Of Failure and The Beauty of Life

Good day to you all! I must apologize for my fail on the writing prompt yesterday. I will get my piece written. I fully intended to get it done yesterday but pretty much right after I published it, my day kindof went into a downward spiral and I couldn't find the time or will to do it. You can still participate in it! And last weeks as well. There's no deadline or specific timeslot to do them in. I would love to see what you can come up with!

I was thinking about yesterday, and overall, it was an okay day. There were plenty of ups. But it was the downs that I remember the most vividly. Why is that? 

Why do we as humans allow ourselves to get caught up in the bad things in life? Why are we so caught up in our struggles instead of rejoicing in our victories and triumphs? 

I've often wondered about this. We're constantly talking about and thinking about "what could go wrong?". And not in the sarcastic sense. 

We seem to be paranoid. There are plenty of people who are optimistic! I wish I was one of them. But even optimists get the grumps. Even they can start seeing things for worse than they are. 

It makes me sad that it's so easy to see bad in people and around us. We see how polluted the skies are and we wonder what we did for it to be this bad. Why don't we remember the fields and the meadows. The untouched places where silence can seem so loud. The beauty stuns us. Let's remember those. 

Let's dwell on the good things in life. Let's remember the fields and the lilies. The sun and the great big blue sky. The people in our lives who build us up. Because life should be enjoyable. Not full of worries and cares. 

Life is a beautiful gift. Have you ever just thought about it? We are so blessed to be able to love! To see colors and appreciate beauty. To feel and to touch. Wouldn't life be boring if everything felt the same? Taste. I love food! Life would be sad if things didn't taste different. It would be bland. Smells are glorious. How different would it be without smells? We can enjoy being around our friends. We can create art. We can enjoy and play music. This is life. So why shouldn't we enjoy it? Why shouldn't we dwell on the good things? 

Your thoughts? 

Why You Should Never Say Impossible

"But that's impossible!" 

No. 

Nothing is impossible. We think it is, but what do we know? For centuries, our world thought the earth was flat. So much for that. 

Have you all seen the photo of the stick man with a staple gun held up to a tree? The caption reads; "Whoever said nothing is impossible has obviously never tried to staple water to a tree." 

But that's pretty dumb. 

As my wise and learned sister pointed out once, "you can staple water to a tree. Just fill a ziploc with water and staple that to the tree."

See? Nothing is impossible. 

So why do we act like it is? 

"I'm never going to learn to eat healthy so why even try? It's impossible to buy fresh fruits and vegetables on my budget. Ramen noodles for me." 

"It's impossible for me to write a novel so I don't think I'll even try. Maybe tomorrow." 

"I'll never get the house clean! Might as well go Pinterest some ideas for organization!" *3 hours later pinning outfits for kids we dont have and fried Oreos* 

Our generation is one of major laziness. You know it's true. More and more inventions are being sold to make our lives better when really, they're turning us into mush! (Not all of the things mind you. I'm in love with computers, ipods, and cell phones. ;) People from Wall-E? That's where we may end up if Jesus doesn't come back before then. 

But nothing is impossible. So let's pray for our generation. Pray that leaders and encouragers, hard workers and passionate thinkers, are being raised right now. I know it can be possible. I know there are people like that. 

How do I know? Well I'm alive aren't I? Kidding! I don't think I'll ever be famous. And that suits me. But I do have some friends that could do some serious damage in this world. (And by damage, I mean the good kind.) 

And I know that it's in God's hands. He will never give up on us humans. He is using extraordinary and ordinary people to change our world, one heart at a time.

As far as writers, we need to remember that no many how many rejection letters, no matter how much negative feedback, there are still those who will love our work. The negativity can only serve to make us better writers and help us develop thick skins. (For when your novel is published!) 

So never say "impossible". Because "impossible" is a rather silly notion. 

6 Worst Book-to-Movies I've Ever Seen

You know the feeling.

You fall completely in love with a book. With the characters. The story. The author. The scenery. Everything about it just makes you happy.

Then you hear the news.

They're making it into a movie!

At first you are elated. The excitement proves almost too much. But you stick it out. Finally, you see the midnight premier at the theatre.

And now. You just want to cry. They ruined it. Your characters. Your story. Your loves. All destroyed.

This has happened to me so many times I don't know why I bother with movies at all anymore.

Here is a list of the MOST disheartening of all of the worst books turned to movies.

