The past week-and-a-half has been one big stress fest around here. Both kids had midterms to study for (and still do). I've been juggling too many irons amongst too many fires. And colds (thankfully not flus) have made the rounds.

If I think back, I can't recall saying, whispering, or shouting much more than, "Go study!" Much to their distress, I've shoved more healthy foods at my kids than usual, hoping omega 3s, protein, and more fruits and veggies will boost their test  scores (I kid you not). I've spent so much time editing, writing, researching, linking, and social media venue building that my fingers don't seem to know what to do without a keyboard beneath them--which is probably why I dropped the milk container this morning while getting my coffee.

Then, at a working meeting with a friend this morning, something snapped. I had run to the back of the adorable cafe we were at because, supposedly, the wireless signal was better back there and my phone was too slow to load a reference site. As I practically ran into the middle and back rooms of the cafe, past a fire place and a very homey environment, my past came back to me. The soothing, creative, freewheeling feeling I used to get when writing at small cafes in Manhattan hit me in such strong contrast to the hectic life I live now that I just ... stopped. I took in my surroundings, breathed, and made myself promise that I would be more than a wild woman behind a keyboard to my kids today. That I would do more than nag, and that I would do exactly what my daughter was begging me to do all week:

We grabbed the "snow markers" she got for Christmas, I ignored my hacking cough, and we chilled out in the windy chill. And I had FUN. Don't get me wrong; all the projects I'm working on have an element of fun to them. It's just that I've left no time to breathe, no time for impulse. So I'm thinking I need more  "mom & pop" cafes, less run-of-the-mill Starbuck shops that I move through on my way somewhere else', more time with my Energizer Bunny Girl and fewer excuses for not playing in the snow. 

EBK and her snow markers

image by geralt

Maybe the coffee hasn't hit my system yet, but this image really struck me this morning: blue sky, forward motion, and a blank slate. It has me trying to pin down exactly what lies ahead, wondering what exactly I'm supposed to shoot for. 

What should I write on my sign? Some possibilities:

CALM: How do I achieve calm? I think remembering everything is relative is key for me. If last year has taught me anything, it's that perspectives change like the weather. It's never been easy for me to go with the flow, but I've learned enough recently to realize it's the only way to go. 

HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE: Losing weight and feeling better could be waiting for me if I keep up the spin classes. Of course, that's the trick, isn't it? LOVE spin class. But I love writing/editing more. I love social media more. Going vegan is another way for me to plod ahead toward this goal. The only drawback here is the inflexibility of my family on food matters. So, as much as I can enjoy eating vegan, time constraints keep stopping me from prepping more than one meal. 

RECORD-BREAKING BOOK SALES: I'll settle for breaking my own sales records. What's on the horizon? Book Three of the Based on a Dream series is due out some time in the spring. A joint project middle grade story written years ago will finally launch in the next few months. Best push toward this goal? I have joined an amazing group of speculative fiction authors in an author co-op. More news and links to introduce the group will follow soon! I'm so excited to work with these fantastic authors, and I know you'll be psyched to discover their books.

Following the above signs will--hopefully--lead to a final destination:

And what is success? Well, I'm thinking that's relative, and I'll figure it out when I get there.

What does your sign say? (If you'd like to create your own picture, it's public domain, so have at it!)

Kea

FYI: New listing added to my Anti-Bullying Resource Listings. This is a UK site for parents about protecting kids in cyberspace. (Listed under Safety in Digital Communication):

O2 - Kids, Mobiles and the Internet

Thanks so much for the heads up, Alice!

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If you consume books like chocolate, drink them in like water, and inhale them like the first hint of spring, you need a source to find them quickly, easily, and cheaply. If you subscribe to Kindle Books and Tips, you will have found that source. Good books, stellar variety, highlighted discounts. I have found some great titles this way. And today, I'm pleased to announce that Treehugger (Based on a Dream, #1) is listed there today--still at it's current reduced price of .99. 

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