Sunday, February 21, 2010

Ten Things I Learned This Week

Greetings, y'all, from Central Texas.

If we're not learning something each and every day, well then, we might as well go to our grave. Never fear. I just made that up and truly don't believe it. But you can be sure if you stop learning, you will get in a rut, become stagnant and boring, and above all else, live in a vacuum.

So, what did I learn this week?

1. First, I learned something that is obvious to most people in the world. If you are disgruntled with the government in any form or fashion, do not fly a plane into a building to get even, killing yourself as well as a few others, destroying a beautiful building, and making your wife and daughter homeless because you also set your own house on fire. (Austin, Texas)

2. Write from the heart. If you follow this tenant, you will at one time or another sell your book, receive a wonderful review, or at least, give yourself a thumbs-up. Do you always need outside approval to validate your talent and ability?

3. You have the option of becoming an Indie Author. Yes, you may have one or more books published in a traditional manner (submit, wait, get a contract, sign, see book published), but you also have options you might not have considered—publish your book yourself. I believe one day brick-and-mortar bookstores will have a section containing only Indie authors and their works. All other venues have done this successfully—Indie Movie Producers and Indie Musicians. (Austin, Texas—for example)

4. Our children, no matter their age, never do what you want them to.

5. A wealth of information and enticing stories may be found as near as your closest Retirement Home. I've become acquainted with an elderly lady who lives down the road in a Retirement Home. She's still mobile, very sharp, and appreciates the fact I pick her up and take her to our women's Bible studies. In discussions with her, I learned: she never married, spent her entire adult years up and down the west coast of Africa, working in U.S. Embassies and facilities as a trouble-shooter and organizer. She tells great stories! And what a life she's led.

6. I absolutely love ice skating in all forms—women, men, couples—and can watch it for hours. I also love speed skating and Apolo Ohno. But I do not like nor appreciate anything with the word "luge or skeleton," as both look too dangerous and downright silly. Sorry.

7. I learned that a few athletes, if they score less than their perceived worth, may whine, complain, object, act goofy, deliberately jump on the Gold Medal stand when he only won the silver, laugh during the national anthem of the Gold Medal winner, and generally act as if he were three years old. I expected him to place his thumb in his mouth. Kudos to all athletes of all nations who act like real champions, whether they win or lose.

8. I learned the thrill, however so slight, of having a fan base of readers who wait for my next book and buy it. Now, I ask you, how much more can we ask?

9. No matter how many problems you may have, someone else will always be worse off. Even though you are allowed to wallow in your misery, remember there are many less fortunate.

10. And last, but not least: Good, loyal friends are worth more than any amount of gold. (okay, I may have to rethink that one.

Have a great day!

Celia Yeary

Romance…and a little bit o' Texas

TEXAS BLUE-eBook and Print

SHOWDOWN IN SOUTHFORK—eBook

ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS-eBook and Print



Published by: The Wild Rose Press

www.thewildrosepress.com







21 comments:

  1. Celia, I love this. I used to be a fan of that particular athlete: no longer. What a horrible way to end what was a stunning career. May I never follow that lead!! (presuming, of course, I ever have a stunning career)

    Short-term wallowing, only. Then move on... what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?

    I can only hope you're right about the indie author section, although they'll mess that up, too. The indie music section is not actually independents paying their own way - it's a "indie music" genre produced by labels who pay the costs. Sad. I'd hate to see that in fiction.

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  2. 10 great things, Celia. I only hope that someday I have a fan base, too.

    If you'd like a blog award (you don't have to take it), I've listed you for the "Happy 101 " award on my blog.

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  3. Hi Celia:
    Enjoyed your "Ten Things..." A couple support my ideas, and a couple were new to me.
    Thanks

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  4. Enjoyed the post. 10 great things."No matter how many problems you may have, someone else will always be worse off."--This is so true.

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  5. LORAINE--I didn't know that fact about Indie musicians. I liked doing this kind of list. It made me stop and replay my week, and I learned "that I learned" and didn't relize it.I may do it again just for myself, to wrap up the week. Celia

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  6. LINDA--I would love the blog award. I just removed some things from my blog--uncluttered it--so I have a spot for it. Thanks! This was very thoughtful of you. Celia

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  8. CAROL--THANK YOU for stopping by. Celia

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  9. KAREN--knowing that others might be worse off doesn't take our pain away, but it allows us to step outside our misery for jusat a moment. Thank you for you comment--Not earth-shattering, but I did learn a few things!
    Celia

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  10. Celia, what words of wisdom! You tugged at my heart strings and had me laughing. If only our children would, at some point, begin to listen!

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  11. TIFFANY--Oh, sweetheart, they never do. Until they're in their
    fifties maybe and look back and say--gee, Mom was right. But don't hold your breath. Celia

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  12. Great thoughts, Celia. I missed the olympic incident but hate to see poor sportsmanship. Great post!

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  13. I enjoyed your post, but my favorite is the little elderly lady in the Retirement Home. She's a wealth of knowledge. Imagine the books that could be written from her experiences and travel!

    Get that notebook and pen out, girlfriend! This could be a best seller.

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  14. Wonderful post! I especially like no. 4 - I have experience with it. LOL

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  15. Busy week, Celia! I like reading about what you learned. You gave us a lot of things to think about!

    Liana Laverentz
    www.lianalaverentz.com

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  16. Thanks, Linda--I'm about to become Oplympic-saturated. Celia

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  17. LAUREAN--don't I wish! She does have some wonderful stories.If I had time, I'd take down her oral history...but I don't. Celia

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  18. DIANE--oh, yes, Number Four. What parent hasn't thought this? It's part of human nature for a kid to do opposite that which he should. Thanks for reading--Celia

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  19. LIANA--thanks for visiting--the idea made me think, too. Celia

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  20. Celia, As usual, I loved your post. My favorite is the elderly lady for a couple of reasons. One is your thoughtfulness in driving her to Bible study. Second is the wealth of stories a person like her has to share. I drive a friend who is 101 to our church women's group. She is an inspriation to me and has tons of stories to hsare.

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  21. CAROLINE--the sad part is that most people see her at church and think-"there's just another tiny little old lady," not seeing her a person who had a brilliant career, served her country, and met and ate with all kinds of important people of the world. She wears a unique ring. I asked her about it. she showed me the top had a little cap over a tiny bowl.She said, "Indian women have these, filled with poison, and if they don't like their husband, she dumps it into his tea!" Celia

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