Some days I don’t know where to start. They bombard us with top ten lists on every topic imaginable. To lose weight, eat this, run, walk, hang upside down while performing an impossible number of crunches. To ensure you succeed at work, don’t use these eight dreaded phrases, do contribute to the value-added proposition. Give 110% on every project, and don’t be that person who says “yes” to make the boss happy. Do you want to be the best parent at your kids’ school? Boy, do we have a list of must-dos, should-dos, and never-dos for you. By the way, you should indoctrinate your kids to these lists as well. It is what any decent, loving parent would do for the sake of their offspring’s survival.

Then for kicks, about every six to twelve months, they upend everything on us. You know those things we told you to do last year? Yeah, well, we completed a new study, and we have hot-off-the-press updates for you. That stuff we told you to do—turns out you shouldn’t do that anymore. Instead, how about implementing the bullet points under the heading “Avoid These Like the Plague.”

Even science is not immune to the total upheaval phenomenon. On Wednesday, The New York Times ran an article with the words “… particles known as muons suggest that there are forms of matter and energy vital to the nature and evolution of the cosmos that are not yet known to science.” Which prompted Mark Hamill to tweet, “The Force has been with us… ALWAYS.” I can’t take the constant upheaval of the world as we know it. Today, my soul is begging for an invigorating walk through the nature preserve, followed by a long, hot bath.

What is your soul begging to do today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The best thing about Saturday morning is if you sleep past your alarm, no one cares. You don’t have to wake in a panic, scramble for your phone, make excuses or apologize to anyone. Face it, if you didn’t hear the annoying buzzer, it’s because you needed the rest. Your errands and the household chores will wait until you roll out of bed because I guarantee the house-elves won’t surprise you and finish them for you.

If you are lucky, you can parlay your late start into an excellent reason to immerse yourself in your soul-restoring solitary, creative pursuits. I have no interest in watching everyone’s favorite classic film for the umpteenth time. I have bigger plans. Besides, the movie assures me I will have an hour and a half of peace and uninterrupted me time. For those of us who are always on call, it is true bliss.

I encourage this activity and often suggest a movie with a sequel or two. Do you want popcorn? Are you sure a single bag of Airheads and Sour Patch is enough? The Root Beer is in the fridge, I made Chex Mix, and pizza and hot wings will arrive in ten minutes. Everyone settles, the show starts, and I make my escape into a fantasy world that exists only in my mind.

How do you spend your Saturdays?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Certain Fridays have a greater significance than others, and this Friday calls for celebration. I can’t describe today’s importance. On the surface, nothing has changed, and yet, nothing is the same. Last night I worked late. Midnight arrived, and I didn’t stop. At 1 am. the world changed. Perhaps my perspective shifted, or the planets moved into more auspicious conjunctions, or maybe my long lost, single-minded, productivity-demanding muse whispered long-forgotten secrets in my ear.

It doesn’t matter who or what perpetrated the shift or why they chose today to finally flip the switch. I’m grinning like a fool, beyond excited, and I’m ready to double down on my goals, which yesterday seemed impossible to achieve. This morning I donned my superhero cape, tuned up my X-ray vision, and took my superhuman strength for a test drive. All systems are operating on pumped up, Give-her-all she’s-got-Scotty overdrive mode, and we are ready to roll. But what grand adventure doesn’t begin with a toast? My first order of business is selecting an excellent bottle of wine, and letting the wine escape and breathe. So here’s to cloudless blue skies, green lights, and honoring the unusual travel suggestions dictated by the gods. Happy Friday, everyone.

What makes your Friday special?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

If you were playing Candy Crush on your phone and failed to win the level, would you give up? Delete the app from your device? Would you call yourself a failure, decide to quit forever, and plop on the couch with a pint of ice cream and binge the newest Netflix series? Or would you try again, and again, and again until you succeeded? I’m guessing it’s the latter.

So, why is it when we attempt something meaningful, like earning a degree, losing weight, finding a better job, or living our dream life, we allow the first roadblock to undermine our intentions? We accept the first rejection as proof positive that we are not worthy of success. We settle for mediocrity, plodding along in a series of depressing, unfulfilling days that morph into a life where we no longer dare to dream. We pin our dismal existence on convenient scapegoats. We blame the unreasonable professor, your genetically slow metabolism, a challenging economy, and lack of opportunities.

Maybe it’s time to look in the mirror. Difficult times come, but they do not come to stay. They come to pass. Other people’s opinions do not define you. You determine your value, and you have the power to decide you are unstoppable in your quest. The result is undeniable when you believe you are unbeatable. The choice is yours, and it is as simple as taking a single step, now, today, tomorrow, and repeating the process until you win.

What first step will you take today?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Anything worth experiencing takes effort. When we lack a focused resolution, it is easy to find ourselves consumed by life’s crazy whirlwind of doubts, fears, anxiety, and hopelessness. Without thinking, we sink into predictable patterns of consuming massive amounts of data and processing complex concepts faster than any supercomputer. Feeling confused and overwhelmed, we plead for five minutes of silence. Is it any wonder we cope by vegging on the couch? Or we can make a different choice.

My alarm rings at 5 AM, and I force myself out of bed. No one else is awake, and calmness perfumes the air. I move in pre-dawn stillness as I brew my coffee. My oversized mug steams when I step onto my deck and wipe the dew from my chair. These early morning hours hold a special magic. Photographs cannot capture the beauty or brilliant promises on the horizon.

Songbirds sing, squirrels scamper, and a rabbit nibbles the tender growth in my strawberry patch. I snuggle into my warm jacket, sip my hot coffee, and discover I have found happiness. This quiet moment reminds me of the value inherent in simple things. These five minutes set me on a hopeful trajectory.

What brings you happiness?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer