Month: November 2016

Happy NaNoWriMo!

November is National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel by November 30. In 2015, more than 400,000 people from six continents participated in NaNoWriMo. More than 40,000 met the goal of writing 50,000 words.

One of the things I l love about NaNoWriMo is that there’s lots of community support. You can find local “write-ins” where you can spend an afternoon (or evening) working on your novel with other writers. This allows you to meet new people and (maybe) knock off that “write a novel” goal that’s been on your bucket list.

This is my first year participating in NaNoWriMo. I haven’t written fiction since I was in my 20s, so it is going to be a challenge. If you want to give it try, you can sign up at NaNoWriMo.

Reviewed – The Here and Now Habit: How Mindfulness Can Help You Break Unhealthy Habits Once and for All

Mindfulness and meditation are the antidotes to living your life on auto-pilot. While some of our habits enrich our life (such as automatically fastening our seat belts or brushing our teeth), others are destructive. Eating too much, zoning out in front the TV, or texting while we’re driving are not behaviors that make us feel good about ourselves.

This book describes four main categories of habits – habits of wanting (alcohol, drugs, food); habits of distraction (TV, social media, phone); habits of resistance (frustration, anger, judgement); and habits of doing (a constant focus on moving and getting things done). The author then explains how to pay attention to these habits and what they are trying to teach us, so that ultimately we are no longer attached to the habit.

Overall I found this to be a very enlightening book about paying attention to your life, written in an accessible manner. It explains the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. The final chapter, about using mindfulness to create a kinder world, is particularly important given today’s political climate.

Happy Stress Awareness Day!

National Stress Awareness Day is celebrated on November 4. It was founded in 1998 by Carole Spiers, Chairman of the International Stress Management Association in the U.K. According to the ISMA website, the goal of National Stress Awareness Day is to promote sound knowledge and best practice in stress management, both nationally and internationally. (Source)

How to write about National Stress Awareness Day:

  • Share the most stressful part about your life right now. Is this something new or something that will be resolved soon?
  • Describe how you cope with stress. What positive or negative behaviors lessen your stress (at least temporarily)?
  • Do you offer a service that helps people reduce their stress level? Write about what you do and how it can help decrease stress.

The Election … to write or not to write, that is the question

After last week’s election, many of us in the marketing world had a big problem. Do we continue as though nothing happened? Do we comment on the election? Or do we take a breather and figure out if our current approach to marketing will continue to work?

It’s a tough decision. Truthfully, for me, sending out a newsletter titled “Happy Accounting Day” last Wednesday felt disingenuous. I knew my readers were not feeling either happiness or an interest in accounting. On the other hand, I also feel that the writing services I provide are non-partisan and have value regardless of who is president.

Ultimately I’ve decided that the best decision for me (and my clients) is to continue as usual. I know that my newsletters brighten your Inboxes. I want to continue being a shining light, even when the world feels dark.

Today, write about something you were conflicted about. How did you make your decision and what did you do?