JUST WRITE!

I've spent a lot of time lately thinking about writing; my own, and others'....

I've spent time reading magazines about writing, looking at writing websites, and reading others' blogs-I love to read articles and blogs and magazines and seeing what makes people tick. I am begining to love reading about the actual craft of writing, because Lord knows I have much to learn.

Someday, soon, I'd LOVE to write professionally-as a full-time career-whether it be for a newspaper, magazine, online thing, books, or whatever. It IS my intention to make a career out of this, BUT....for this exact moment and time in my life, I'm NOT concerned with all that technical stuff, I simply want to JUST WRITE!

I know b/c this is a blog, there are times when I could write more precisely, with more craft and better grammar. I could spend my time writing this blog with perfect wording, correct puncuation and stellar sentence structure-but why? That's what English class is for, and when I HAVE to write like that, I do.

But right now, for this blog, why?

Because I don't have to. This is a "journal," for me. And, "journals," aren't supposed to be correct and technical, they're just there. And like any journal, this blog is simply a place for me to vent, share my thoughts, views and opinions. It's my place to share myself with the world. And, just like everyone else, I'm NOT perfect-and I'm okay with that. So, if I'm not perfect, why should my writing be?

I have a deep talent for writing, I know I do. I can write poetry, reserach papers, term papers, articles, etc, etc, etc...all very well, but this blog isn't any of those...

the one thing I've consistently heard from writers is this: it doesn't matter where, why or how you do it, JUST WRITE!

This is my place to do just that, this blog is where I JUST WRITE!

And, if someone doesn't like my imperfect grammar, puncation or thought-process-than too bad....

Tune in, in 10 years, when I have a book deal and WILL have to use all that propper grammar stuff; and I WILL use it, butright now, I don't have to. And I love that.

There's freedom in this blog, and freedom in writing.....there's more freedom in writing than most other crafts....it's just words put together, on a piece of paper or a screen, thought processes and a connection.

Writing connects us; it's our way of communicating, connecting and most often, for us writers, it's our way of coping...

The 3 C's:
Communicate, Connect & Cope

To those of you (aspiring writers) who are constantly under pressure to "write properly," I will say what all great writers working their way up the writing chain have said to me:

JUST WRITE!!!

Think about it, as long as you're writing--something, anything, anytime, anywhere; everything else in life will seem JUST RIGHT!

So, go on... forget the structure, grammar, and puncuation-put down what comes from your heart, what comes from your emotions, opinions, thoughts, what comes from your soul-put down what you NEED to put down, what God is guiding you to put down..

NOTHING is done in vain, THERE IS PURPOSE IN EVERYTHING, so go ahead and join me and...

JUST WRITE!

Best Writing Wishes to you all!

Many Blessings,
-SL

Odds & Numbers: Nothing but Labels

It recently occured to me that most of everything in life, or at least here in America, has to do with numbers.

Everything we encounter we think of in terms of "odds," or "chances." But why? Human, especially Americans, like to pigeon hole ourselves and label EVERYTHING....

Think about it....

I recently applied for a job at a Starbuck's and most of my family said "what do you think your chances are," one of my friends said, "yeah, but how do your odds stack up?" Pa-lease. I believe in LIVING LIFE and living it to the fullest. I believe in taking REAL chances-grabbing opporntunities, and chasing dreams; but, it's not ALL about odds and chances-

and if it IS about odds, well, then I've beat them for sure......

If you wanna talk about my own numbers, odds and chances here it is:

My left kidney was only 5% functionable when I was born, so they took it.

The Dr's said I there was an 85% chance I wouldn't live to 5 years old, and...

a 40% chance "she'll never go to regular school."

My esophogus was rebuilt 4x's, I've had 32 surgeries, and oh yeah, I graduated High School (very regular school at that) with 29 college credits.

So, yes, I guess I beat the odds, and still have a lot of ones down my path to beat-we all do.

Maybe "odds," is Gods way of making us pay attention. Humans always want to win, and maybe if we didn't have "odds," we'd never get up and do something. Maybe the odds are stacked against us to make us STAND UP and do our part! Okay, I get that.
(Note: I just figured that out while writing this just right now.)

Odds are fine, motivating even; but let's talk numbers:

everything we do here on Earth, or at least in America, is done in #'s; think about it:


Our ID Cards, Social Security #'s, Phone #'s, Addresses, Zip Codes, Date of Birth, Anniversaries, Employee #'s, Account #'s for our banks, credit cards, power bills, rent/mortages, checks, paitent #'s when we're in the hopsital.....

We all have an ID #, a Social Security #, a phone #, but why? I guess it's easier to find us when we're just #'s, instead of people? And heck, do any of us really know who we are anyway? I mean, really, if the Government said "Amy Elizabeth Jones...." well, there's probably at least a hundred of those and who's to say the RIGHT Amy E. Jones (the one they're looking for) will answer. But, as much as #'s help in organizing us and our lives, they can also be dangerous, because....

If we're all #'s, than how we do remain human beings?

That's the question I pose tonight.

For once, I'm NOT going to answer my own question, why? Because it's my blog and I don't have too!

If any of you have any ideas or opinions about this, please let me know, I'm open to your comments!

As I write this, I think it's 10/5/05, which sounds cool. I like the 5th day of the month, and I love October-but see, there again, I'm thinking "10/5/05," see, I'm just as guilty when it come to pigeon holing ourselves and our lives with #'s as anyone else is. The things my mind figures out while writing this blog....LOL!

My point is: I think it's all labels; odds, labels-we have to constantly label ourselves and our lives-we have to constantly analyze and THINK. At least I do. Maybe ignorance really IS bliss.

Anyway, it's almost 11pm and I'm kinda tired, I apologize for the disorganization of this entry, and I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense, maybe I'll fix it tomorrow, maybe not. Not everything has to organized, analyzed and perfected you know....

love, prayers and blessings to all-

those affected by the Hurricanes and Soldiers fighting for my freedom here at home and overseas remain in my thoughts and prayers!

Many Blessings,
-SL