Tag: writing101

Posted in Uncategorized

Only One Way?

Posted on by Dede

map

  Maps. Directions. Roads. Lost. GPS, yes, GPS. Living in a new city my GPS has become my new best friend. I have never had a good sense of direction. When I was 14 years old, my family was driving from our home in Las Vegas to Disneyland. With my map reading skills, we ended up outside of San Diego. That is NOT close to Disneyland.

  One of the first things I did when I moved to Austin was to buy a map. It is large and I stand and look at it, trying to get an idea of where I am located in reference to where I am going. Studying the map, I determine there are endless ways to reach my destination. When I plug-in the address to my GPS, it even gives me options. It is up to me to decide which route to take.

  Of course our route can be interrupted by road work, an accident, one way streets etc. So we are forced to find another way to our final destination. GPS of course makes it simple. But when there were only maps ,no GPS,  and I would get lost, I had to pull over to the side of the road and study the map to find a new route.

   That is my life right now. I am pulled over to the side of the road studying it and trying to find a new path, a new direction to reach my destination. What is my destination? A life with purpose and lived with passion. Prior to my divorce, I was on a one way road and believed the life I was living was the only way to experience happiness. Since my divorce, I have slowly discovered that there are endless paths to living a new purposeful life. Just like when the GPS gives me a choice of routes, it is up to me to select which road I will take now because joy, purpose and passion lie just around the bend.

Posted in Uncategorized

Exploring Life 101

Posted on by Dede

   Blogging 101 assignment: Identify my audience. Hmm, even though I’ve had blogs before, I have never considered the possibility I would actually have an audience. So this is an intriguing assignment. We were told to add media, try new styles etc to keep the reader interested. So I thought maybe learning a little more about me and where I am going with my life might help me connect with similar bloggers and people. 

me2015IMG_1180 Me now and me a million years ago.

       There are several things I typically tell people about myself when asked for the most unique or unusual thing about my life. I was on a national pageant representing Nevada. I was on a national TV game show. I was interviewed for the CBS evening news with Dan Rather. Those facts typically create quite a few questions. If you are interested in any of it, leave a question in the comment section of my blog.

   At the age of 40, I spent a week trying to improve my French in Roanne, France. It was beautiful and fun, but my language skills were still poor. Then at age 54, nine months after my divorce, I went to Tours, France. I spent 3 months doing my best to improve my French. Again it was a lovely time, but I have come to the conclusion my French speaking skills aren’t going to progress past advance beginner. Below are photos from my time in Tours. Yes that is a photo of a snake. I found it in my bathroom. Again if you want more information, leave a question in the comments.

. snake IMG_1206tours1tourschristmas

   I have lived in several states, but have spent the past 30.5 years living in Texas with 30 of those being in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I moved to Austin in June to try to find a new life path. Austin is completely 180 degrees different than Dallas. It is down to earth, eco-friendly, creative and hilly with lots of trees. Dallas is flat, superficial, (who has the biggest house, diamond, boobs etc), not eco-friendly and has just recently become friendlier to the creative arts.

   I have no idea what the future holds. I have been unemployed for over 2 years now and just learned I didn’t get the job I wanted. So I am still seeking a new purpose. I am no longer someone’s wife. And while I am still the mother of 2 incredible young women, they have successfully gone on to live their own lives. Purpose. I think that is what most of us want. We just want to have a purpose and be loved. It doesn’t matter whether it’s here or halfway around the world in some remote village, we all seek those things.

   I have no idea who my audience might be. I am hoping people who are want to explore life either on a new path or an old path will be my blog followers.

Posted in Uncategorized

Uncertainty -writing 101

Posted on by Dede

One word prompt: Uncertainty

Plans made. Plans lost. Plans revised. Plans denied. Dreams made. Dreams lost. Dreams revised. Dreams denied. Love made. Love lost. Love revised. Love denied. Trust made. Trust lost. Trust revised. Trust denied. 

Fear slowly creeps across my path like poison ivy. It is entangling me and choking me and killing me. Uncertainty is an unwelcomed guest.

Posted in Uncategorized

Write a List

Posted on by Dede

list

  Writing Assignment #2: Write a list: Things I’ve learned in 55 years

  1. Life always brings the unexpected
  2. Sometimes those unexpected things are great
  3. Sometimes those unexpected things come close to destroying your life
  4. If you eat too much and move too little, you will get fat
  5. Every place has something offer, no city, state or country has a corner on the best place
  6. Not every person has something to offer.
  7. Psychopaths do exist and they will comfortably and happily without remorse destroy you if you don’t recognize them. http://www.psychopathfree.com
  8. It’s never too late to learn new things but if it’s a language, begin as young as possible
  9. Daughters will continually surprise and amaze you
  10. Just because someone has been your friend for over 25 years doesn’t mean she will be there when you need her
  11. Books are the greatest invention because they allow you to go anywhere with anyone
  12. People today want the same things that people throughout history have wanted: love, happy and healthy children, financial security, friendship, community, happiness, good health, peace
  13. Driving through west Texas is a long and boring trip
  14. You only get out of life what you put in
  15. Nothing changes if you don’t change anything
  16. Words change meaning when spoken according to tone and intonation of the speaker.
  17. It’s always good to have an alternative life plan
  18. Pets always love you and never judge you
  19. Day go by slowly but the years fly by
  20. The only constant in life is change
Posted in Uncategorized

My other blogs

Posted on by Dede

I forgot to add links to my other blogs. I tend to start a blog and forget to write. Check them out and let me know what you think. The first is based on the character Demelza from the Poldark book series and the second in a book review site.

http://livinglikedemelza.com

http:/www.daphnesbooklist.wordpress.com

Posted in Uncategorized

Writing 101

Posted on by Dede

Prompt 1: I write because

I write because I feel compelled to do so. I don’t remember a time in my life that I didn’t write. I’ve always loved to read and as a young girl I would lose myself in books. Then I would try my hand at writing my own stories. I remember pretending to be a radio DJ reporting the news. I wrote my own newspaper as a girl. This was all done at a time when it was all done freehand. I didn’t have a typewriter and I had no idea computers even existed.

I write because I believe there is a story waiting to be told, but I haven’t figured out quite yet what that story is. The ideas always seem to come when I am drowsy and too tired to write. I am positive I allow the distractions of the day to act as interference. I love to write but I am afraid to write. I am afraid to let the words flow, for the story to come. I hope writing 101 helps me breakthrough that fence, those fears and actually pursue writing.