Just Me aghan

10 Ways to Meditate When You Struggle to Clear Your Mind

2020-11-24T10:33:00.018-05:00

When most people hear the word "meditation," they think of a Buddha sitting quietly with a peaceful look on their face. They make it look so easy!

But anyone who has sat down on a meditation cushion and tried to "clear their mind," knows it's a lot harder than it looks. Sometimes even getting yourself to that seated position is difficult.

I took part in a meditation retreat and another weekend workshop on Mindfulness, Meditation, and Mantras as part of my master yoga teacher training last year. Though I'd dabbled with it before, it was mostly only guided. Yes, we were guided in many of the meditations during my training, but we were also left to our own devices with minimal direction too.

These two experiences were the real deal, and I learned a few new ways to meditate.

Those days when you make it to your cushion, but the whole "clear your mind" thing isn't working for you, try one of these types of meditation instead.

10 Types of Meditation You Should Try

Guided Meditation
Yoga (or meditation in movement as many call it)
Mantra Repetition
Candle Gazing
Walking Meditation
Breath Counting
Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation
Visualization
Open Awareness
Create Something - Cook, Art, or Write

Have you tried meditation before? Have you found one type to work better for you than another? Let me know in the comments below.

Writing Update: NaNoWriMo and a Holiday Short Story

2017-12-26T14:59:00.002-05:00

I ended up writing a total of 37,187 words in my novel for NaNoWriMo last month. Add this to the words I wrote for podcast show notes, clients' social media posts, ghostwriting clients, and the holiday short story contest and I'm sure I hit 50,000 words overall in November. But the goal was 50,000 words on the novel, so I fell a bit short.

Here is the short story, "Three Wise Men in the Family," that I wrote for Florida Times-Union's Holiday Writing Contest. It seems they didn't receive my entry... The prompt was to include three wise men bearing gifts. Be gentle in your critiques. This is the first fictional piece of writing I've written since high school.

I hope you enjoyed a joyful Christmas and made many new memories. Wishing you a blessed 2018!

Droplets of water tapped lightly against Leah’s umbrella. It was Christmas in St. Augustine, Florida so the chance of the rain turning into snow was naught. As she walked along the cobblestone streets gazing at the white lights, she became lost in her thoughts.

“Leah? Earth to Leah?”

“Oh sorry, honey.”

“I was asking – oh never mind. What are you thinking about?”

“I’m sure you can guess…” she trailed off.

Her husband Max sighed, “I want one just as bad, Leah. And I’m sorry that that’s the one thing I can’t just pick up at the store for you. It will happen.”

“I’m tired of waiting, Max. And I’m beginning to think I’m not meant to be a mother.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t say that.” He pulled her into a hug. “Let’s try to be happy. It’s Christmas Eve, and we’ll be seeing your family tomorrow.”

______________________________________________________________

Laughter and voices filled the house. With such a large family, they opted for a gift exchange every year. Most of the items people brought were gag gifts. But there were always a few well thought out gifts in the mix too.

Instead of drawing names and plainly prompting each person to pick a present under the tree, Leah found a poem. Pressing the home button on her iPad, she called everyone to attention.

“Alright, all the names are in?” A resounding yes made its way around the room. “Okay, first up,” she reached into the full Santa hat and pulled out a slip of folded paper, “Uncle Paul, Lucky you, you're number one. You get to start all the fun. So, grab a gift and grab it quick. Cause you're the one who gets first pick."

He reached for the largest box under the tree.

Leah’s Dad teased his brother, "You know the biggest box isn't always the best, Paul."

Ripping off the wrapping and peeling the box open, packaged between a mountain of tissue paper was a single water bottle with a label on the outside that read 'Melted Snowman.' The room erupted with laughter. "Very funny," he said cracking it open and taking a sip as he sat back down. "Frosty is delicious."

"Alright, alright. Max! You’re next," said Leah. "Number two you're on the way. It's time for you to have your say. Get your gift and when you're done, swap it off with number one."

"Oops," exclaimed Paul, "I think I already drank Frosty's head." Hilarity ensued among the family.

"So, I just pick any gift under here?"

"Anyone you want, Max. Maybe pick a couple up and shake them a bit."

"No! Don't shake the one in the green paper," said Grandpa Miles.

"Shhhhhh! Grandpa, now we all know that one's from you!" said Leah.

"Oh, sorry. But you still can't go shaking that one."

"Well, now I’m curious. Let’s see what this one is," Max said picking up the gift wrapped in green. Pulling the paper off and removing the lid he pulled out a bouquet of dried flowers with a puzzled look on his face, “What’s this about, Grandpa?”

“I’m getting up there in my years, and as the patriarch of the family, I want to remind you all of mortality. Once I’m gone, I want you all to remember the good times we have had together. Though these flowers are dried up, you know that they were once full of brightness and life.”

“Oh, don’t be like that,” said Leah’s Dad, “How morbid can you be, Pops?”

He shrugged his arms and made a face as to say, ‘it’s the truth.’ Max switched the flowers out with Uncle Paul for his opened water bottle of Frosty.

“Alright, next… Oh, I got my name. Number three its plain to see. It's your turn to pick which gift `twill be. And when your choosing job is through, swap with one and then with two." Looking at the mound of presents left under the tree she dug to the bottom and pulled out a small box. Inside was a Magnolia seed tied to a notecard, “Patience,” read Leah aloud. “I love it. I wish I didn’t have to trade out though.” She frowned and switched gifts with Max and then her Uncle.

“I knew you’d like that one,” said Leah’s Dad while smiling at her. He was always telling her to be patient and that her time to become a mother was coming.

Making her way back to her post on the edge of the couch, Leah drew the next name, “Cathy, you’re up Mom. Number four must use your head. So, grab a gift that has some red. If it doesn't suit you to a 'T,' You may swap with two or three.” There were four red packages under the tree, and she grabbed a box with a glittery gold bow on top. Inside was an arrangement of unopened mini roses.

“Aw, well these will be great when they open up,” she grunted.

“Look at the inside of the lid,” insisted Uncle Paul.

She flipped it over and read aloud, “Hope.”

“In this crazy world of hate and despair, we all need to have hope. Hope for humanity, hope for the future, and hope for new life,” Paul said turning his gaze to Leah and Max.

The poem continued until everyone had picked a gift and they all had many laughs at the presents everyone brought. Leah and Max were filling up their glasses with apple cider when Grandpa Miles, Uncle Paul, and her Dad walked up to the couple.

“We appreciate you being so open to the family about your struggle to become parents,” said Leah’s Dad. “And we want to help, but aren’t sure how. So, let us know how we can support you both.”

“Thank you. Simply acknowledging the fact and doing what you three did today encourages us to continue on the journey. Merry Christmas!”

10 Things I've Learned in the First 11 Days of NaNoWriMo

2017-11-11T19:21:00.001-05:00

Week one is officially complete, and we're creeping up on the end of week two. Today is day 11 of NaNoWriMo, and I've logged 20,045 words as of this posting.

The first six chapters flew through my fingertips and onto the screen. However, at about chapter seven and the switch to a Victorian-era diary, it started to get a little more challenging.

Plantsing worked fabulously for the first six chapters in modern times. But, moving into the Victorian era turned dreadfully tricky at about day seven. I'm working my way through it though, and I've finally finished and organized the bulk of my research.

I'm coming up with dialog, descriptions, and the story in general. And at speeds that I honestly didn't know that I was capable of. I think that is my favorite part of NaNoWriMo so far - surprising myself with how quickly I can get the story onto paper. Writing articles takes me significantly more time and outlining.

I understand this means that at the end of 30 days, I'll have much editing to do. But for now, I'm enjoying ignoring the red underlines as much as possible.

It's funny how interested my family is in this project. My mother and stepfather were both trying to assist me in coming up with names for characters and asking lots of questions. Friends and other family are showing interest too. It's encouraging.

The engagement under the NaNoWriMo hashtag on Twitter is another boost to writing this month. I've connected and interacted with so many other writers. It's nice to know you're not alone and that others are heads down in a computer or notebook trying to put their first or next great novel down on paper.

For me, I've found that my sweet spot for writing is early in the morning. This time change has been perfect for that too. I can now wake up even earlier and get more written before changing gears and switching over to client work. I've also found that carrying my notebook with me everywhere is critical. I've squeezed in a bit of writing riding in the car as a passenger, waiting for my husband to finish an unplanned client meeting, and even while getting a pedicure.

What I've Learned in the First 11 Days of NaNoWriMo:

Write now, edit later.
Seek out support from family and friends. They'll encourage you and happily celebrate your word count milestones with you.
Engage with the NaNoWriMo community on Twitter and in the forums to continue motivating yourself.
Research, research, research. (Probably more for those writing historical fiction or non-fiction.)
Bring a notebook with you everywhere and write whenever you have time—no matter where you are.
Jumping ahead and writing the next chapter is okay, sometimes it's even better for your story because it can give you an idea to come back to.
You'll think about your characters and possible dialog constantly. I mean walking the dogs, doing the dishes, eating dinner with your spouse, all the time.
Even your small writing sessions get you closer to your end goal. Three short spurts of writing in a day can add up and help you hit your daily target word count.
Stock up on healthy snacks as well as some chocolate or other sweets. The fruits and nuts will keep you going, and sweets are always a nice treat. My favorite writing snack is trail mix.
Headphones are your friends. On the days when I don't hit my goal in the morning, I'll sit with my husband in the living room while he watches TV. Listening to music and not the TV helps me to get in the zone, while still spending time with him.

Writers and fellow NaNoWriMo participants -

How do you motivate yourself to continue writing each day?

Let me know in the comments!

Reading, Writing, and NaNoWriMo Prepping

2017-10-26T15:40:00.000-04:00

I only need to finish one more book, and I'll have beaten my Goodreads Reading Challenge of reading 25 books in 2017! I'd like to get a few more in before the end of the year, but it's time for another lofty goal. Enter National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).