1. Prince Caspian

This movie made me so sad...it was barely like the book at all. Peter and Caspian were supposed to be friends! And there was no romance in the book. Bacchus and his merry company were left out as well.

2. Percy Jackson and the Olympians; The Lightning Thief

I can't even watch this movie. Barely anything was like the book. It was an okay movie in itself I suppose but definitely separate from the book. I'm kindof scared for the sequel they're making. We shall see I suppose.

3. Eragon

This movie...*sigh* Brom and Murtagh were good! Durza was portrayed well I thought. (I love Robert Carlyle...) But everything else was just sadly lacking. Most people blame a small budget but still. The book was so masterfully written and sculpted. You can tell Christopher Paulini poured his soul into the series and they kinda butchered it through the movie. I was extremely disappointed.

4. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Ever. But the movie...not so much. I get that they had to change it so there was a main "evil force" or whatever, but it was just sad. C.S. Lewis hated movies and I have a feeling this movie would make him want to weep. At least the dufflepuds looked like I had imagined. :)

5. Inkheart

I'm not quite certain this should be on here. I go back and forth. Sometimes I adore the movie, and other times I can barely watch it.
The book was such a masterpiece that it would take nothing short of an exact plot match for me to *love* the movie but considering, they did a pretty good job. I just miss the magical feel the book had. The stunning characters. (Although Paul Bettany was a marvelous choice for Dustfinger. Bravo whoever made that call!)

6. The Hunger Games

Ugh. Need I say more? Madge Undersee. Haymitch's drunken appearance at the reaping. So much more, all left out. It just made me sad...I enjoy watching the movie up until they get into the Arena. But after that it gets a little too yuck for me. An okay movie overall but I was expecting a lot more. I'm so pumped to see Finnick in the next one!! Hopefully they do a better job. Catching Fire is one of my all time favorite books.

What do you think? Would you agree or disagree with any of these? Have any to add to the list? 

Why I Write

I write.

It's simple. I just do it.

But really, it's not simple.

It is and it isn't.

I write because I adore it. It makes me happy.

I feel full and satisfied when I write.

But I hate writing.

Because it exposes who I am.

I see myself clearly when I write.

And it scares me to death.

But I also love it.

It's so complicated. It feels like a tangled set of Christmas lights. It's a beautiful thing. Full of twists. Full of colors. Surprises. Light.

But also full of anxiety.

What if there's one bulb that's broken and I can't find it? What if it gets so tangled I'll never be able to use them again? What if I mess them up and they look stupid?

The fear oftentimes keeps me back.

I stop writing for a month, maybe two or three.

I staunch the flow.

Does that really do anything for my self esteem? Hiding away and not confronting things?

In reality, I just postpone the self-consciousness and the self-loathing until a later date.

I may think I'm stronger now than I was then and am thus more equipped to deal with it. But that's not true at all.

I'm timid. Scared. Afraid to expose myself. It holds me back. And when I finally just do it, I feel stronger than ever before.

I did it!

I can move mountains now! I can change the world! I can be myself without any fear! I can do anything!

I am so proud of myself. I get giddy. I reward myself.

And then it comes again. Within hours sometimes.

The self-doubt. Loathing. Fear.

I'm not good enough. I never will be. I can't do anything right.

I will never write again.

And here I am. Stuck. The pit is slowly dragging me in. Trying to eat away any creativity, goodness, inspiration, or good feeling I may have.

It works fast.

Sometimes within minutes, I am stripped back to my insecure, fearful, self-loathing inner skin.

And I am miserable.

So why do I do it?

For the feel good moments.

The moments of pure bliss when I can soar above the clouds, move that mountain, do what I used to think I couldn't do. Those moments are the best.

The very best.

They keep me going.

They are why I write.

Camp NaNoWriMo

I have a confession to make...

But first, I wanted to tell you about this really cool thing I'm doing.

It's called Camp NaMoWriMo.

Basically, people everywhere commit to writing a novel in a month. Usually this happens in November but in April and July they do a "Camp" version.

How We Are The Avengers

You and I are the Avengers.

It seems weird but really, we each have the aspects of the Avengers inside of us. They are a representation of we as humans.

Observe.

Iron Man: Iron man is the selfishness in all of us. We want to be heard, to be noticed, to be the top of the pack. We are insecure, and so we try to exalt ourselves in the eyes of others. Sometimes, as in the case of Ironman, it works. But we usually end up wanting more. It's and unhappy life we will live.