January 1, 2014 by J.R. Johnson
The following is from Neil Gaiman’s Journal: My New Year Wish in 2011, and is, as far as I’m concerned, about as good a guide for the coming year as I can imagine:
…for this year, my wish for each of us is small and very simple.
And it’s this.
I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
…
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.
Make mistakes, and pat yourself on the back when you do. Then get up and try again.
In related news, I just spent the past hour ice skating. I don’t skate:)
Posted in Likes | Tagged awesome, creativity, inspiration, neil gaiman, Thoughts, yay | Leave a Comment »
December 31, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
I’m surrounded by snow, wolves howl in the night, and the Earth continues to turn. What could be better? Wherever you are, I hope you have a wonderful and very happy new year, all!
Posted in Holidays, Likes | Tagged 2014, celebration, New Year | 1 Comment »
December 28, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
Apologies for my lack of presence here; like many of you, I’m up to my ears in holiday fun. Eggnog, presents, family, Swedish smörgåsbord delights, and the ensuing fallout has me busy, busy, busy! I’ll be around the site off and on for the next week and back in force after the New Year. In the meantime, let me leave you with this terrific quote:
Imagine that you are dying. If you had a terminal disease would you finish this book? Why not? The thing that annoys this 10-weeks-to-live self is the thing that is wrong with the book. So change it. Stop arguing with yourself. Change it. See? Easy. And no one had to die.
― Anne Enright
It’s applicable to writing, of course, but substitute “do [fill in the blank with your own white whale]” for “finish this book” and it may also be useful for those looking ahead to the new year, and related resolutions:)
Posted in Holidays, Writing | Tagged Anne Enright, creativity, finishing, inspiration, Motivation, resolutions, Thoughts, work, writing | Leave a Comment »
December 17, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.
— Vincent van Gogh
Posted in Likes, Writing | Tagged inspiration, quotes, space, Thoughts, Van Gogh, writing | Leave a Comment »
December 14, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
I was thinking about all the things I have to do and the diminishing time in which I have to do them when I came across this lovely quote from “psychiatrist, neurologist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl” at the Root Simple blog:
The pessimist resembles a man who observes with fear and sadness that his wall calendar, from which he daily tears a sheet, grows thinner with each passing day. On the other hand, the person who attacks the problems of life actively is like a man who removes each successive leaf from his calendar and files it neatly and carefully away with its predecessors, after first having jotted down a few diary notes on the back. He can reflect with pride and joy on all the richness set down in these notes, on all the life he has already lived to the fullest. What will it matter to him if he notices that he is growing old? Has he any reason to envy the young people whom he sees, or wax nostalgic over his own lost youth? What reasons has he to envy a young person? For the possibilities that a young person has, the future which is in store for him?
No, thank you, he will think. Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past, not only the reality of work done and of love loved, but of sufferings bravely suffered. These sufferings are even the things of which I am most proud, although these are things which cannot inspire envy.
I think I’ll choose optimism:)
Posted in Likes | Tagged inspiration, quotes, Thoughts, Victor Frankl, work | 1 Comment »
December 13, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
Ok, not really, but between the two bits of news I have it’s a relatively apt title for this piece.
First, we had a gas leak this morning here at Chez J and now, three tech crews later, we are no longer at risk of blowing up. Yay.
Second, Knights of Badassdom will be released in February! Apparently it’s not the director’s cut and apparently it won’t get a full theatrical release and that seems ungood, but it will be out. Yay! Knights! Demons! Badassery! And I am certain that there will be explosions!
Also, that just about meets my recommended allowance of exclamation marks for the day. So, all good. Happy weekend, everyone!*
* RDA? check;)
Posted in Entertainment | Tagged awesome, entertainment, home, knights of badassdom, movies, peter dinklage, ryan kwanten, sff, steve zahn, summer glau, yay | Leave a Comment »
December 12, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
Some days I find it hard to focus. My mind wanders, and if I don’t turn off the internet I suddenly discover myself researching machine embroidery, the weather patterns of eastern Nepal, or the art of lactic acid fermentation. All fine topics, to be sure, but sadly Not What I Am Supposed to be Doing at the moment.
If you also have this problem at times, I recommend the following bit of wisdom from Anne Lamott:
Try looking at your mind as a wayward puppy that you are trying to paper train. You don’t drop-kick a puppy into the neighbor’s yard every time it piddles on the floor. You just keep bringing it back to the newspaper.
― Anne Lamott
That was yesterday. Today will be better.
If I could just find some more newspaper.
Posted in Writing | Tagged Anne Lamott, creativity, Motivation, quotes, sauerkraut, Thoughts, work, writing | Leave a Comment »
December 5, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
Nelson Mandela, Inspiration To World, Dies At 95
I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair.
― Nelson Mandela
Posted in Other | Tagged death, inspiration, leadership, Nelson Mandela, South Africa, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
December 4, 2013 by J.R. Johnson
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.
― Maya Angelou
As an addendum, I posit that you don’t have to start out loving your work to be good at it. Pay close enough attention to a thing for long enough, and its beauty becomes clear.
Posted in Likes, Writing | Tagged awesome, creativity, inspiration, Maya Angelou, Motivation, Thoughts, work, yay | 1 Comment »
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