If you haven't heard of NaNoWriMo, it's an event held every November that encourages writers to dish out 50,000 words in 30 days. So, 1,667 words a day. 😳 Considering Thanksgiving is this month, and the prep work alone will take a half a day, I'll be aiming for 2,000 words each day to make up for any off days.

I also have to keep in mind that I'll be doing client writing throughout the month too. It's going to be a month full of words.

To be honest, I'm feeling a little intimidated, but I can't wait to get started!

My aunt opened my eyes to NaNoWriMo a few years ago when I told her I wanted to write a book. It's something I've wanted to do for a while now, and with my freelance schedule, it finally seems like the perfect time. I don't expect to be finished writing my book after the 30 days are complete, but I'll have a rock-solid foundation.

My favorite genre to read is historical fiction. The book I'm writing will be a mix of historical fiction and chick lit, taking place in two time periods. I may divulge more about it in a November blog post, but for now, I'll leave it at that.

I'm very new to the whole novel writing thing. My writing up to this point has been articles, blog posts, journal entries, eBooks, and a random poem here and there. So needless to say I have been watching oodles of videos about NaNoWriMo and how to plan a novel.

I've decided I'm definitely am not a pantser (someone with no plan for what they're writing, they just sit down and write). Probably more of a plantser, a blend of a pantser and a planner/plotter. Currently, I have all my notes in a journal I've devoted to NaNoWriMo. This weekend I'll be moving my plot ideas over to index cards so I can visualize a little better, brainstorm some more, and maybe move the order around a bit before I get started writing next month.

I ordered two books earlier this week for research on the historical part of my novel. Only this week did I decide I wanted to add another plot line and the second time period, so I'm a little late in the game with my research. I'm hoping I have time to go through and do some highlighting before November.

7 Tips for 50,000 Words in 30 Days

As I mentioned, I've been doing a bit of research about how to ~~survive~~ kick butt at NaNoWriMo. Here are a few of the major points I heard repetitively from previous participants.

Plan ahead. Unless you're comfortable being a pantser, generate either a basic premise or a complete outline for your novel. Leading up to November finish all of your research, create your settings and characters, etc. Racheal Stephen has a lot of advice on Preptober to get you prepared for NaNoWriMo on her YouTube channel.
Join in the community of other writers taking part in NaNoWriMo. Writing buddies can give you encouragement, relate to what you're going through, and even keep you more accountable to your writing efforts.
Create a tracking system to record your daily word count. Boho Berry has a great one you can print off and paste into your NaNoWriMo journal.
Establish a rewards system. To keep yourself motivated throughout the month incentivize each milestone. Mine is similar to Kristen Martin's and tacked to every 10,000 words. I have incentives for when I hit 10,000, 20,000, 30,000, 40,000, and 50,000 words. Each one has a little more value than the previous. So, after writing 10,000 words, I'll buy myself a dark chocolate bar and take an hour to work on some watercolor painting. Some of the other rewards I have in mind are fresh flowers, a pedicure, and a new book.
Identify a few playlists to listen to while you write or consider creating your own. I like listening to music without words while writing and have a few saved already. This one called Piano in the Background is my go to on Spotify.
No editing, just write. NaNoWriMo is all about fast drafting. Don't waste time going back to edit, there will be time for that later.
Have fun! Remember to enjoy the process and the act of writing. NaNoWriMo is supposed to be fun.

Let me know in the comments below if you've completed NaNoWriMo before. I'd love to hear about your experience and any tips you might have.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Let's be writing buddies. Connect with me on Twitter or Instagram and let's connect to encourage each other as we work through the craziness that will surely be November.

Monday Musings: A Writing Update

2017-07-24T10:03:00.000-04:00

A "world room." That's what my husband and I have been dreaming of creating in our home since we started dating over ten years ago. A recent assignment for Old City Life magazine put me in front of a local travel writer, Tammy Harrow. Tammy has three kids, all who have the travel bug just like her.

Her home made my dream for a "world room," that had been back burnered for a while, come racing back to the forefront of my mind. There were souvenirs from the family's travels accenting every corner of the home. When I sat down to write the article it reminded me of a travel piece. Descriptively identifying points in their home, while tying in dialog from a nearly two-hour long conversation.

These days I mostly write about marketing, how to use social media in business, artificial intelligence in marketing, inside sales, and other content for corporate executives, small business owners, and marketers. I enjoy creating this type of content as it applies my business degree. But sitting down and stringing words together that will hopefully bring the reader along on a tour of the home, made my heart happy too.

A lot of the books that I've read lately have been about writing. I'm currently devouring How to Be a Travel Writer by Don George. I read this quote last night and was truly inspired. This sentence accurately describes what I aim for in my writing.

A post shared by Meaghan Mae Alvarado (@justmeaghan) on Jul 23, 2017 at 4:31pm PDT

At the advice of Tammy, I'm taking a deep breath and reaching out to some major magazines with pitches. I will continue writing business articles, but I want to explore more of the world, as well as my writing capacities.

Have you taken the leap to contact any national/international publications? Do you have any advice for me or others looking to do the same?