The image above is “The School of Athens” (Scuola di Athene) a fresco created by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) which is part of the four Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. Raphael’s Rooms are the Sala di Costantino (Hall of Constantine), the Stanza di Eliodoro (Room of Heliodorus), the Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Signatura) and the Stanza dell’ Incendio del Borgo (The Room of the Fire in the Borgo)’

The first room Raphael started was the Stanza della Segnatura, and “The School of Athens” was the third wall completed. Depicting Philosophy, “The School of Athens” is one of Raphael’s masterpiece. Raphael was not specific on the identity of the figures he portrayed and left many insisting he painted the likenesses of some of his contemporaries.  The philosophers (above) include Plato or Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle or Giuliano da Sangallo in the center. Sprawled on the steps, the figure depicts Diogenes of Sinope or Socrates. While the character leaning against the cube is perhaps Heraclitus or Michelangelo.

I have stood before this fresco several times and contemplated many ideas. I read and research and digested opinions, theories, and speculations. Pratchett is correct, examining how you think gives you a conviction which influences everything you do. I notice the certainty of my thoughts appearing unbidden in my work.

What have you analyzed and how has it impacted your writing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sand dunes are shaped by the wind. When tiny grains of sand encounter an obstacle, they build one upon the other rising to astounding heights. Success dances along the shifting line delineating the dune’s windward side and its slip face. Stability on a dune is nonexistent. Gales relentlessly pound, driving sand, forcing it to the top where it slides or rolls down the opposite surface.

Achieving our targets are often just as elusive. We believe we are on the right path, the one guaranteed to bring us what we desire. But the terrain changes, the wind changes, we change. Our goals don’t have to remain static, instead, as we evolve, they can morph and develop. The choice lies in our interpretation.

What is your definition of success?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Trust me, you never want to hear me singing. The phrase ‘can’t carry a tune in a bucket applies.’ While I love music, the only time I allow myself to sing and dance is while I do my chores. I have a strict prerequisite of an empty house, and the volume cranked to ear-splitting decibels. I accomplish my work at a breakneck pace and creativity spurs me to return to my desk.

My real joy is composing as I listen to my favorite tunes. The rhythms keep words flowing and my fingers typing. It is very productive and dreamy. Though in my daydreams, instead of riding on a garbage truck, I prefer flying through town on a fire engine destined to save a cat from a tree.

Does your writing let your voice sing?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Sometimes we need to stop, to move forward. It’s difficult to do in our results-driven, 24/7/365, what have you done from me lately society. Our current culture makes it even more imperative to pause, reflect and indulge in thoughtful consideration. Rushing headlong into activities provides an adrenaline rush which confirms our existence. It can also be a potential disaster, which changes our lives in unexpected ways.

I am addicted to the thrill of living. Experiencing the highs and lows lurking around every corner is my fuel. I love incorporating these small moments into my writing. I find they are often pivot points which direct and predict our future. By stopping to consider the possibilities, we grant ourselves the luxury of making conscious judgment calls. We put ourselves in control. We determine our trajectory based on thousands of tiny decisions, minor course corrections that place us on a specific path. This is where the true fun lies.

How will today’s decisions shape your destiny?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Flag Day, June 14th is a special day as it is also my grandmother’s birthday. When I was small, we had little flags to wave around on her birthday. Sometimes there was a picnic at the lake complete with grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, an array of salads, freshly baked pies and lots of family members. They charged the kids with chasing paper plates the breeze launched from the tables like frisbees and waving our flags.

Giving small flags to school children has a long tradition. The Second Continental Congress adopted the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777. Starting in 1885 a schoolteacher Fredonia, Wisconsin, named BJ Cigrand, arranged for his students to observe the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes. He called it ‘Flag Birthday’. It took three decades of state and local celebrations before President Woodrow Wilson issued an official proclamation recognizing the day. It would require another three decades for President Truman to sign an Act of Congress designating June 14th as National Flag Day.

How will you celebrate Flag Day?

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Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer