Comments on: A Lesson from the Time Traveller http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/ Helping you find your purpose and navigate your quarter-life crisis in style Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:04:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Jolanda http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-786 Jolanda Wed, 14 May 2008 20:58:36 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-786 I'm in the seat behind you going through the same thing. I have struggled a lot and finally things become easier and all of a sudden my motivation to write is gone as well. I found out that I used writing to get away from my problems. They were a way to flee and to forget for a while. Now I don't need no way out anymore so my "vehicle" is useless. At the same time I just love to write. It makes me happy and it is my major way to express myself. So my task now is to remember what it does for me. To stop thinking and just do what I love so much. I make it way too difficult for myself sometimes and then I end up thinking all day and not write one word. Writing is almost meditative for me. So I've decided to put my novel to the side for a while and focus on my weblog and articles for my website (they're in dutch so no use to put them here I guess). Just to get the juices flowing again and to move from fleeing into 'beeing' ;-) I’m in the seat behind you going through the same thing. I have struggled a lot and finally things become easier and all of a sudden my motivation to write is gone as well.
I found out that I used writing to get away from my problems. They were a way to flee and to forget for a while. Now I don’t need no way out anymore so my “vehicle” is useless. At the same time I just love to write. It makes me happy and it is my major way to express myself.
So my task now is to remember what it does for me. To stop thinking and just do what I love so much. I make it way too difficult for myself sometimes and then I end up thinking all day and not write one word. Writing is almost meditative for me. So I’ve decided to put my novel to the side for a while and focus on my weblog and articles for my website (they’re in dutch so no use to put them here I guess). Just to get the juices flowing again and to move from fleeing into ‘beeing’ ;-)

]]> By: SpinDiva http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-769 SpinDiva Tue, 13 May 2008 17:10:24 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-769 As a military spouse and mom of four kids I get both the complacency and the changes. The changes come from my kids and their constant need for more, very active life and of course the obvious, they are growing and changing personalities everyday. Also the frequent moves throughout the world. The complacency is more what happens in my life everyday--you know, get up, do some chores, get the kids off to school, work, study, dinner time, do it again tomorrow. After a while that can get old. I need change and crave change--can't settle for "I've reached my goal" because my goal is to always have a goal. I take online classes that challenge me, currently classes that meet the requirements towards a degree, I continue to educate myself in different fitness fields, I set up projects that will keep me challenged and involved. When I get close to reaching my goal I already have another goal in mind, something else to keep me going and to keep life interesting. You have worked so hard to get to where you are, now it's time to work hard to reach new heights. Good Luck. As a military spouse and mom of four kids I get both the complacency and the changes. The changes come from my kids and their constant need for more, very active life and of course the obvious, they are growing and changing personalities everyday. Also the frequent moves throughout the world. The complacency is more what happens in my life everyday–you know, get up, do some chores, get the kids off to school, work, study, dinner time, do it again tomorrow. After a while that can get old.

I need change and crave change–can’t settle for “I’ve reached my goal” because my goal is to always have a goal. I take online classes that challenge me, currently classes that meet the requirements towards a degree, I continue to educate myself in different fitness fields, I set up projects that will keep me challenged and involved. When I get close to reaching my goal I already have another goal in mind, something else to keep me going and to keep life interesting.

You have worked so hard to get to where you are, now it’s time to work hard to reach new heights. Good Luck.

]]> By: Aleta http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-767 Aleta Tue, 13 May 2008 15:32:44 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-767 What an eye opener! My parents couldn't afford to put my brother and I through college and back then, they didn't offer grants because of high scores. I didn't want to take out student loans, so I worked full time at night, taught piano to 5 students and did substitute teaching whenever I could. I used to study through the night and take power naps. When I look back on it, I think, "I was younger and had that type of energy." But really, it's the need. Never thought of it before. So, you want to know how to fix this? Create a NEED. Something powerful for you that is a driving force. What do you REALLY want? Make it a tough goal! What an eye opener! My parents couldn’t afford to put my brother and I through college and back then, they didn’t offer grants because of high scores. I didn’t want to take out student loans, so I worked full time at night, taught piano to 5 students and did substitute teaching whenever I could. I used to study through the night and take power naps.

When I look back on it, I think, “I was younger and had that type of energy.”

But really, it’s the need. Never thought of it before.

So, you want to know how to fix this? Create a NEED. Something powerful for you that is a driving force. What do you REALLY want? Make it a tough goal!

