When Life Doesn’t Give You a Chance to Write – Be Grateful Anyway!

/ Marcia Meara

Lately, it’s been one thing after another, eating up my days, and getting in the way of my being able to finish the next tale from Wake-Robin Ridge. I’ve been fretting and complaining. A lot. If it’s not my health, it’s my dog suddenly developing seizures, or my daughter’s cat (in a frenzy of loving all over me) suddenly biting about halfway through my lower lip. You know. Things that come along out of the blue and really mess  up your plans for the day. (Don’t worry. The dog is now on a medication that seems to help, and my lip is almost healed.) But suffice it to say, I have not been in the best frame of mind for a few weeks. 

I wrote this post (below) for my beta blog this morning, and thought I might pass it along here, in case any of you are going through a rough patch. I know at least two of my favorite online friends are, and–as is the way of life–probably many of us have had a bad day or two recently. Hope my personal thoughts on the subject help some of you regroup and refocus. (Heck, I hope my thoughts stay in my head long enough to help ME regroup and refocus!) Here they are, for what they’re worth. 

“Sometimes I need a reminder that the only thing in life we are truly in control of is how we react to it. Going forward with hope, faith, good will, and an ability to roll with the punches is the only practical approach, if you ask me. With that in mind, I’ll write when I can, and be grateful for every day when it’s a possibility.

On the other days, I’ll do my best to handle (and often, enjoy!) whatever else life has given me at that moment. Gratitude for my blessings is a must, too. And WORRY NEVER HELPED ANYTHING!! So I am trying to let go of that and be happy with each day I’ve been allotted, even the ones that aren’t a barrel of fun. And, oh yeah: more laughs, fewer tears!!”

There. I think I’ll work all of that up in cross stitch! Hahahaha. 

Hope all of you are remembering to live life in the moment, and enjoy every one of those moments to the best of your ability. Let go of the bad stuff as soon as you can, and hang on to the good stuff with both hands!! 

I’m grateful for every one of you! 

❤ ❤ ❤

37 thoughts on “When Life Doesn’t Give You a Chance to Write – Be Grateful Anyway!”

    • Thanks, D. I’m in a good place today, because I made myself step back and regroup. And I know these setbacks are temporary. 🙂 Have a great day, yourself! 🙂 ❤

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  2. Thanks for sharing and for the advice and I hope things take a turn for the better. Your advice is great. I try to imagine how will I feel about something in a few years and take a step back. Not always easy at the time, but we get there eventually. All the best, Marcia. ♥

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    • I like your idea of imagining how you’ll feel about things in a few years. Usually, we look back on bad times with much more perspective than we have during them. So taking a glance at it from the future is a pretty smart trick. I’m feeling much better about things today, now that I’ve stopped tearing out my hair, regrouped, and accepted that I’m not in charge. All I have to do is work with what I’m given each day, and I’m ALWAYS given good things in the mix, too. I’m focusing on those, and I’m done with fretting over stuff I can’t change. 😀

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    • Exactly, Duke! And while weeds do need to be pulled from time to time, they shouldn’t be the focus of our gardening efforts! Once that happens, we forget to look at the roses! Thanks for stopping by today and taking the time to comment. Have a great Sunday! 🙂

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  4. Not enough time for cross stitch, Marcia!
    I’m still wincing at the cat bite. It must have been such a shock to go from quiet contentment to sudden pain. You can’t even give the beast a stern talking to – it’ll just stare back and you won’t know what it’s plotting next.
    Glad the meds seem to be working for your wee dog, but I do know that you hoped to be able to get on with your writing during this fortnight and it must be frustrating to have all of this, plus your own health issues.
    However, you’ve managed to turn the thing on its head and philosophise your way (and mine!) into a better place. You’re right, worrying achieves nothing except to focus on the negative and wear you down. There’s always something to be thankful for, even if it’s not immediately apparent.
    May your wheel of fortune have reached its lowest and start turning in the right direction.
    ❤ 3 =^..^=

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    • Thanks, Trish!

      The cat bite WAS a shock, all right. There’s me with blood dripping down my chin, and hurting like mad. (Imagine biting the inside of your lip or your tongue about ten times in the same spot, at once!) I learned a valuable lesson, though. Maui nips when he purrs, so I don’t let him near my face. He’s an adorable, funny little cat, and had no intention of hurting me, but I’m not going to give him an opening to do it again, that’s for sure.

      I did plan to write every day last week, and that actually happened only once. I was VERY frustrated (read, MAD) about that. But then I took a step back and realized that getting upset was useless. Life had other ideas, and in the grand scheme of things, all is still well. So I’m reminding myself to accept that my plans will be changed from time to time, and I’m not going to throw what we call a “hissy fit” every time that happens. A waste of energy, since hissy-fitting doesn’t fix a thing!

      I’ll just keep working on my book when I can, and it will get done exactly when it’s supposed to. And in the meantime, my dog didn’t have a seizure yesterday for the first time in five straight days and is sleeping peacefully at my side. My lip is almost healed. My daughter and family are on their fabulous cross-country trip to Denver, and making an adventure out of every day. (I’m getting fantastic pictures. Tonight, they’ll be camping somewhere in the mountains on this side of the country, and Niagara Falls and Mt. Rushmore are on their itinerary in the days ahead.) Our garden may not be restored, but it is looking better and better. We have a roof over our head and food on our table, and BLESSED air conditioning keeping us comfortable.

      Life is GOOD when you count your blessings and not your problems. 😀

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  5. Life!
    It really does get in the way, doesn’t it?
    Mine is still not settled down fully, but I got back to some writing by first doing a couple of non-fiction commissioned articles – I don’t have to feel creative to do those. Then today – yes, right now! – I’ve started a new book!!!
    I only have a vague idea of the plot, but I made the decision to write one of my favourite characters – Cassie, the water sprite – rather than attemp book #4 of the Five Kingdoms (yet) which is going to take a lot of planning. I’m leaving the subconscious to work on that.
    Cassie’s rather jaunty, snarky outlook on life is something I can empathise with right now, so I’ve taken the plunge while I wait for the next slice of life to knock me down again. Hopefully not, but we shall see.
    Hope your life lets up on you soon!

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    • Yay for you, Debby! Moving on to the next project is an excellent way to improve everything in your life! Nothing like a new focus to help you past a rough patch, and you’ve certainly had one! But I believe that we are always at our best when we are doing something we love, especially when it’s a creative endeavor. And writing about Cassie is a great idea! That’s how I feel when I do a novella with Jake, Dodger, and Azrael. It’s a change of pace in your creative thought processes, which is a healthy thing, I think, and will let you return to the Five Kingdoms rested and restored, and rarin’ to go!

      Keep us posted on how it’s going, and here’s to the healing force obtained from the pleasure of writing! 🙂 ❤

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  6. Looks like you are on the right track, at least if you follow your own sage advice!! We all need these reminders from time to time. Love the quote! Nothing like a love bite from a cat. Maybe she needs to be named Drac! Glad the dog is feeling better. Hugs from me and Dot.

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    • So far today, it’s working. And I’m glad you liked the quote, even if I was quoting myself. 😀 I think I made perfect sense! 😀 I firmly believe everything I said to be true, if I can just remember it and apply it each day. That’s often easier said than done, but I’m going to give it a renewed effort!

      And you are right on the love bite from the cat. Holy Moly! And the funniest thing is, this little boy only weighs maybe 6 pounds or so, yet as we try (a little bit each day) to introduce him and his sister to OUR cats, he is an absolute terror. I have one cat (the older statesman) who ignores his shenanigans, but the other three? OMG. If Maui makes one little lunge in their direction, they all run for the hills. And my biggest one, Rhy, weighs over 20 pounds. He’s used to bossing everyone around. But for some reason, Maui terrifies him. (Maybe he heard me scream when I got bitten?) 😀

      It’s going to be an interesting couple of months until we fly them out to Colorado to reunite with my daughter and family. 😀

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  7. Glad your dog is doing better with the meds- and your poor lip!
    I’ve taken a step back from writing to spend more time with DH (darling hubby) and my mom, who’s not doing so well. I’m stressing a bit because there are deadlines to be met, but it’ll all work out in the wash- I hope!

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    • I’m sorry to hear about your mom, but I understand Life necessitating a step away from writing now and then. I hope my thoughts above might inspire you a bit to let go of the worry and focus on being in the moment. The writing will be ready when you are.

      Thanks for your kind comments about Maks. He’s still doing well. If we make it TWO full days without a seizure, it will be absolutely lovely and could indicate we’ve found the answer. My lip is almost healed, so no worries there, though at the time, it was a very unpleasant disruption, for sure. 😯

      Take care, Jacquie, and hope you’ll stop by now and then to let us know all is well. 🙂 ❤

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  8. Glad the meds are working and your lip is healing up! Thanks for the reminder for those trying times in life to be grateful for each day we are blessed with.

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  9. I try very hard not to worry about anything these days for I had a wake-up call a few years ago. My stress levels soared out of control and I had a heart attack. The medication I have to take every day always reminds me what can happen if I forget to chill out…
    These days I do the best I can and move on. There is always tomorrow…

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    • I like that idea, Robbie. In fact, I could have done with just one or two things, but if three will buy me some breathing space, I’ll take it! 😀 Yep. Someone once said Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making plans to do something else. (Paraphrased somewhat). That’s really the truth of it. The trick is learning to think on your feet and roll with the punches. (Easier to say than to do.) 😀 Thanks for the kind thoughts. 🙂 ❤

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    • You’re welcome, Staci, and thank you for your kind thoughts. Maks STILL hasn’t had a seizure since Friday afternoon, which after 5 days of them, seems a miracle even of itself. I am cautiously optimistic that this medication will be an effective management tool! Lip is almost well, and I don’t put my face next to Maui’s anymore. Lesson learned. 😀 Still haven’t written a word in a the past week, but I have high hopes for this one. And I’m sending you loads of happy, healing thoughts and prayers, too, my friend! 🙂 ❤

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  13. Good reminds Marsh – one day at a time is my motto!. Keep buckled up girl, Mercury Retrograde has already shown her presence it seems. Officially the ride begins Friday! Only 6 more weeks to contend with lol. Keep smiling. ❤

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  14. And then your AC goes out last weekend! Hope you can come back to this post & remind yourself of the positive outlook you have bestowed on all of us. Did you get the dang AC fixed & are you living in luxury once again? I hope so!

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    • Thanks, Lisa! We had to buy a new one. The compressor blew apart and there was no repairing it. It was the longest 5 days of my LIFE, I swear. But I survived, and that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, as they say. The cool air is blissful! Unfortunately, there was a problem getting the new air handler into our attic, and the ceiling was damaged a bit around the opening, but that will be fixed Saturday, no cost to us. In the meantime, I’m doing the happy dance. I’m COOL again! (Well, not by some standards, of course, being a 75-year-old granny and all, but I’m no longer sweating!!! Yay!)

      I stand by my words, though sometimes it is easier to say than to do, for sure. But I’m working on it every day, and generally speaking, I’m pretty grateful for most of the things that have come my way. 😀 So, three cheers for positivity! 😀 ❤

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