writing 101

The Space to Write

/ Luanne Shernisky / 9 Comments

snoopytyping

Because I recently moved from Pennsylvania to Florida, AND got a laptop, I no longer have a dedicated space for writing. Prior to the move, I sat at my desk (with my desktop computer) and happily typed away! Of course, I hadn’t gotten into a consistent writing habit, so I’m hoping for better results this time around. The old computer desk went to Goodwill and my desktop computer is currently housed in my son’s garage, along with the rest of my worldly goods. My son and daughter both live here in Florida, about one hour apart. I’m splitting my time between the two as I job search; but,…that’s another post! The laptop gives me the mobility to designate any area as my writing space, so I’m pleased to have the flexibility!

There are a couple of things I do require when writing. The first is quiet. I can’t concentrate when people are speaking, whether it’s to me or each other. Conversation is too distracting. Number two, I do like very soft music playing in the background…very soft. Usually classical or jazz, but nothing too lively. Depending on what I’m writing, music can evoke a lot of emotions and inspire me further. I can definitely write with total silence, but music is often a plus.

I’m flexible as far as where I write. I can stand at the kitchen counter, sit at a desk/table, or sit on the bed, with pillows propped up behind me. Where I write at any given moment depends on what else I’m doing (if anything.) Multi-tasking isn’t my preferred method for anything, as I like to focus completely on one thing at a time. However, that’s not always possible or practical. Sometimes I have to stir the soup or fold the clothes as I compose!

Required equipment for writing consists of a computer, paper, and a pencil/pen. With the world and everything in it available online, I don’t need much else. Sometimes, I use the paper and pencil to sketch an outline, or some words and thoughts. But the computer offers the rest: dictionary, thesaurus, and search engines to find everything else.

I usually start my writing in the morning. However, I seldom finish anything before evening. I like to come back and reread my work with fresh eyes. Also, it gives me time to contemplate how to tailor the message that I want to convey. Sometimes, I get a new perspective on my latest writing project,  because of something that occurs or someone I encounter.

There’s another thing that can, at times, assist the writing process.

Beer-and-wine-glassesCan you guess what it is?

Nothing like some Cabernet or a couple of Stellas (as in Artois) to lubricate the old creativity wheel! Does anyone else experience the same thing, or have some idea as to why this is? I know that I’ve read about great artists, composers, etc. who imbibed and used drugs to enhance their work. I’m guessing it’s because we let our inhibitions and fears go out the window, and this frees us to truly express ourselves. I’m open to any thoughts/feedback on this, and that reminds me….

I would greatly appreciate your thoughts/feedback on the above question, as well as suggestions on what you think I should write about. Please visit the contact page on my blog if you have ideas to share, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Quote

/ Luanne Shernisky / 13 Comments

The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates

So said Socrates when he was on trial for his life. His crimes? Not recognizing the gods of the state, inventing new deities, and corrupting the youth of Athens. Times sure have changed, right?

This Classical Greek philosopher was known for having a way with words…and questions. He developed what came to be known as the Socratic method; a form of inquiry and discussion used to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. The process works like this:  a discussion is held between two parties where one side questions the other side regarding a commonly held belief, in an attempt to refute said belief. It is a method of hypothesis elimination, in that better ones are found by identifying and eliminating those that lead to contradiction. Plato later described Socrates as a “social gadfly,” someone who upsets the status quo with persistent questions in order to challenge a popular position or belief.

I’ve come to believe that we do ourselves a great injustice by not questioning our own status quo. We grow up with a world view largely formed by our families of origin. Our sense of self is also a direct result of the collective experiences of our childhood. But do most people question their belief systems, or why they think like they do? Not often. To do so is to question our families, culture, religion, and society at large.

Looking back, I wish I had spent more time in self-reflection and preparing for my future. “Eat, drink, and be merry” was my raison d’etre. I was in my late 40s before I took a hard look at the choices I made, and questioned why I made them. Some of those choices were pretty bad:  I dropped out of college after one semester, then partied like crazy for almost six years, and stayed in an unhappy marriage for two decades. It was only after leaving that relationship that I finally “woke up.”  Living with someone who has an addiction can do a lot of damage. For me that meant isolation and building a wall to keep out the pain. The problem with walls is they keep out everything, including joy.

For many years I operated on auto-pilot, without feeling much of anything. My children were my redemption; the only real source of happiness. But, I was out of touch with so many emotions and my spirit felt crushed.

Once I left the marriage I found a counselor who helped me formulate the tough questions that I needed to ask myself, and then to look within for the answers. It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually I started to heal. I remember walking out of the grocery store and being almost startled by the beautiful sunset. Food tasted better than it had in a long time and music absolutely enthralled me in a new way!

I realized then how easy it is to lose oneself if we’re not diligent. How easy it is to go through life believing certain things about ourselves and others, without questioning if those beliefs are valid. We need to think critically about the messages we received growing up and decide if those messages are true. Without a thorough examination of ourselves we might never discover our full potential. I know this first hand and agree with Socrates; a life like that isn’t worth living.

Where Do the Children Go?

/ Luanne Shernisky / 2 Comments

My first thought when I scrolled onto this photo was,

“Where did the children go?”

Swings

My second (and immediate) thought was, “They grew up.”

Alas, we all have to do it. It often comes sooner than later for some folks. Children of families at the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum tend to mature faster than more affluent kids. They’re the ones waiting tables poolside at the country club, while their more fortunate (?) classmates are ordering chicken salad Panini and fried mozzarella sticks. I inserted the question mark because, based on what I’ve seen, some of those “more fortunate” kids aren’t more fortunate at all. They tend to be sheltered with helicopter parents orchestrating every aspect of their lives. There’s a price for all this over-attention; children who are unprepared for the real world. They grow up believing that the good things in life will come to them based on who they are, instead of what they can offer. They’re not challenged in the same ways as their less affluent counterparts. Despite attending good schools and having the best resources, they lack emotional intelligence and maturity. Their world view is narrow and their thinking individualistic. When making choices they seldom consider the potential impact on others.

Conversely, the “less fortunate” group has to work harder for fewer benefits. They take part-time jobs for spending money and expenses like auto insurance and cell phone bills. Their families are usually larger with smaller paychecks, which means everyone gets a reduced slice of the pie. They have to borrow rather than buy things like cars and money to go to college. They work harder for less. Because of this they learn early on about the collective good versus the individual good. In other words, it’s not all about them.

Not all wealthy kids are spoiled and not all poor kids are responsible. There are exceptions to every rule. However, some children have to grow up too fast and others retain childish qualities into their golden years. Chili Davis was quoted as saying,

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.”

So, my third and final thought is this:  the swings are empty because the kids grew old.