Dismissing our intuition is easy. It’s dangerous to ignore that little voice whispering in your ear trying to guide you to your right path. Everyone has experienced it. Somehow you know without knowing why. Even when every logical list says go, your gut says no.  It is your unconscious reasoning. Intuition serves as a bridge, spanning the gap between your instinct, reasoning, and rational thinking.

We need tons of courage to disregard logic. It takes guts to go with our gut. I have never regretted my decision to listen to my inner voice. But every instance where I didn’t, I wished for a redo.

What is your intuition telling you?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Arborists say the absolute best time to plant a sapling is ten years ago. The second-best option is to transplant one today. Since I can’t time travel, I need to buy a tree, grab a spade and dig. The tree’s species is less important than taking action. My shovel might be borrowed, but a backhoe isn’t required. Use what you have at your disposal. Digging a pit is not an exact science. What is a perfect hole? Does it matter?

We become embroiled in perfection, caught in the trap of possessing the best tools, the latest gadgets, and glitzy gizmos, thinking they are necessary. I am a perfectionist, an expert at compiling lists of reasons rationalizing my procrastination. Instead, I commit to completing an important task and focus on the steps required to finish.

What will you complete today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Why do we wait? What makes us hesitate when every fiber of our being, screams for us to seize our dreams? Do we want to grieve time lost and ask ourselves “what if”?  What if we dared, acted courageously, ignored fear and naysayers who undermined our enthusiasm? We can’t afford to accept other’s opinions and discount our belief in ourselves. We have today with no guarantees for tomorrow, next week, or years from now. Why should we compromise, settling for a path which forsakes our true vision?

Change can be difficult and stressful but continuing along a route that does not honor our inherent integrity creates deep-seated anxiety. Change can also be a positive force. Transformation exhilarates us, creating dramatic shifts and relieves stress as we move toward making life reflect our inner truth.

What are you waiting for?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Doing nothing is an impossible assignment for me. It is a foreign concept. Literally. They call it Niksen, Dutch for the art of doing nothing. It is uncomfortable, feels wasteful and smacks of evil. Yes, evil. Have you not heard “Idle hands are the devil’s playthings”? They attribute the quote to Benjamin Franklin so it must be correct. Yet, when do we do nothing? No checking our phones, texting, or binge-watching the entire season of the latest “must see” tv while we eat dinner. They teach us engaging in busyness is vital, predictive of our success. Inactivity means we are not contributing to society, we are unproductive and lazy.

Is it true? What are we producing when we view a tv program? How productive are we flitting and fluttering from task to text, juggling our overscheduled lives? What if we took a moment to revel in the rising sun’s beauty, while we sip our morning coffee? Would calmness and peace influence our entire day? Would we boost our daily productivity, increase our creativity, make us better problem solvers, and improve our mental health? Perhaps an experiment is needed.

What are your thoughts on doing nothing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This week has been odd with the holiday folded into the middle. It fractured my routine, leaving some required tasks, unfinished. A missed workday doesn’t mean my to-do list is any shorter. We must pick up the slack somewhere. Enter Saturday, the ultimate flex day, the precious catch-up hours designed to prevent this week’s work from derailing the plan.

Scheduling flex time is a long-standing habit I began while I was in school. Crazy, intense, demanding calendars are my life, but I also like to have fun. A lot of fun. And I hate missing spontaneous events because my agenda owns me.  By giving myself a buffer, I gain flexibility and reduce my stress.

Do you use Saturday as your catch-up day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

There are advantages to operating on energy saving mode. It forces you to do away with nonessential tasks. Eliminating the distractions running in the background gives you the space to clear your mind. With the noise silenced, your thoughts can wander. You can reflect. There is freedom in letting yourself explore untraveled paths and imagine beauty. You remember the joys of daydreaming.

People considered this practice selfish and a waste of time. But history is full of individuals who lived in their imaginations. Dreamers like Einstein, Newton and the Bronte sisters lead the list. There are studies which suggest a link between positive constructive daydreaming and success. Reflective thinking unlocks alternatives you might not have otherwise contemplate. By allowing ourselves to imagine our future, to consider positive outcomes to various scenarios you visualize and plan for happiness.

Are you using your daydreams to construct your future?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Watching brilliant-colored fireworks explode over the lake followed by booming concussions is a fond memory. It is a real-life example of light traveling faster than sound. I associate firework displays with Fourth of July Parades, windblown picnics, blankets spread across sandy beaches under a dark night sky and waiting. Not the anxious waiting we experience daily. It is something delicious. This is calmness, which provides space for deep breathing and savoring the exquisite anticipation of the coming nighttime show.

This is the reason I look forward to this holiday. There is no frantic rushing around, no expectations to meet or strive to exceed. Rockets bursting in air delight our eyes. The explosions penetrate and shake our souls awake. They make us smile and laugh and remind everyone they are alive. Even the smallest of hometown performances cannot disappoint the gathered crowd. Who could be disappointed by joy?

How will you celebrate your holiday?
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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Graduation parties amaze me. Usually, the happy graduate declares they have finished their education. A wise man once stated successfully completing your schooling only proves you can be taught. He further said graduating was the initiation into the real world of meaningful learning.

That wisdom has proved true. High school and college only scratch the surface. Life is a brutal taskmaster, sending insurmountable obstacles, pitching us into harsh conditions and demanding that we adapt, change and overcome. If we paid attention in class, we gained the basic skills to meet the world head-on. It remains for the novice to apply the basics and learn more than we ever thought possible.

What will you learn today?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Entering a library reminds me of walking into a sacred space. Hushed silence, the sight of leather-bound ancient tomes, and the heady aroma convey an aura of wisdom and knowledge waiting for rediscovery. Rows of shelves tower high overhead. Each shelf overflows with volumes holding countless thoughts, dreams and personal revelations of a multitude of humans. They may have lived decades or hundreds of years ago. Opening a book allows me to experience a part of their lives.

The library gives me the impression I am standing on the shoulders of giants. I gather my research materials, spread them on the table and set to work. Hours pass in the blink of an eye. Not everything is online, and you can’t investigate historical details in a bookstore. Thankfully, my library has added a coffee shop.

Do you spend time in your library?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Owning books is a joy. I appreciate seeing my dear friends staring at me from their homes on my bookshelves. I relish running my hand across their spins and visualizing the words, worlds, and adventures we experienced together. These are my true companions and I am determined we will never part company. I enjoy reading eBooks and listening to audiobooks, but they can’t compete with the tactile aspects of a real, hardcover book.

I am lucky so many purchased volumes populate my bookshelves, but I also exercise my library membership. It is not unusual for me to have five or six on loan at any point. It comforts me to know that money is not a barrier or an excuse for not reading different genres. The library is a great resource for indulging without making a financial commitment. I am more likely to purchase a book I have borrowed and read from the library so it can find a home on my shelves. These copies I recommend to friends or lend to family members.

Do you supplement your purchased books with library books?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer