This week I struggled to find my desk, and I struggled to write. Life had different ideas regarding my plans. The challenges the world presented wouldn’t deter me. I had to write. I found a pocketful of minutes, an unoccupied chair, and realized my unscheduled writing session was now or never. Laptop balanced on my knees, ignoring distractions, my fingers tap keys, words appear, and a story materializes. My surroundings fade from my field of vision, I focus, and the story sings in my ear. I write until my pocket of precious minutes expire.

This week waiting for my muse to arrive was a luxury I couldn’t afford. Undeterred, I found inspiration. I dug for the discipline to write no matter the circumstances. It didn’t matter if my writing was good.  I’ve done my best to meet my daily obligations and the promises I made to myself.

How have you overcome your writing obstacles this week?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I look forward to Spring. This year has been no exception. Here we are, the day has arrived. We made it. Why do I feel like someone stole my last roll of toilet paper? Why am I feeling let down? I considered it might be due to the perpetual rain and lack of sunshine. But that answer didn’t ring true. I dug a little deeper. There is a possibility today’s Vernal Equinox gained more importance than I should have attributed to it.

I realized the global pandemic, and mass uncertainty triggered a mindset fixated on Spring’s arrival. Scientists say our brains release dopamine, the happiness hormone, in anticipation of a reward. As we work toward a target, the shot of dopamine helps us feel good. But when you attain the goal, your dopamine levels drop. On a biochemical level, it is harder to find joy. Coupled with the realities we face, turning the calendar, felt hollow. I had been putting all my eggs in one basket.

The revelation reminded me to celebrate the journey, notice the budding trees, the emerging tulips, and the cheerful birdsongs. We are surrounded by generous, supportive, and loving people. While we mourn the upheaval and loss, this virus has unleased, we also focus on the endgame. We are blessed with the ability to create new objectives, erect fresh miles markers, and dream different, bigger dreams. Active imaginations, housed in brilliant minds, devise ingenious plans to help humanity navigate a world turned upside down.

I intend to embark on more grand adventures, diversifying my goals into multiple baskets. My first quest? More toilet paper.

Have your goals changed?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

COVID-19 has created a massive disturbance in the Force our lives. Feeling anxious, depressed, uncertain, angry, or lost are 100% normal responses. More challenges lie ahead as many confront the realities of self-isolation for the next several weeks (or maybe longer) with husbands, wives, kids, or roommates. While we love them, the prospect of spending 24/7 with them for the foreseeable future, presents a challenge. Especially if employers have tasked us with working from home.

Attitude is everything. Remaining positive, while easier said than done, helps everybody adapt. With input from every member of your household, establish a detailed schedule with specific expectations. The temptation is to treat this as an unscheduled vacation, but during chaotic times, everyone responds better with the consistency of a known agenda. We can’t control what happens, but we do choose our response. It’s an excellent idea to fact check your thoughts. If you are worried, address the concern directly, assess how likely your fear is to manifest, and explore the actions you would pursue if it happened. Talk about your concerns with your friends, family, and as appropriate, your children.

Be prepared to be overwhelmed, and be willing to do something, no matter how crazy it might seem. Stand up, go for a walk, empty the garbage, or play hide and seek. Build a blanket fort, plant seeds, bake bread, learn a new skill, and reach out to neighbors, and extended family. Take part in activities that make your soul smile and delights your loved ones. Organize a game of finding the funniest coronavirus memes, tell jokes, and have fun. You may discover being with your family is a pleasure. May the Force be with you.

What strategies are you adopting?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

This year St. Patrick’s Day will be like none ever before or any yet to be. No Chicago River dyed green. No parades. No beer glasses lifted high to toast assembled friends and family. But a mere virus cannot squelch one tradition. There will be plenty of beer and jokes, and we will wish each other well. May the love and protection of St Patrick be yours in abundance.

To start your day, here is a wee bit of Irish wit:

Alcohol! Because no great story starts with a salad.

An Irish Pub Joke – An Irish man has been at a pub all night drinking. The bartender finally says that the bar is closed. So, he stands up to leave and falls flat on his face. He figures he’ll crawl outside, get some fresh air, and maybe that will sober him up. Once outside, he stands up but again falls flat on his face. He crawls home. Reaching the door, he tries to stand up, and yet again, falls flat on his face. He crawls through the door and up the stairs. When he reaches his bed, he summons the last of his strength and tries one last time to stand. It’s no use. He tumbles into bed and is soon sound asleep, only to awaken the next morning to the sound of his wife standing over him shouting. ‘So, you’ve been out drinking again!’ ‘How did you know?’ he asks, his head hung in shame. ‘The pub called — you left your damn wheelchair down there again!’

The average human walks 100 miles per year and drinks 22 gallons of beer. That means the average human gets 41 miles per gallon.

Soup of the day: Whiskey with H2O croutons.

Today’s Special: Buy one beer for the price of two and receive a second beer absolutely free.

Pubs: The official sunblock of Ireland.

What’s an Irish 7-course meal?  A six-pack and a potato.

What is Irish diplomacy? It’s the ability to tell a man to go to hell, so he will look forward to making the trip,

Knock. Knock.

Who’s there?

Irish!

Irish who?

Irish you a happy St Patrick’s Day!

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer