by Angela Smith | Oct 17, 2013 | Introspective
Reagan is burned out. She’s just lost a coveted advancement for the job she’s spent years at, she’s just broken up with her boyfriend, and she’s tired of being where she’s at, in her comfort zone. Have you ever felt that way? Broken, and no idea which way to go?
How many times have you wished for a clear answer?
I can’t tell you how many times I have. My sister recently moved to Colorado. Left everything she had, and the likelihood of her doing something like that was way less than me doing something like that, because my husband and I have dreamed of moving to Colorado for some time now. She had never even visited, and then she met a man and up and moved. We’ve been dreaming of doing something like that for years, and here my sister and goes and does it and moves to my favorite state in the whole world. The mountains, the outdoor adventures awaiting and abounding, and the fact the state has four seasons (and is close to my home state) is one of many reasons why Colorado would be at the top of my list.
My sister and are both responsible-minded people with long-term jobs and homes, so it isn’t always easy to just pick up and move and leave everything you have, including families who need us. I’ve had other family members who have lived all over the place and will pick up and move at the drop of a hat. I’ve often wished I could be more like them.
And yet, every time my husband and I talk about it, we realize how much we have here. Life is fleeting, yes, but we’re happy here and our home will be paid for by the time we can retire. There are a lot of pros and cons to moving. And it’s never an easy answer, at least not for us. If only it could be more clear on what to do.
What would you do?
So…needless to say Reagan, in Burn on the Western Slope, is a lot like me. Staying in the same job year after year. And it’s not a job she hates, it’s just a job she’s good at and she doesn’t see the point in changing or moving. She’s in her comfort zone. But when she inherits a condo and money from an uncle she never even knew existed, she jumps at the opportunity. And I guess if that happened to me, I’d jump at that opportunity, too.
The likelihood of that happening is few and far between, and usually the answer isn’t near as clear. I’d like to hear from others who have picked up and moved and left everything they had, whether it was an entire state or just a few counties away. What instigated the change? How did you handle it? And how are you doing now? Is it a drastic change for you, or just daily life?
by Angela Smith | Oct 8, 2013 | Introspective
The Writer’s Store recently had a huge sale! 75% off books! And of course, I went crazy. How in the world could I deny myself 75% off of books that I’ve been eyeing for a while? Imagine my excitement when the books came in. opening the new box, thumbing through the pages, and letting them find their place in my home.
I believe that writers should read. I believe that writers should constantly be learning and relearning how to write. Therefore, I have a bajillion books, and at least half of those books are about writing.
Ahh, the smell of new books. Fresh. Clean. A new start. A new beginning. The strength and flexibility of a new page. The words, like art, as you fan through the pages. How can you beat that?
My friend once told me a horror story: she was boxing away her writing books. It meant she was giving up, at least for now. But closed boxes are meant to be opened, the mystery of what’s inside too powerful to ignore. And lo and behold, she opened her box again, even if a few years have passed! Opening a box that’s been closed awhile can give one new strength, new power, and newfound creativity!
I have too many books to keep stored on my shelves, unfortunately. But some books just aren’t meant to be boxed!
by Angela Smith | Sep 27, 2013 | Introspective
They say vision boards can change your life.
Give you supernatural benefits.
Grant you everything you’ve ever ever wanted.
I’m not sure I believe the hype, but I do believe it can change your mindset. Change your focus into what you do want so you aren’t dwelling on what you don’t have. I also believe a picture can inspire you more than words! And what’s wrong with being, feeling, and acting more positive?
I’ve tried my hand at vision boards before, but nothing really worked for me until I used Pinterest to create my vision board.
I became addicted browsing photos and adding them to my vision board of things I wanted. Now, I can easily view my visions and speak affirmations whenever I want and wherever I am. And when I’m feeling discouraged, I can view my Pinterest board for inspiration, or add photos for what I’m feeling at the time to help me overcome.
If you use the Internet for anything but haven’t signed up for Pinterest, I highly encourage you to do so! It’s an amazing, creative way to see “outside the box”!
Why should you create a vision board on Pinterest? Because you can look at your vision board every morning and imagine your day, your future, your life. You can easily find photos that represent what you want, repin them to your board, and change the description for what you want. And your pins will always link back to the original post, so you can find and remember anything with merely a click! If you’re feeling discouraged, open up your vision board for powerful and inspiring images.
How do you create a vision board on Pinterest? That’s easy! Sign up, if you haven’t already, start browsing photos, and pin them to a board you created. You can always print your pins and add them to a board you hang at home. If you aren’t comfortable sharing your vision board with the world, you can set it to private.
What else can you do with Pinterest? Just about anything you can imagine. It’s a good way to connect with people and realize you aren’t the only person in the world who might feel a certain way, act a certain way, or like a certain thing.
Pinterest is also a great motivation for exercise! You can find many inspiring visuals for exercise programs. I recently began a 10 week Workout Plan that I found on Pinterest!
You can also use Pinterest for prayer. I have a private board where I will find images that represent specific prayers, and I repin them with a prayer. Some of them have already been answered.
My life has changed since I started my vision board. I returned to exercise and yoga, I bought a DSLR camera for a great sale price, and I published my book! I’m about to take a vacation and am looking forward to building my dream home.
