Been There

So I had a great idea for a book called "Been There" and it would be full of advice for college, high school and young adults into their 30s. So much I would love to share with this big, beautiful, and sometimes frighteningly bright (sunscreen as needed) world. 

Anyhow, that got me thinking. What would you find most helpful? If you could tell your past self anything, what would it be? For me, it would be embrace the pain. Scars are the evidence of surviving what others have failed. Therefore, I should love myself as I am. 

As You Are

I was challenged today in ways I never expected. Sure it began normal, but my own inner struggles destroyed what would have been a great day and made it unbearably hard. Then, I saw something on Facebook that just struck me, and I wanted to do the same for any of my readers that are having a bad day, like I did. So, here it goes...Don't know who out there needs this, but whoever you are, this post is for you.

Sometimes it's hard to imagine someone as fabulous and wonderful as you, can feel utterly depleted and tired. Wasted and even depressed. Things can be going great all day and suddenly there is that pesky gloom and doom inside your head again. Maybe, you just saw an otherwise innocuous picture and it triggered a land slide of sorrows that you thought you already dealt with. Perhaps, you were fine, dandy even, then "that" person messages or called. It could be that you just suddenly felt useless and that all your efforts had been wasted on meaningless things or people. Or, maybe you just can't put your finger on it, but you're upset. Feeling downtrodden. Exhausted; at the end of your rope and ready to tie a knot, but not to hang on. You know what I mean. And do you know what else I know?...this post is for you. 

This post is for you; for you to know that no matter where you've come from, regardless of what you've dealt and are dealing with, and despite your failures and mistakes...you are loved. You may stop me here and get emotional or even tune me out; how can I know without knowing you? Who am I, that I can say someone loves you...what right do I have to speak to you?bor, I just don't know how bad you are, once I did I would understand that no one could love you. 

Well, it may seem or be hard to accept, impossible maybe to believe. But without meeting you, without knowing your color, your country, your religion, or your preferences...I love you. I may not have seen your face, but I know what you face. All that anxiety and depression, that hurt and pain, that fear and weight, I carry it too. And I love you for carrying it with me. Through the bonds of common suffering and the comradery that it builds, I've gotten to know you. And that dread, regret, and terror you can't seem to escape no matter how hard, how fast, or how much you try...I am trying to escape it too.

So don't do anything for the next ten second, ten minutes, or ten hours; whatever it takes to settle the turmoil you're feeling. Just remember you are loved. And I may go so far as to say you are loved by many more people than you know or believe. I am one of them. So don't give up. Don't ever, ever give up. 

Disney Villain Costume

I found my Disney Ultra Villain costume. It's edgy, yet so much of it is amazing I could literally see myself wearing this 24-7. What does your inner villain look like? 

For the history and source of the picture click here!

Highland Mist

Haven't written in far too long. "Blithe" would somewhat describe my attitude towards the subject over the past few months. However, I just had a transitory moment...and it all started by seeing the highland mist of Scotland. 

                  (Image from Google)

When mist caps off the mountains,

And tides put out to sea;

When aye a laugh will echo down

The craggy clefts to me...

Then he'll come a'running

A firebrand in 'is hand,

An' all the village 'ill see 'im 

The Scourge of En'my land.

A man of boar and barrel,

Brave an' broad as brim,

An' all the village a'watchin' 

Watchin' now for 'im.

The days crawl on to nightfall, 

An' night folds into morn,

So I go on a'livin,

Though my bones be worn.

U'til that far off moment 

When the hills 'ill feel 'is stride,

I'll wait forever faithful,

'is Bonnie Lass and Bride. 

Music(x)Writing=Magic

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see words instead of music notes? I think that's the most intriguing part about music; it stirs in our minds images and wonder associated with each note. I often write with music, I would say- except for academia and poems- I cannot write without it. My writing is like a game, trying to match each syllable with each note of the song. I often listen to Pandora, Secret Garden station or Enya. Sometimes Within Temptation is good too. (But this is for Adrian Von Ziegler's music. Brilliant Composer that he is.)

I invite you to do a quick exercise with me.

1. Click on this link: AVZ-Bone Temple 2. As it plays in the background read this story below. (I understand people read at different speeds, so this may be a little fast or slow for you, try and feel with the music.)

START HERE:

The firelight burnt low and deep embers cast shadows far too large for their own power. Long trails of warriors sat around the glowing orbs to watch the Mage of the West perform. Her hair flowing about in black streams, swayed with the exotic motions of her body as a she stepped into the dim light. Turning and throwing her arms into the air she began the long awaited Telling Ritual. The flute notes seemed to carry her limber frame into a surreal world where fluidity met flesh. The Rite of War was about to be decided.
Her bare feet clung to the dusty earth with power and grace as her satin skin rippled with the strength and power of each step. Rolling her shoulders and extending her limbs, the lithe body seemed to live within the notes of the song that played out the ritual she had learned almost from birth. Turning in the air, she pleaded with the heavenly powers of her land to give wisdom to her dance. The waving veils and sultry steps she took all told of a coming war, but the victor was yet to be decided.
Two sons of the late Cheif sat with leering gazes, wagering among each other how they would divide the spoils of their conquest. Including which would take the Mage to wife and claim her inheritance and the rebels of the West that followed her. The dance meant little to their untrained, and warmongering eyes. They could not see the secret message amid the turns and bows, the deadly orders in her twisting and prostration. Her art was little more to them than rakish tradition that satisfied the Warriors' more primal urges. Women had been scarce for months.
As the Mage wove in and out of the shadowy glow of the fire, every male was transfixed waiting for her to reappear and to show dexterity and grace. She represented the only variable left in this dreaded war of clans. Whoever possessed her, owned all the lands and peoples of the West. Jumping out from the ebony vale of darkness her ivory skin flashed and dazzled the men. Turning in place her motions did not distract the men from seeing a larger more daring presence invade her space. Matching her steps, the hooded man bore the royal crest of the late chief, and his tartan wore he like a badge of honor. His bare arms adorned with blood soaked straps, the phantom appeared to be the resurrected corpse of the late chief. But years younger, and plenty more fierce.
In white horror and fear, the two sons gaped as the ghost pursued the young Mage with savage intent. Fleeing and being drawn in all at once the woman bent to the will of the specter her dance had conjured. He stocked her shivering frame and took hold of her left arm.With controlled force, he made her steps align with his. Her tiny frame shadowed by his mass, she had no defense against his onslaught. The late chief had conquered the Lady of the West and her beating breast was perfectly in sync with his.
As the fatal dance began to move through the ranks, the sons of the chief dared not move for fear the judging eyes of their father would find them and convict them of their coup. The twin brothers marveled in wonder as the two danced side by side; intimate and daring. They were powerless to touch the Mage for the entire realm of the West would rise to consume them. And their father, how could he be still alive, still virile, and bold? They watched, frozen as if by magic, as the young woman was wooed before them. Her hair tangled in the phantom's hands, her eyes clinging to his, her legs matching his step. From the eyes of the crowd, it was difficult to say who had control of the ritual anymore, way it the Mage or her Master? So inspired was their fear, they took no notice of the cloaked assassins moving throughout the ranks of their trembling men. Silent, like shadows, fluid as the music, the rebels of the West slipped into the dance unnoticed and began their grizzly work. Matched with the beat of the earthy drum, the bodies fell, and still the sons noticed not their fate was already decided. The path carved through the ranks and led the dance of death right to the dais the traitors sat upon.
With wide eyes, they paled in horror as the hooded phantom drew a long blade from the Mage's own belt. Their mouths clamped silent with the powerful spell they could only reel in agony as the legendary blade dispatched them into an agonizing, slow death. The brothers could only grimace as they were cast to the ground at the foot of the thrown. With his feet upon their back, the specter removed his hood and ordered the dance to stop. His late Chieftain was at last avenged.

END

Ok, so that was a little intense. Honestly, I think I got a little carried away in that one. That was actually really dark. Sorry!! But I hope you see my point. Writing with music can help enhance your work and make it more fluid.

I want to challenge you all, pick a theatrical song (easier without lyrics) and write a completely new and uninterrupted story with it. Not only is it great creative practice, it can make for some amazing stories later on. And once you're done, share it. Let the world experience that song through your writing.

Serious Laugh

Ever need that serious laugh? Today I did, and thanks to cartoonstock.com I found it.
Best one of the day.

Seasons of Inspiration: How I Beat Summer Depression.

My ideal weather is snow.

Snow,

Snow, 

Snow,

 Snow,

 Snow!

Think of a wonderful, warm fireplace with a few logs burning away slowly while you are curled on the couch with a fluffy blanket. Maybe you have a cup of hot tea or coco- or in my editor's case a double scotch on the rocks- but most assuredly there is, in your possession, your favorite book and adequate writing implements just within reach (like every other square inch of your house.) Ok. So image in mind, hold it right there; now think of the abundance of inspiration that can bring. The Surplus of production!! Then imagine a wasteland of heat and blistering death. That's not very creative. It's not even fun. It's actually depressive. The overabundance of sunlight and sun-worshipers that I am forced to put up with over summer is enough to drive my liver into cirrhosis...as if it wasn't already there... from birth. Here is what I do when I am at the beach. I wear my ultra UV proof sunscreen, a full cover-up, hat, and glasses; then I bring my umbrella and lawn chair and sit watching everyone else cook like bacon on a skillet. Then once the sun sets and everyone's home, I actually begin to enjoy the atmosphere and the water. The sun is ridiculously draining for me. I can't enjoy it. Actually, I do enjoy it. From behind heavily tinted windows, paintings, and cheap travel postcards. That's how I enjoy it.
So needless to say I am becoming creative and happy in the fall then absolutely unstoppable in the winter. But, that only last like two months total in this blasted state. So for the next two months I am coming down from a high in spring and then the rest of the eight months of the year I am totally depressed. Summers in FLORIDA are an absolute killer. I die. And then I revive at night to die again with the sunrise.
I've been pushing to blog more and trying to get my life set on a schedule. But this ridiculous summer thing has been going on since January. So if you want to know how I beat the severe depression that I face in the summer...I don't. I wait it out by promising myself this year's winter will be longer and much better than last. Since drinking isn't a tradition writer's relief I can oft indulge- Slurpees are my Achille's Heel that and they are frozen.
Thinking about how unproductive I have been this summer got me thinking. It would be really fun to see what actually inspires people to create and be productive and conversely, what kind of external things depress them. For me add bananas to the list, right underneath endless summers. I thrive under deadlines, cold weather, and as far, far away from bananas as possible.
 But, what makes you, personally feel productive and happy? Is it being appreciated, hearing a happy song, seeing the person you love...? I am really curious. I would love to hear from people to understand who you are and what makes you create your masterpieces? And, how you beat the heat during your season of depression (seriously it doesn't have to be summer, I realize I am more of a vampire than most. Some people get depressed when they see anything white and fluffy- just as a resident of SouthEast Boston.)

So hit me with your thoughts, comments, and complaints.

-Vera Lynn
(All pictures courtesy of google images)