]]> By: Leah http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-766 Leah Tue, 13 May 2008 14:59:57 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-766 I am in the seat right next to you on this ride. Some of it is just feeling plain old tired. I've worked so hard and struggled for so long that now that I don't actually have to do that to survive, the motivation sort of deflates. But, what I do want, I want so deeply, so why am I not struggling and working for it like I have done for what I already have now? When you figure it out, let me know. I didn't have words for it until just now, so that's at least a start. Thanks again! You're always there to put a label to an issue. Good for me that we have so many similar issues! I am in the seat right next to you on this ride. Some of it is just feeling plain old tired. I’ve worked so hard and struggled for so long that now that I don’t actually have to do that to survive, the motivation sort of deflates.

But, what I do want, I want so deeply, so why am I not struggling and working for it like I have done for what I already have now?

When you figure it out, let me know. I didn’t have words for it until just now, so that’s at least a start. Thanks again! You’re always there to put a label to an issue. Good for me that we have so many similar issues!

]]> By: kel http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-764 kel Tue, 13 May 2008 13:17:50 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-764 What an interesting look perspective..I had never thought of it like that. I wish I had a better response as to how I deal with complacency, but the only thing that I've found is change. I tend to get complacent when it becomes 'old hat' and I start to feel as if I am in a rut, then I no longer enjoy what I was doing and don't strive to get better. If, however I am able to change it up a bit (i.e. run in a new location/learn a different subject that is still relevant/attack a computer problem from another view point (security rather than software)) then it becomes fresh and new and I feel as if I am growing and learning therefore I want to continue. In your case that might be rather than be creative on a specific topic for your novel you could be creative on a topic within your novel or just do some creative writing on any topic...see where it leads you, you never know what lies ahead..... ~K What an interesting look perspective..I had never thought of it like that. I wish I had a better response as to how I deal with complacency, but the only thing that I’ve found is change.

I tend to get complacent when it becomes ‘old hat’ and I start to feel as if I am in a rut, then I no longer enjoy what I was doing and don’t strive to get better. If, however I am able to change it up a bit (i.e. run in a new location/learn a different subject that is still relevant/attack a computer problem from another view point (security rather than software)) then it becomes fresh and new and I feel as if I am growing and learning therefore I want to continue.

In your case that might be rather than be creative on a specific topic for your novel you could be creative on a topic within your novel or just do some creative writing on any topic…see where it leads you, you never know what lies ahead…..

~K

]]> By: verybadcat http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-763 verybadcat Tue, 13 May 2008 13:00:26 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-763 Well, how about thinking about it this way: You can't quit your job until your writing career gets off it's feet. Your goal is to write your way out of a job. You fought long and hard to get your education, presumably to get a good job. The next step for folks in your position is to rise above the rest of us worker bees. :) Well, how about thinking about it this way:

You can’t quit your job until your writing career gets off it’s feet. Your goal is to write your way out of a job. You fought long and hard to get your education, presumably to get a good job. The next step for folks in your position is to rise above the rest of us worker bees. :)

]]> By: Cynthia http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-762 Cynthia Tue, 13 May 2008 12:59:04 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-762 I feel you, I have become complacent (well more comfortable in being insecure and not going out of my box). I personally break things into mini goals since I'm such a goal oriented person (it's a hinderance, sometimes). My line of reasoning these days is to work towards the thing that I'm most afraid of. Maybe, look at a month time span and set out one particular thing you want to accomplish with your writing for that month and reward yourself with something when you finish it! I feel you, I have become complacent (well more comfortable in being insecure and not going out of my box).

I personally break things into mini goals since I’m such a goal oriented person (it’s a hinderance, sometimes).

My line of reasoning these days is to work towards the thing that I’m most afraid of.

Maybe, look at a month time span and set out one particular thing you want to accomplish with your writing for that month and reward yourself with something when you finish it!

]]> By: MizFit http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-757 MizFit Tue, 13 May 2008 09:58:00 +0000 http://semicharmedwife.com/2008/05/13/a-lesson-from-the-time-traveller/#comment-757 it's such a simple answer but mine is twofold: constantly nudging the bar a bit higher when I get close (with my writing)----like I recall doing when I taught swimming to little kids and they were finally GETTING IT...Id move ever slightly back so theyd keep swimming and do more than they ever dreamed they could. and I wanna leave a mark. no matter how tiny. that keeps me motivated to find success in new and different arenas in an effort to make a small impact on the greater world (if I can) with the time I have left. love your writing. it’s such a simple answer but mine is twofold:

constantly nudging the bar a bit higher when I get close (with my writing)—-like I recall doing when I taught swimming to little kids and they were finally GETTING IT…Id move ever slightly back so theyd keep swimming and do more than they ever dreamed they could.

and I wanna leave a mark.

no matter how tiny.

that keeps me motivated to find success in new and different arenas in an effort to make a small impact on the greater world (if I can) with the time I have left.

love your writing.

]]>