Plodding and Plotting

Writing furiously these days. Practicing feverishly, working diligently, sleeping deeply. And living in between.

I know life gets busy. I know that we get older and time doesn't stop.
Lately I have had a taste of this.
It reminds me of Junior Year. Horrible, in terms of business.

One thing crowds out another. I spend my time between projects making mental lists of all the things I need to do. Funny. I have been learning how to prioritize. I have to. There really is no other way. All I can do is decide what has to be done next, and do it right then. My life is a constant "now." I realize that all of life is, but being in the stage has caused me to recognize more vividly what that means. Sometimes, we can put off the "now" until another "now," but I don't have any other time except "nows." Moment by moment. Anyway, back to what I was trying to say. Prioritizing. Yes. It is funny that while prioritizing is a good thing (and now necessary) it does have a problem.

See, I have had a list of things to do. It's a running list, if you wondered. One day I might put it on paper and cross off the things I get to. The things that are left get added to the next one, whether it be mental or physical. It works well until you realize that there are a couple things that never even get close to being done, because they always fall below other things. For example, I have to clean one of our bathrooms. It needs to be done, but practicing is more important. Washing my uniforms is more important. Going to a rehearsal is more important. Those are things I have to do, and so, cleaning the bathroom gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Ok, so that is just the way it works, right? Well, when several weeks or a month passes and there has never been time to reach the bottom of the list on ANY day, then there is a problem.

It has to be done, still in a way, it still falls behind something else. It is just always there. It becomes a permanent fixture. It hangs over, and drags along.

Well, last night, I sacrificed.
I had to.
It is part of prioritizing.

So... I cleaned the bathroom. It took me an hour, but it was done, and by golly it was done well. I cleaned my room too. It took me a while, but I always enjoy that especially when I can turn on music.

I can't even express to you how much better, Physically, I felt after completing those tasks.
I slept better. I wrote better. And all of today has been better knowing that things were in order at home. I knew I would not feel oppressed when I walked in my room. I knew that my clothes would be hanging up and I would not have to search for anything.

I mean, it is probably why I am on here. I had something else (far more important) planned to do, but I just enjoy sitting in a clean room so much that I feel that I can actually take a moment to write. I'll get to the other in a minute, which means I need to move on.

So, I guess I was just thinking how important it will be for me someday to keep my house in order. It provides stability. It diminishes stress. It provides more optimism. It helps so much of life.

Sometimes the little things do.

Wow, this has been boring so far. I have been rambling on as I might in a journal. Sorry to any who are still reading this.

On a different note, today I did not vote. I saw many stickers on many people at work, but I was not wearing one today because I voted early last week. It was my first presidential. A milestone has been passed! We'll have to see if anyone I voted for wins. So far my track record has not been good. Every issue I have voted on has not gone the way I wanted. Of course I have only voted once on two issues, but still... I hope tonight goes more favorably.

As to nano, I am doing my best to hang in there. I'm currently behind, but the writing is going well and as of the third day in, when I changed my writing perspective, I have not had any more problems. I do not feel constrained, and though I do not know where the story will go, that is kind of the fun of it. Each time I sit down, I get to decide how I want things to go. That is actually a freedom that I didn't enjoy last year. Also, I feel like, though I may be writing less, what I am writing is actually better this year. I am not so focused on the word count that I rush myself. I actually enjoy it and think that there might actually be some left after I edit it! Haha!

Anyway, Perseverance. Time. Sanity. and Sleep. are the things I could use right now.
Plodding along!

Have a good week!
~ A Song of Joy

Two Days In... With Glazed Eyes

A Short update here...

I REALLY don't know what I was thinking!

I'm only 1500 words in, so officially a little over a day behind, but I am not going to give up without a fight. I've been behind before.

This year will just have to be different.

And I am making myself keep my priorities straight.
Which unfortunately means that nano is not at the top of my list.

I WILL practice real, solid practices.
I WILL work the hours I am scheduled.
I WILL recover and sleep in healthy doses.
I WILL (eventually) come up with a plot.
I WILL have fun and drink tea... LOTS

I WILL NOT let Facebook, Youtube, Blogger, or Pinterest distract me.
I WILL NOT permit my inner editor to escape and run rampant.
I WILL NOT completely sacrifice my sanity.
I WILL NOT give up without a fight.
I WILL NOT forget my family.

A few things to keep in mind.
There are probably more, but it is late and my eyes are glazing over...
Goodnight to all!

~ A Song of Joy