake, but given time you will be the one who can teach others what to do with it. 

Wherever you are in your writing is where you should be for this moment. It is through being open to learn and striving to continue and grow that we can become a master at this craft or any other. If you are having doubts at this moment just remember we all do and it is by pushing through them we become great. 

Anyways it is good to be back, hope you have all been well. As always have fun and keep writing. OH and as a p.s., don't fear change sometimes it brings you a pool and a rainbow. 


23 comments:

  1. Happy birthday! I hope your new home is a good change for you.

    Sarah Foster
    August IWSG Co-host

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  2. Happy birthday! Your new place looks beautiful--I hope you and your family enjoy living there!

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    1. Thanks. We are it has been nice to go write on the porch.

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  3. Well said, Brandon.
    And happy birthday. you're still a young pup though.
    We can't always control where we are at, just our drive to keep moving forward, learning, growing, and then sharing.

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    1. Thanks. Yes it is about the journey for sure. We have to absorb and grow.

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  4. Happy birthday!

    Change can be very good. I think it is better when we don't fear it. As you say, sometimes it brings very good things. Like pools and rainbows!

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    1. Fearing change is like worrying about things we can't, it just waste time. Thank you.

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  5. Holding the rake . . . great way to put it. :)

    Happy Birthday!

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  6. What a good post. Absolutely outstanding. Probably your best. Happy Birthday! You are two years younger than Favorite Young Man. You could be another Middle Child for me. I currently have two. New DIL is very excited to join a large family. It's good that you had your son work with you instead of telling him, Hey, get out there and do the work. Work is usually more enjoyable if you do it with a parent. The Hurricane used to join right in when I asked her to move furniture with me and help me clean.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Thanks, I guess the break did me good. I do like being a middle child :) I agree working with my kids to do things will, I hope, build great memories for them and me.

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  7. Happy birthday. Wish I was 32. :P
    Your place looks lovely. :)

    IWSG #184 until Alex culls the list again.

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  8. Belated Happy Birthday Brandon. Glad you are going to teach your son about the outside world. Enjoy your new home.

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    1. Thanks. It was fun to watch him learn and be out there enjoying the outdoors.

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  9. Happy birthday Brandon! Great words to reflect on when things feel like they're stalling. I often have doubts about my writing (don't we all?) but I'm still plugging away at it, and probably always will.

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    1. Thank you. Yes I do believe doubt is a constant companion for an artist. Glad the words could help.

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  10. Happy birthday! And to me, you're just a young'un. Ha.

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  11. Hey Brandon! Happy, happy b-day and welcome back. I can really relate to what you were saying. I loathe moving. The last time we had to move, I told The Husband that we would never, ever move again....it just about killed me. It was hot as heck, our kids were two years old, one year old and I was so pregnant with my third I couldn't see my feet. What a NIGHTMARE!

    I'm very glad your back and I hope you managed to have a great b-day with your family! Beautiful rainbow-

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  12. A little bit late, but I hope you had avery happy birthday.

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