A lot has changed since my last post only a month ago.
There has been a lot of doom and gloom on the news and new struggles have upset the patterns of our everyday lives.
I was planning on writing about how to support Indieauthors, but I don’t think it’s the best topic for
today with all that is happening around the world.
Today, I want to talk about time.
I see a lot of people on social media complaining about being stuck at home, and frankly, I am amazed.
I am fortunate enough to still be working (though it’s not always what I want to be doing) but I would love to have several weeks off. I have a small shelf of books I have told myself I am going to read someday, several video games I wish I had more time to play, and several books of my own that need writing. Not to mention an amazing wife who is stuck at home with me and gets to watch me stare into a computer all day.
Yet I keep seeing people going stir crazy.
Don’t let quarantines get to you – Don’t fall into despair with each new statistic.
There is a silver lining on this crisis. Take the time you always claim you need to rest, recoup, and to begin the things you have been putting off. I love Netflix as much as the next guy, but don’t just watch episode after episode of “Love is Blind” or “Tiger King”.
You only get so much time - make the most of it.
View this time as a gift, not just for writers but for everyone. Spend time with your families if you live with them. If you can’t be with them physically, facetime them, skype them, have a go to meeting with them. Learn to play that guitar you have had for six years but never touched or push down the keys on the piano in your living room that nobody plays. Learn a new language or a new skill, a lot of magic tricks require nothing more than a deck of cards.
My wife (Chantal, for future reference) and I went for a walk today, as we live in an extremely rural area, and we saw a mother and her little girl drawing with sidewalk chalk. When we passed by later we saw what they had drawn in the middle of the road – Flowers, sunshine, and the words “Smile, stay healthy”.
I don’t know if they realize just how meaningful their day was. In a world so focused on the negative, this mother and daughter fostered their relationship with each other, and then to top it off used that time not only to build their relationship, but to make a work of art that would hopefully bring a little joy to others.
I believe that this is one of the primary purposes of art; to bring a sense of joy, wonder, and meaning to the viewer.
I have seen a few others who have decided to take up that torch as well in this time of crisis like John Krasinski and his new news channel: SGN (Some Good News).
One last person I would like to mention is my wife, Chantal. She has been working on her acrylic and oil painting skills. Check out her work on Instagram here.
I have been debating for a while now making my book available online for free, and this seems like the right time to do it. Just go to the Where Man and Monster Meet page of the site and you will find it a PDF copy available to view. I wouldn’t call my writing joyful per say, but perhaps cathartic. Either way I hope you enjoy it.
So, this month’s advice:
Use this time where you are forced to slow down to remember that life is really about living, not working or worrying.
See you next month!
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