Have you created a vision board? If not, why not?!?
by Angela Smith | Sep 24, 2013 | Introspective
Sometimes the only way I can “get away from it all” is through picture-taking.
I love photography, but I’m no professional. I still have lots to learn and don’t expect I’ll ever be that great with it. Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it.
I’ve always been interested in photography, but I never spent a lot of time with it because I was afraid I’d never be good enough. Then I realized something vitally important: what difference does it make how good I am if I’m enjoying it?
Creativity doesn’t require perfectionism. Maybe I will never make a lot of money selling pictures, but that was never my intention. I take pictures because I love it. It relaxes me in ways nothing else can.
Sometimes after work when I come home, my favorite transition from work to home is to grab my camera and take a walk outside. I might get silly pictures that professionals would scoff at, but I enjoy the process immensely. It has also helped me open my eyes to see things I wouldn’t normally notice before.
See the bugs on the cactus? Didn’t even notice them at first.
And this sunset. Taken with my camera as the sun is setting, with nothing more than my twilight camera setting. When I look it through my eyes, I see a beautiful setting sun, but when I look at it through the lens of the camera, I see depth as the parched trees frame a fiery sun. And so much more. Your imagination could go wild with this photo. What do you see?
Another of my favorites taken on my walk that day:
And this tree. The sun had practically gone down, so there was some blur on this picture, but I love how it looks like the trees are one. One tree is holding the other up even as it is about to collapse.
by Angela Smith | Sep 14, 2013 | Introspective
Copyright 2013, Angela Smith
Can you believe September is halfway over? I’d like to say the weather is cooler, but not here in Texas. Well, at least it isn’t 100 degrees in the shade anymore, but it’s darn close!
October is going to be an exciting month. October has always been a bit iffy for me. I love the change in weather, and just the feel of everything. Spring is supposed to feel like there’s newness in the air, but for me, it’s always been October. Crisp and cool October.
Ironically and on the downside, my mother died in October. So it’s also a time of deep contemplation and sadness, with the reminder that life-every moment of it-is to be appreciated. October is a thing for many things to die out, change, or go dormant, and it’s also a time for creepy, crawly, scary Halloween things!
October is also Texas Wine Trail month! So look for some posts about wine, one of my favorite food groups. I’ll also be discussing another of my favorite food groups next week: juicing. How to find the right juicer, why you should juice, and the cost of juicing.
And…drum roll please…My husband and I are taking a vacation! We are going to see my sister, who recently moved to Colorado. My sister and I used to be attached at the hip, so it hasn’t been an easy transformation for me. Especially because she’s the mother of my one and only niece. My niece is 11, going on 27. Since she’s been there, she’s gotten into bike racing and has won some (huge) trophies! I’m proud of her, but I also realize she’s still a child and doesn’t necessarily realize how important people in her life are just yet. I’m giving her space to live her life, but at the same time I wish she would contact me a bit more! I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself, but I’m very happy that she got to move to my favorite place in the world! And I’m very happy that I get to go visit her! She lives in Wine Country-Grand Junction-so I’ll be making some stops at some wine tours there, as well. Look for me to post some information about Colorado wines in the future!
On the way back from our trip, we’ll be stopping at my aunt’s, in Albuquerque, and visiting the Balloon Festival there. It’s a much, much needed vacation, seeing as how my husband and I have both been working hard, saving money, and not getting out much lately!
I’ll be participating in some blog tours very soon. Sizzling PR from October 14-25, and Masquerade Tours from November 4-11. Of course, you can always follow my Events Page for more information. I’m also signed up to post book blog tours here as well. If you’re interesting in doing a guest post, please contact me!
What about you? Do you have any exciting news to share?
by Angela Smith | Sep 11, 2013 | Books, Introspective
It’s been many years, but I don’t feel I can ignore this day. I wasn’t anywhere near New York or Washington when it happened. I was getting ready for work (the same job I’m at now, actually). I was twelve years younger, and my sister was pregnant with her first child. My first niece.
I had the news on as I often do in the morning, but I wasn’t watching it because I was getting ready for work. My husband, who had already left, called and had heard it on the radio and wanted me to check the news.
I walked in to my bedroom where the news was on, and the first thing I saw was a burning building, and them replaying the airplane hitting the twin towers.
I was devastated. I talked to my husband a bit, then hung up the phone with him and immediately called the one and only person in the world who I knew would give me comfort and explain to me what in the world was happening: my grandmother.
I, being twelve years younger and never ever having experienced this in my life, didn’t know what to think. Her three words put it in perspective for me: “We’re being attacked.”
Of course it changed my life. It changed everyone’s life that experienced it, I’m sure. I’m more aware, often more fearful, but more appreciative. A lot of things were lost that day. We have soldiers continuing to sacrifice their lives and livelihood to give us our freedom that we take for granted. Even if we don’t like how things are right now, we’re a lot better off than many countries.
Even if we don’t agree, I say when it comes to our Country, we all stand together. Than means not bashing our government. Whether we like them are now, they are our government, and I believe bashing them only makes our Country look weak.
I often wondered if I should continue to write. Shouldn’t I be focusing more on . . . something to change the world?
Well, I’m here to tell you, entertainment changes the world. Whether it’s a movie, a song, a painting, drawing or a book, it’s all art. And art is the best form of communication I know.
