That Fairy Tale Life

Dudes. I don’t watch a lot of TV. Seriously, I think Chopped is about the only show I watch regularly because it’s on late at night as I’m getting ready for bed. But every once in a while, there is an exception.

Like the new abc series, Once Upon a Time. *clutches chest* LOVE!

Usually, when I find a TV series and watch it regularly, it’s because I love both the characters and the storyline. But this one’s even better, because it has been created out of stories and characters I already loved, put a new twist on all my favorite fairy tales, and plunked them down in the modern world.

More love!

This is what it feels like to be on the other side of brilliant writing. It’s a learning experience, and not just for writers, but for everyone. I think whenever you take a perfect life lesson and turn it and twist it and move it into different places and take it to new heights, it makes us question our morals, our values, and our how far we would go for love, life, and the pursuit of, well, happily ever after.

What’s more, it makes me personally evaluate my own happily ever after. Have I reached that place yet? Keeping in mind that life changes daily, I ask myself if I died tomorrow, would I be happy with the life I’ve lived?

I still have a long bucket list, so I hope I don’t die tomorrow. But if I did, if some freak accident happened and I was hit by lightning or a bus or dropped off a cliff, would I be able to say I’d loved as deeply as I could, given back to the world in the best way I knew how, and affected someone else’s life for the better?

I certainly hope so. What about you? Are you living a fairy-tale kind of life?

Attracting Positive Energy

The other day, someone paid me a really nice compliment. She told me that good things happen to me because I am always so positive. It was kind of an offhanded comment, which made it mean all the more.

I believe that we attract the same kind of energy we put out, so if we put out positive energy, that is what we will attract—what will be drawn toward us.

For instance, if you believe in the parking fairy, she’ll work for you and make sure you get good parking spaces most of the time. And if you try hard to always see the good in people, situations, and circumstances, good things will come to you, largely because you’re LOOKING for them.

What do you think? Am I crazy, or does positive + positive = WOWZA?

Being and Becoming

This weekend I heard a really great quote that I think pertains to, well, everyone. It doesn’t matter who you are, really, or what is your religion, profession, life goal, this quote works for all of us.

“We become what we want to be by being what we want to become.” ~Richard G. Scott (a Mormon apostle)

The person who shared the quote called it a riddle, but I’m thinking that’s about as clear a statement as they get. If I want to be a good mom, be a good mom (in every way possible for ME). If I want to be beautiful, be beautiful (in action, deed, self confidence—every way under my control). If I want to have a thousand friends, be a friend to a thousand people. If I want to be a bestselling author, act like I already am one. Write every day, and submit like acceptance is just around the corner.

In other words, look to the future and see where I want to be in a year—or five, ten, fifteen years—and I put myself there. Act accordingly.

In other words, I stand up and stand out.

So there you go. A quote to live by. My good deed for the day is done. Carry on.

*Don't miss out on your chance to win a prize simply for doing a good deed.

Actually, it IS Personal

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been given a lot of reasons to reflect on personal connections and how important they can be to my career. Or anyone’s career, no matter what they do. In fact, connecting with people can potentially have an enormous impact on our personal lives as well.

Here’s the thing. When someone knows you, remembers having a conversation with you—however brief—you become a person rather than a random face in a crowd. And believe it or not, it’s a lot easier to think compassionate, fair, happy thoughts about a person you’ve actually met, as opposed to a random face you’ve never seen.

Easier to think good things, and harder to think bad ones.

Easier to respond positively rather than negatively.

Easier to understand that person, well, personally.

For instance. Say you’re querying agents (or editors or publishers), and somewhere along the way, you’ve met one. Spent a little time talking to that person. Made a connection with something the two of you have in common, or even just had a good discussion about business. You see them as a human being, and they see you in the same light. Then, when you send that person your query, they think, “Hey, I remember her.” And even if they must ultimately reject you, they’re far more likely to do so with a personalized note, maybe some advice, and perhaps a recommendation that you submit to XYZ who might be a better fit.

This can potentially extend your reach to other networks, other avenues, other possibilities. All because you took the time to talk to that one person when you had the opportunity.

The same thing can happen in any situation. Even if nothing huge ever comes from those connections, our lives will most definitely be richer for them.

Think about it. What connections have you made that have made your life (professional or personal) fuller?

The Almost Authentic Jukebox

Also at the pizzeria (aka Deenos) last week was a real, working jukebox.

And I’m sorry, but obnoxious as it probably was, I had to put a quarter in and play a couple songs. Just because, well, that’s what you do when faced with a retro-vintage machine such as that.

To my dismay (as well as the dismay of a few of my Twitter followers) none of the songs available were by Boys II Men or Richard Marx.

*nods at gasps of horror*

I realize this is a travesty. But I did what I could and played an old Sheryl Crow and an old Martina McBride song. (You do what you must when faced with such challenges.) While those songs didn’t take me as far back as others might have, the over-loud, treble-heavy music reminded me of other times.

The problem was that the jukebox and the memories evoked by the music didn’t quite jive together. It felt just a little bit like I was pretending—which was totally true. I think this is one of the dangers of not fully fleshing-out our research, be it time, character, place, object, or any other number of elements in our creative ventures.

The facts don’t line up exactly and people will notice, even if they can’t put their finger on what they’re noticing. Like a painting that looks like it was meant to be centered, but didn’t quite get there. Or a person who looks like they’re almost having a good time, but not quite. Or a vase that looks like it was never broken, except for one small line of paint that doesn’t quite line up.

Those who are paying attention will always notice, the way I noticed the songs not quite going with the jukebox. I was okay with that because I know what a rarity it is to find a working jukebox in this century. But that isn’t always the case.

Theoretically, in what situations is it okay to pretend, and when must you be absolutely authentic?