In May my Youngling and I started searching for ladybugs. Ladybug larva to be exact. She is obsessed with them and I think she actually likes them better when they are larva than when they are actually round red ladybugs. Of course I’m right in there with her looking all over for the little red beetles, and though I like them, they do make my skin crawl. The things you do for love, hey?

Anyway, we looked all over for weeks for these darn bugs. We made big expeditions that Darwin would have been proud of, yet every time we returned home empty handed. Finally, after another little sad and disappointed face, I conceded defeat.

“No ladybug larva this year,” I soothed. Or tried to. So, I did what any other parent would do if their Youngling was sad and disappointed. I bust out the ice cream and tons of snuggles. It worked. Complete meltdown averted. Phew!

Days passed, May turned into June and the school year was winding down. It was the second last Wednesday before school was out and it was around 6 in the evening and my Youngling and I were in the backyard. The sun was still in the sky, but it was that early evening kind of sunlight that gives a beautiful golden sheen to everything. My Youngling and I were making giant bubbles with a huge bubble wand, hoola hooping, and giggling uncontrollably. Suddenly a shout rang out. It was my Youngling.

“LADYBUG LARVA! LADYBUG LARVA!” my Youngling cried, ecstatic and exuberant and so happy she was hopping up and down. She grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the wild rose bush we have in our back yard, and wouldn’t you know it! The leaves were absolutely covered with ladybug larva in all different sizes. They were crawling all over the bush, happy as happy could be. My Youngling and I hugged each other tight. The ladybug larva had come to us! It was one of those moments of pure and simple joy. We were just happy to be there, at home, in our yard, with the ladybug larva.

It’s one of those moments I’ll never forget. The smile on my child’s beautiful face and the zen and happiness I felt knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It made me think that you can spend your whole life looking for happiness, a happiness that can elude you, when it’s been there all along right in your backyard.

One of my favorite movies is Under the Tuscan Sun. It’s a movie that has gotten me through some tough times and has meant a lot to me, and that may sound funny but the message and the story in this movie somehow resonates for me. It also has one of my Youngling’s favorite bugs in it. It’s a beautiful movie.

Ladybug Larva

Oh, and wouldn’t you know it but I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to take pics. But I did find a pic to show you what ladybug larva look like.

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Happy birthday Canada! I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful and joyful holiday weekend. Happy Canada Day!

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Are you a worrier? I am. I am a chronic worrier. I worry about worrying. Ironic then isn’t it that one of my favorite easy going, happy-go-lucky phrases is, “No worries.” Well, you know what they say, “If you love something let it go.” And boy, do I love to worry. So I guess there’s only one thing to do. I will have to let worry go. Who’s with me?

So I guess if we see Worry waving at us from across the street it’s our job to jump into the bushes and hide, right? Would we be jumping into the arms of Avoidance if we did? Well, that’s a different story.

Deciding not to waste time or energy worrying is a huge step. The colossal waste of effort is pointless and produces nothing but pounds and wrinkles. Rationally we know that worrying is not time well spent after all, and there are so many other things you could be doing. And imagine how much time you’ll gain by giving up worry.

Imagine the freedom of a no worries attitude. You would feel like Atlas. It would be like you’d suddenly shrugged and the weight of the world just rolled right off your shoulders. You’d feel lighter, freer,  like you could stretch your limbs and not actually be squinting with the strain of it all. Go ahead. Imagine. Start whistling the tune “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” merrily.

Realistically though, we  know that worry might rear it’s ugly head every once and a while. So a strategy is needed to manage it. Marcus Aurelius said, “The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are.”

Very sage advice, don’t you think?

So this will be my new strategy to deal with worrying.

Breathe. Nothing comes from worrying. Resolve to ponder your dilemma for a set amount of time. 5 minutes seems like a good, round number. Center yourself and start to calmly brainstorm effective exit strategies. You are a sleuth. You can deliberate your way out of anything. Do some mind mapping. Remember you are good at solving problems.  Once 5 minutes is up, stop. Bookmark that spot. Decide to come back to it later with a fresh perspective and go do something else, whatever it is that will occupy your mind enough so that you won’t have time to worry.

Have faith, a solution will appear, maybe even when you least expect it. Rest assured that you will have the courage and the will to face whatever you need to. And believe it when you say, “No worries.”

∞

What would you do with your time if you weren’t worrying? What strategies do you have to manage worrying?

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Sometimes an image can be worth a thousand words. What words pop into your head when you look at this picture? What do you think about when you look at this picture? How does it make you feel? Do you feel a story spark to life inside of you? Do you feel inspired to write by this picture?

