Listology: Random Things I Found Around The Web This Week

I’m really trying hard to blog regularly again. Can you tell? I think this is my fourth post in a week. I didn’t realize how much I missed blogging until I started again (It’s like that Joni Mitchell song, “Big Yellow Taxi”—”Don’t it always seem to go/That you don’t know what you’ve got/Till it’s gone.” Yes, I realize I dated myself by quoting Joni Mitchell and not Janet Jackson.)

One of my goals this year is to focus on writing again, and I thought it would be hard to get back into the swing of things, but apparently not. Once I decided to stop agonizing over every single post and try to have fun with this again, it got a little easier. (Maybe not great yet, but definitely easier!)

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Speaking of writing, wander over to Terrible Minds and read this great post called 25 Things I Want To Say To So Called Aspiring Writers. Number 3 hits a little close to home.

3. Aspiring Writers, Far As The Eye Can See

Nobody respects writers, yet everybody wants to be one (probably because everybody wants to be one). Point is, you want to be a writer? Good for you. So does that guy. And that girl. And him. And her. And that old dude. And that young broad. And your neighbor. And your mailman. And that chihuahua. And that copy machine. Ahead of you is an ocean of wannabe ink-slaves and word-earners. I don’t say this to daunt you. Or to be dismissive. But you have to differentiate yourself and the way you do that is by doing rather than be pretending. You will climb higher than them on a ladder built from your wordsmithy.

Duly noted. It’s time to get serious and stop thinking about writing and actually do it.

Over on Thought Catalog you should read 25 Ways To Make Your Life Better Immediately. As a chronic muller, I like number 13 (lucky 13!)

13. Focus on now instead of lingering on the uncontrollable. The past is history and the future’s mystery. While the beginning of your story has been written in permanent ink, you’re still the author in full control of how it ends. Make an effort right this minute on a cause or person that matters to you.

Also on Thought Catalog is 25 Things You Should Remember To Do Every Day. Apparently, I like lists of 25. I can certainly work on number 18 more.

18. Push yourself to be more open, honest and caring toward those around you. Exercise your heart to be stronger and more trusting and know that others can accept the gift of your candor and realness.

This article on BlogHer is eye-opening: The Social Media Breathe Rule: Take a Moment Before Posting. I’ve been guilty of this in the past. And, honestly, this is one of the reasons I dropped off Twitter for a while last year. I was so tired of all the reactive, nasty, ill-thought-out Tweets (and posts). Social media just wasn’t fun anymore. (Recently, though, I’ve gotten brave and have started to dip a toe or two back in.)

And while we’re on the subject of Twitter, I also found this cool video on YouTube: called “2012 Told Through Twitter: A Year in Review.” No one can say 2012 was boring.

I’m off to a dog show this weekend—Penny’s first as a champion! I’m kind of excited about it. Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

—Namaste