Butterflies

"Some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies." -Quote from a Sex and the City episode.

This quote often comes to mind when I am in a new relationship. It is so simple. Why settle? Love is about passion and excitement. Whether or not you experience anything similar to butterflies in your stomach is a good way to determine right away if a relationship is at least headed in a good direction.

Naturally, however, butterflies fade as comfort grows and time passes. But should it? Although the excitement may not be as often, should it not still exist from time to time?

Friend And Critic

Everyone needs someone to read what they have written, but finding the right person can be tough. You need both a critic and a friend. Beginners especially need someone who is both honest and gentle. Someone who will provide constructive and encouraging feedback.

Anne Lamott in Bird By Bird (again! I love the way she writes) says "I don't think you have time to waste not writing because you are affraid you won't be good enough at it, and I don't think you have time to waste on somone who does not respond to you with kindness and respect. You don't want to spend your time around people who make you hold your breath. You can't fill up when you're holding your breath. And writing is about filling up, filling up when you are empty."

And she goes on... "beginners are learning to play, and they need encouragement to keep their hands moving along the page."

A Poem I Wrote, on Words

Speak

I welcome words
gently laid down
or thrown at me from across the table.

I pick them up off the ground,
pull them from my face,
scoop them onto my plate.

I put them in my mouth
chew them around
salty, slimy, loud, harsh
words I like to spit back out,
push around, cut open.

I mix them with my own words,
slirp up the juicy,
wash down the bitter.

I take out insult and opposition
on my plate I thank them
for their bounty then toss them away.

I do not like them
but I welcome them.
I welcome all words.
I'd rather words hit me in the face from across the table
than sit listening to silence.

Garden State

Dialogue from the movie "Garden State." I utilize the conversation to summarize what I think faith is all about (not knowing but choosing to believe).

"Do you lie a lot?"
"What do you consider a lot?"
"Enough for people to call you a liar."
"People call me a lot of things..."
"Is one of them a liar?"
"I could say no, but how do you know i'm not lying?"
"I guess I could choose to trust you."
"You can do that?"
"I can try."

Getting Started

A quote just to get my blog started ... "writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." - from Bird by Bird, quoting E.L. Doctorow.

I recommend reading Bird By Bird to anyone who is or wants to be a writer. Just take things bit by bit. Paragraph by paragraph. Day by day. Such great advice on writing and life!

Tattoo

My first (and so far my only) tattoo says "words" on the top of my wrist and "action" on the inside. I believe in the power of words, written and spoken, and I love to read and write. But what are words without action? It is important to join causes and fight for what you believe.