Another Year Of Moving Forward

Birthdays seem to be coming along a lot sooner than they used to. Its like only recently I celebrated my 21st. Now that I am double that, it doesn’t seem to matter as much. So maybe because I don’t really look forward in anticipation to the next one, they sneak up quickly and slap me on the tail and say “It’s another year, congratulations.”

As for this past year in itself, it was pretty good. Took a short trip to Grafton as the floods were moving up. Began taking more pictures than years past in hopes of turning them into something more than just files on a computer. Probably wrote more emails to folks than years past for one reason or another. Started a project with Larry which hopefully will grow into something quite helpful for those who become interested in the writings to come. Began working with Terry on a few ideas which seem to move forward by going in circles.

This past year has brought opportunities which may not have been there had I taken the time to do different things. Things which were a bit beyond my comfort zone were attempted and made possible just by giving things a chance.

As one year ends, another one begins. This year will be better than the year before. And yes, you will mostly likely read that same statement in six months or so as we get ready for a whole new calendar year.

I look forward to the new opportunities which I already know exist, and anticipate the hidden opportunities which will come from these. Let’s roll.

– David

A List To Live By

When I was putting together my first ebook, ‘Que Sera Sera – The book,’ I wanted to put something in there that would pretty much sum things up. Its one thing to gather columns and put them in a collection, but it is another to have something concise that gives people short sayings to live by.

This list is what I wrote for the back of the ebook. Think of each of the 26 as a piece of advice or in a few of the cases, a MUST DO to live your life as it should be.

With all that is going on in the world as we speak, it’s necessary to understand that we most likely won’t be able to change that. But we can change ourselves. And this is how to begin.

A = Abandon what you have thought in the past
B = Believe that life can and will be better
C = Create the world you always imagined
D = Decide today to do what you want to do
E = Eat your veggies
F = Find others who will support you and you them
G = Go out there and get it
H = Have a great day, week, month, year and life
I = I am only one, but I am all I need
J = Join a group that gets you involved in something
K = Keep your eyes on the prize
L = Learn to live like a kid again
M = Make the most of those must-dos
N = Never say never
O = Open your eyes to all that is possible
P = Plan, prepare, partake and prevail
Q = Quit waiting for that perfect moment, no such thing
R = Read David’s books and articles
S = Sing as if no one will hear
T = Today is all you are guaranteed
U = Unveil the you that you once outgrew
V = Visit a children’s hospital when the world’s not fair
W = Write down what you want to accomplish
X = X-amine your thoughts and dreams more often
Y = You are in control of more than you can imagine
Z = Zip up, and get ready for the time of your life

Writing When It’s Not Your Job

What is it about writing that makes me want to make it a part of any job I have, (even when that job’s primary roles have next to nothing to do with written communication)?

Since leaving the Journal newspapers back in 1992, I have in one way or another, tried to make writing a part of my position. Not so much a priority, because the given position had different responsibilities and duties, but because I wanted to contribute something more.

I was interested in letting folks know what we were up to. How we were contributing to the institution. Who we were as a department as well as individuals. What plans we were working on. And ways we could benefit them that maybe they hadn’t thought about or seen us as possibly being involved with.

Within my recent positions, I have been co-editor of a departmental newsletter, contributor to web sites and departmental guides, voice-over guy for our front desk phone (mainly because I was there when it needed to be changed). I’ve created signs for hours and closings, written updates and notes from things which happened the week before. And yes, I have sent the occasional email (give or take a few hundred) providing information about products or services offered.

So yes, writing has been a part of my career in pretty much everything. Sometimes it became part of the job. Other times, even if it meant writing some simple semi-humorous newsletter just for our small staff, I included writing just because I could.

Now what about you? How have you chosen to make writing a part of your job (even if it really isn’t)?

Night Of Yet Another Day

Nope. I have no idea what the title of this post has to do with anything. It’s just one of those things which popped (or pooped) in my head as I opened the blog. Maybe it is because it’s night and I wished the day to be longer. Or is this some symbolic moment where the day is ending and it actually has been just another day like many others before it.

No matter the case, it is what it is. The past week has been filled with waiting, wondering, rushing only to wait. contemplations of future events and activities only to be mixed up with a few others along the way.

Anyway, what makes this day a bit different than others is the fact I am typing without the addition of a cable keeping me locked to a wall where the Internet totally runs my typing space. With my girlfriends wireless connection, I have the ability to move a whopping 32 feet away and still be able to log in and type things.. and hopefully send them.

It is a nice night, and I am still awake-getting back to my night owl days of years past. And yes, that is a good thing.

What differences have you seen this week in your own world, be it writing, work, or whatever?