Monday, October 18, 2010

Maintaining Sanity


“...When the dog bites,
when the bee stings,
when I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
and then I don't feel so bad.”




Life for the majority today is hectic. We're balancing family, jobs, and school. The emotional baggage of new relationships and old relationships. In between, we try to fit in our writing and deal with deadlines, major revisions from our editor, or rejections and yet continue to find the inspiration to create stories. Or simply find a way to recharge, to maintain our sanity and refresh our souls. Not an easy thing to do.

For me, it depends on mood. What works one time may not do for another time. Listening to music or reading a book. There are times meeting a couple of friends for lunch, visiting my sister and sitting on the front porch drink coffee and giggle over silly things. Other times I want to be somewhere boisterous, with lots of laughter and fun.

There are times I am able to recharge and feel refreshed by visiting with my writing group, The WritingWombats. On the Wombat threads I find laughter, teasing, and fun, interspersed with strong support and practical knowledge on how to make something work, especially when I've hit a wall in my writing. We have aspiring and published authors. I listen and watch them deal with proposals, juggling life and deadlines, not to mention the proverbial pulling out of the hair in frustration.

Sometimes I want to go someplace quiet but away from home. Those times, especially if I want to get my equilibrium, I head for the waterocean, river, lake, my pond on the lower 40. Sometimes it's heading to the family compound and having a cook-out and tall tales around the bonfire.


Or go over to my brother's pool house and bar, and be silly. Sometimes taking in a little league football game. Sometimes hanging out with my dogs. As the song goes, “...theses are a few of my favorite things.”

What refreshes your soul and spirit. What do you do to recharge? What helps you maintain your sanity and save you from being a Axe murderer and serving life without parole?



What are a few of your 'favorite things'?
All pictures here were either taken by me or for me.


Top, my Great Dane, Gidget and Callie Kitten,
Cappucino coaster set, Bodega Head, Bodega, CA
Sia and my brother Rob, at his bar St. Patricks.