An Experiment – if you dare!

You will need…a sheet of paper and something to draw with (pencil, pen, crayon, watercolors, whatever).

Draw ten hearts on the paper. Now, look at them. Are they identical?  Look again. Are they really identical down to the tiniest detail?

Likely, they are not. And, after the first few, you might have looked back at the previous ones to make sure you were doing it right, if even for a split second.

The thing is, no two relationships are exactly the same and shouldn’t be approached as if they are.  The same could be said regarding projects.

When you drew the first heart, did you have to remember how, or was it something you doodle regularly? The first heart is somewhat like our first relationship – initially unsure, then either becomes something resembling a heart or it becomes the most perfect heart on the page- the one all others have to match.

Now that you’ve drawn them, can you erase them or paint over them? No. They are on the page forever, basically. Even if they are in pencil, a ghost of them will remain.

Now, draw one more heart on the page.

How did you draw that one?  Did you draw it bigger than the others? Smaller? The same? Did you try to make it better?

Think about that. 

My Name Is...

What is a name?  Is it all just pure ancestry?  A label?  A definition?

What does it mean if you meet someone with the same name as you?  Names are common, but some aren’t as common as they might be.  What are the chances that your circle collects names that are similar?  Pretty slim.  So, when it happens, you sit up and pay attention.  It’s disquieting to know that there can be such a similarity of letters between strangers.   

Names.  Little badges.  Signposts pointing behind you.  A title that might define your life.

Yet, a name doesn’t belong to one person.  It belongs to everyone that has it, and everyone that doesn’t have it. 

My name may as well be something unpronounceable, or even a symbol.  Prince (one of my favorite musicians) was on to something.   So was the character “Madison” in the movie Splash.   Her real name was a series of sounds. 

Names are meaningless.  The only value is what we attach to them.

Resolutions!

A few years ago I decided to change the way I made resolutions.  I used to make the usual ones like “Eat healthier, exercise, bla bla bla”.  No longer.  I make them different now, and this new way has worked for me. 

In 2013, I chose to “Be honest”.  It was WAY harder than I thought it would be.  Sure, we all think we’re pretty honest all the time, right?  But, think about it, how many times do you lie every day?  If someone asks you how you’re doing, how often do you say you’re fine when you aren’t?  I chose to be honest that year, and sometimes I screwed up, but I felt very empowered.  I drew lines in the sand for some people whom I felt took advantage of me.  I also found out that in being honest with others, I gained more true friends.  About halfway through the year, I realized that my resolution of “Being Honest” meant that I needed to be honest with myself as well.  That was very hard, perhaps the toughest part of that one!  Try it, you’ll see.  I really picked a tough resolution for my first year of going about them in my new way. 

For 2014, I chose one a bit easier… “To strengthen my friendships”.  And, I’ve got to say that 2014 was a stellar year for friendships!  I was able to help out a few friends in need with no strings attached.  I randomly ran into my first best friend from childhood and we’ve rekindled our friendship.  I met up with old coworkers several times and it was as if no time had passed at all.  I bonded with a new critique group of like minded writers whom I completely adore.  I also became a part of an artist’s group, and I am humbled to see my name alongside theirs at our gallery shows.  Like I said, it was a stellar year for friendships! 

    

So, what will I do for 2015?  What will the big resolution be?  I’ve thought about this for awhile and I’ve decided “To pay more attention to my body.”  Hmm, does that sound odd?  Well, there is something that I’ve noticed about myself; when I am upset about something it’s usually my body that clues me in before my brain does.   Often, I find myself awake in the middle of the night, brain spinning, searching Pinterest or some other dumb thing because I don’t want to get up.  And, if I do get up, I might organize my filing cabinet, or some other nonsense.  But, when I think about it, I usually figure out what is bothering me.  And it’s usually something that I need to settle myself upon, which might involve a phone call or an in person talk.  After I’ve had that discussion, I’ll have some kind of crazy dream to symbolize the purging of the negativity.  I’ve realized MY BODY KNOWS ME BETTER THAN MY BRAIN DOES.  I’ve been experiencing some sort of disconnect.  My mission for 2015 is to unite that connection once again!  I need to find the laces and pull my mind and body back together.  Actually, I think this is a problem common with women; we’re so used to being accommodating to everyone that we forget about ourselves.  NO MORE!  

You’re welcome to join me on this journey.  You can share with me, or not.  But, know that I truly wish everyone the best of themselves in 2015!

My Sexy Saturday #66

This week’s “My Sexy Saturday” theme is Date Night.  Well, a date could take place anywhere, even in a hospital recovery room.  Such is the case with David and Lauren in my novella “Borealis Ardor”…

We danced stiffly in awkward silence for awhile until our bodies relaxed against each other.  I laid my head on his shoulder as he smoothed my hair down with his hand.

“I’m so glad that you don’t hate me.”

That surprised me.  I leaned back to face him. “Why would I hate you?”

“Because I kept everything from you.”

“You had to.  I understand that now.”

Buy it HERE

Lauren Madison’s life started unraveling at a speed too fast for her to keep up with.  Every truth was torn away, and the pieces that were left painted no clear pictures at all…only more confusion. 

The only pillar of strength in her fragile life was David Wagner, her bodyguard who was placed in witness protection, and she was to have no more contact with him.  But, what had he seen that day, and why couldn’t she remember?

She had no choice but to run.  And if her life was threatened again, who would be there to protect her?

My Sexy Saturday ( http://www.mysexysaturday.blogspot.com/ ) is a place for authors to showcase snippets of their sexy works with 7 words, 7 sentences, or 7 paragraphs.