Do a 30 minute word sprint and see where your Muse (and pen) takes you. You just might end up with the beginnings of your next great story! Remember, the Muse is strong within you, Scribes.

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How do you capture your creative inspiration? We’ve all been there, standing in line at the grocery store, or in bed just as we’re falling asleep when a moment of grand inspiration hits us, and damn wouldn’t you know it but we’re no where near our #WIP. So what do you do? Well, you get your hands on some tools to help capture those random moments of creative inspiration so they don’t become lost in the ether.

1. Get a Notebook

I use notebooks for all my inklings, ramblings and writing ideas. I carry a notebook (and a pen) where ever I go. Where ever I happen to be, my notebook is not far from my fingertips. Sometimes I have two notebooks going at once and have them divided into different sections depending on what projects I have on the go for the different ideas that may crop up.

2. Use a Voice Recorder

Whether it be digital or old school, having one of these babies on board is a handy way to capture your ideas at any given moment. Especially handy if your are driving or doing dishes when those moments of inspiration come upon you and you don’t have your hands free. It’s also handy if you have to do an interview, so a voice recorder is well worth the investment. Or better yet, put it on your birthday or Christmas wishlist!

3. Use Your iPad

Modern technology has a plethora of ways for us to store information. Making technology work for you can be a writer’s best tool. The iPad or similar electronic gadgets are a perfect way to keep track of all your creative ideas on the fly.

4. Use Your Phone

Sometimes it’s dark, late at night or I’m in a movie theater and I get a sudden eureka moment. Short of producing a flashflight and taking out my trusty notebook, I opt for another idea recording method. A phone can be a trusty item when you’re in a pinch and have to write down an idea ASAP. You are also most likely always going to have it on you too, so send yourself a quick text or use the note function and catch that inspiration before it’s gone.

5. If all else fails…

…call yourself and leave a message on your voicemail. We’ve all left ourselves messages to remember to pick up something ,or to do something, or to just leave a motivating message for ourselves. If all else fails and you just absolutely must capture that creative inspiration, phone home and leave yourself a message.

By using one of these handy tools you’ll never have to worry about losing that great creative inspiration that may lead to the next great novel ever again.

How do you capture your creative inspiration?

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Read more about the Desiderata at Wikipedia.

This is one of my favorite poems. I find it inspiring. Do you?

Here it is for everyone who already is familiar with it to savor once again, and for anyone who has never read it, I hope you like it as much as I do.

To my US friends, enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

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Neolithic Embracing Skeletons

What do you feel when you look at this picture? What do you think about? How does it make you feel? Do you feel a story spark to life inside of you? How does this picture inspire you? Do you feel inspired to write by this picture?

Do a 30 minute word sprint and see where your Muse (and pen) takes you. You just might end up with the beginnings of your next great story! Remember, the Muse is strong within you, young Scribes.

Challenge! ~ Can you come up with a High Concept Logline or quick synopsis for this picture? You can share it here if you’d like!

Image History

Could this be the oldest embracing couple ever found? Archaeologists found this pair of Neolithic human skeletons embracing in a dig site near Mantova, Italy. This photo was released by Reuters on February 6, 2007. This is what love looked like 5000 – 6000 years ago. Ah, viva l’amour!

This even older embracing couple was found in Turkey. Archaeologists believe this type of burial was an ancient custom of the Mesopotamian culture.

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“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today marks the start of an exciting new journey. Today I launch my brand new writing blog Brighter Zen! Needless to say I am very excited. I decided to start this blog because my other blog, The Scribe’s Desk, has become something I wasn’t quite expecting. It’s become more of an entertainment blog and though I have tons of fun there, I realized that my posts about writing and life and finding inspiration weren’t quite fitting there anymore.

So I was faced with a dilemma. What should I do? Then I was hit with inspiration and I decided to start Brighter Zen. Here would be the place where I could talk about writing and muses and what I found inspiring. I could share my ideas and thoughts and imaginings. It’s here I can live my life with passion and engage and embrace my true, authentic self. I’m going to have a lot of fun here too, so I hope you’ll join me!

I hope I inspire you to do the things you’ve always dreamed of doing, and to live your life with passion, authenticity and happiness. And hopefully you will share your thoughts, ideas, passions and what inspires you with me too.

So, an exciting new journey begins here…today. Lacta alea est. Let the dreams happen.

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Hello world!

This is the start of an exciting new journey…