The weather forecast predicts 2-5” of snow. This winter, any significant accumulation has been absent, and while I am eager for spring’s arrival, I mourn the lack of a typical winter.  There is a certain delicious anticipation of falling asleep and waking to a transformed world. The bonus is when they declare a snow day and cancel normal activities.

A snow day is Mother Nature’s way of saying, “Hey, y’all have been working hard, how about we take a break and stay home?” We have permission to sleep late, play, and indulge in a world run by our vivid imaginations. This world encourages creating snow angels, building snowmen, and snow forts designed as impenetrable bases designed for epic snowball fights, and culminates in toasted marshmallow piled high atop hot cocoa filled mugs.

After playing outside and unusual physical exertion, there is blissful comfort to curl before a crackling fire with a favorite book. Escapism, release from reality, suspension of disbelief, is embodied in translucent snowflakes, a translucence that reflects ambient light. It is the reason snow most often appears white, but deep snow can appear blue, and under the right conditions it looks pink. It is a magical substance that dares us to image the unimaginable.

Where do you find enchanted days?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf when she gives such great advice? I am relieved to discover I require only money and my room. I have undertaken a whole-house remodeling project, which includes knocking down walls, putting in structural beams, opening the floor plan, redesigning, and repurposing rooms to better fit 21st-century life. At first, we slated the workspace to go in the loft, but plans change, needs change, and the vision changed. The non-negotiable office we moved from the loft into the current living room.

My office will accommodate two floor-to-ceiling bookcases, loaded with my books, an oak library table, a printer, my favorite laptop, and a beautiful view.  It is a slow process. I split my days between making necessary decisions: flooring, tiles, wall color, area rugs, and finding time to write. This week, work is winning.

Truthfully, I can write anywhere and trust the words will flow. My hotel accommodations have limitations, and I daydream, visualizing my new retreat. It is a delicious and decadent feeling contemplating my dedicated office. I need to call my contractor.

Do you have a dedicated writing space?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

It is easy to get discouraged.  We make plans to improve our lives, transform our trajectory, and help others. The moment we set our intention to change, the universe takes notice. The cosmos believes it knows best, and everything is running fine. Who are we to step out of line, and mess with perfection?

I am not interested in living with the status quo or setting incremental goals that only require marginal increases. Small improvements allow the concept of failure to seep into our expectations when we are not looking. Thoughts like, “I’ve done this before,” or “this is a cake-walk.” invites us to take our foot from the gas pedal, and let our eye stray from the prize.

Overcoming pushback is crucial, requiring concentration and determination, regardless of the goal’s scope or complexity. Whatever the goal’s size, the stamina to overcome inertia is similar. Studies show difficult objectives correlate with greater expected satisfaction. Why waste the initial outlay of internal strength required to begin the journey on anything less than spectacular results? Whether I endeavor to move a mountain or a molehill, I must first gather the will to act.

With that in mind, my plan is to beat the odds, surpass my perceived limitations, and dream big. I won’t be wasting my time and energy on modest intentions; I am reaching for the stars.

Have you set high goals?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

During October and November, my personal prognosticator was showing his face on my back patio. We are experiencing a mild winter, but I have seen no sign of him. I wonder if he will realize what day it is, make a fateful appearance, and tell me spring is near. Hopefully, he will share his secrets and not force me to rely on Punxsutawney Phil.

Today is an astronomical holiday, the year’s first cross-quarter day, to be specific. A cross-quarter day falls halfway between the solstice and the equinox. Falling on February 2, they also call it Candlemas or Imbolc. The other three cross-quarter days are May Day, May 1st, also called Beltane; August 1st, Lughnasadh, or Lammas Day; and October 31st, Samhain, or Halloween. In our set calendar system, and with the leap year, those exact days vary somewhat, but they offer some interesting traditions to explore.

I have read an old German saying which states, “A shepherd would rather see a wolf enter his stable on Candlemas Day than see the sun shine.” This year the farmer may have more riding on either the 49er’s or the Chiefs to pay much attention to the groundhog’s predictions.

Are you hoping for a sunny Sunday? Or will you be busy voting on your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

We are one month into the new year and I am working on my New Year Resolutions. My goals are numerous and ambitious. January has shown me I was overly optimistic with certain goals and unduly generous with others. No worries. Enter my editor to access, revamp and make needed adjustments.

I will put the pedal to the metal, expediting the finish date for easier goals and then removing them from my list. However, bumping the timeline impacts the remaining goals. Since I am struggling, they need work. I extended timelines, added steps and created greater details to augment the process. The benefit of completing the easier goals first is, once finished, my time available to devote to the more difficult goals expands. It is the current plan, anyway.

How are you progressing with your goals?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The world expects us to push ourselves to do more, faster, finish the never-ending list, and move to the next great item guaranteed to make our day. We spend our time working hard and achieving our goals. They say attaining the goal is our reward. We buy into the mindset, the lifestyle. We attain our objectives and realize we are disappointed when we don’t experience the fulfillment they promised.

But the destination does not encompass the entire journey. Planning is its own award. Which route do we prefer? What mode of transportation? Will we explore unanticipated opportunities and side trips? Creating a plan shifts our point of view and prepares us for the new venture. We become more aware of our surroundings, more cognizant of our choices, and we increase our willingness to rely on ourselves.

Each day brings improvement. We accumulate small wins, celebrating memorable achievements with precious Kodak moments shared with our fellow travelers. If we are honest, we discover that surprising pleasure and unexpected fun lies along the path, the places we see, the characters we met, the lives we touch. Thrills exist in the struggles and the joy of helping each other. Those are the tales that connect our souls and the stories we need to tell. Those are the journeys readers yearn to follow.

How do you celebrate the journey?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I am reading a thought-provoking story exploring the multiverse, alternate timelines, and an entire ensemble of countless regions created by distinct big bangs, within disconnected space-times, with an ever-increasing number of universes. Wrapping my mind around the cosmos’ vastness is difficult. Since childhood, space, time, and alternate worlds have intrigued me.

Another fascination is when we sleep and dream. Everyone dreams, even if the full contents don’t make the jump into our wakefulness. They are part of us, skimming beneath consciousness, waiting for us to discover them. One concept says everything is a dream, and every dream is real. It then follows that every dream is possible. The idea, when considered, can play tricks and twist your mind into a pretzel.

What if there is a kernel of truth? Do dreams allow a glimpse into timelines where you live an idealistic, picture-perfect, best-version-of-yourself life? If your dream life exists in any universe, then your dreams are achievable. Action, following your path, and connecting your wildest desires with your timeline’s reality is your unquestionable destiny. Dare to dream, but channel your bravest essence, and create the vision the cosmos revealed.

What is the cosmos revealing to you?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The experts are great at giving us part of the story. They say showing up is half the battle. I keep waiting, reading, but the remaining 50% never materializes. Maintaining your schedule, cultivating the dedication to do the task at the appointed hour, those are the first steps. Focusing on and managing your personal energy levels is the second variable in the equation.

To manage your power stores, you must know the mental and physical strength your daily planned activities demand. I am a bonafide introvert, and prolonged socializing zaps me. Group projects, being asked to answer a question when I didn’t volunteer, parties, people on my flight who talk incessantly, even shopping, and loud venues exhaust me. The ordeals leave my nerves jangling; I feel anxious, depressed, and I am left with an intense desire to be alone.

Necessity has led me to create coping mechanisms. Where possible, I don’t schedule back-to-back meetings, opting to grant myself an opportunity to breathe, decompress, and process information. I have carefully curated my workspace with items that make me smile and help reduce my stress. I have set hours when I welcome others to drop by to discuss problems, ask questions, or chit-chat. My non-office hours allow me to focus on my responsibilities and replenish my batteries. With my tank full, I can respond to life, share the insights quiet reflection has revealed, and connect with my friends.

How do you recharge?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I dread one meeting every quarter. It is mandatory, involves between six and twenty people, and they scheduled it to last an hour. The group never starts on time, often runs late, and lacks structure. A week before the appointed date, the participants generate a flurry of emails, texts, and phone calls that escalate in desperation as the conference approaches. It represents an enormous energy-sapping exercise. To combat the disruptive nature, I build in buffers and organize ample space to decompress, process my frustrations, and reset my agenda.

Based on my experience, I have learned to pace myself. There is no point in expecting a normal productive day when the day’s events are so unsettling. If you listen to the experts, they tell you to check your emotions at the door. But feelings are sneaky and adept at undermining your best intentions. Instead of ignoring those feelings, and trying to push through them, I find it more helpful to face them head-on. Working at peak energy levels and allowing myself to coast when things get under my skin, helps maximize my efficiency and my productivity.

Do you create buffers around emotionally charged situations?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I searched for three years. On my quest, as with finding any satisfying relationship, I kissed frogs, toads, newts, and the occasional salamander before I finally heard the angels sing.

Each critique group has a vibe, a personality, a purpose that provides benefits for the members. I wanted something aligned with my goals. The first gathering revolved around coffee, chatting, and offering reasons for not producing. Their coffee was a little weak. Participants at a different venue served as acolytes to a published author. I prefer coffee over Kool-Aid. One bunch focused on everyone feeling “good” about their piece and stipulated they did not permit “harsh words.” In my book, high quality, strong, black coffee, doesn’t need cream and sugar.

Another meeting started with a friendly chat, then they eviscerated my submission. I could have been offended. I could have argued, defended my writing, insisted they didn’t understand and accused them of being wrong about what they were reading. Instead, I kept my mouth shut and my mind open. Truthful, honest feedback, delivered without malice, is a precious gift. It is a remarkable transformational tool, and if you can endure it, you will gain much.

Others see areas for improvement when we cannot. Unfiltered opinions help us consider our narrative from the reader’s perspective. The right critique group offers the perfect sounding board for creating our best story along with encouragement, camaraderie, and the pleasure of enjoying an excellent cup of coffee.

Have you found your critique group?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer