Procastinitus - it's a technical term

I've recently begun writing for another project that is not blog related (more details to come in the future). It is the first time I've had a writing deadline since college, and last week I was not coping well with the pressure. I felt like I hit a wall. Not just any wall either. It felt like the Great Wall of China. I had writer's block, procastinitus (read: procrastination issues), and a major case of "oh crap, what did I get myself into?". Have you ever been in that place before?

Each time I sat down to write it felt like steel doors closed off the part of my brain that supplies creativity. Every time I would get an idea, it remained just that, an idea. I was beyond frustrated and my deadline was looming in the near future. My thoughts were a mess and I was definitely buying into the lies I was hearing and saying to myself. You know the usual suspects, so they don't warrant repeating. I have a theory that the devil has only a few tricks that he spins 1,000 different ways. Let's face it, either we're stupid or he's an amazing liar. Maybe it's a bit of both? ha!

So there I sat having a nice little pity party. Fortunately, I have great friends. Michele talked me down from the "I can't/don't want to do it!" whining ledge, Shelby gave me some awesome writing tips to help me think from a different perspective, Jen was my resident proof-reader/encourager, and my Bible study girls were interceding for me the 2 weeks leading up to the deadline.

The true turning point came when I was reading through my twitter feed. Michele re-tweeted Rev Run and it so hit home for me:

RT @RevRunWisdom if youre under attack, its because your blessing is CLOSE! Thieves only come to loaded vaults!

At that moment my prayer changed from "God I can't" to "God, I know you having something to say through me. Please give me the words to say." I found that place of believing the truth about what God was telling me of him being able no matter if I feel like I can or not. How quickly I forget that he is God and that my battle is that the devil doesn't want God's truth to be made public.

What are you giving up because it seems too difficult? Are you willing to take that first step into your destiny even though it feels like you're walking naked onto a stage?

One last question for the writers out there. What is your writing process? All help for this novice writer is great appreciated!!

Hi, again...

So, it seems like I am incapable of blogging on the regular, but I think I'm OK with that. 1) I don't need to and shouldn't post every little thing that happens and 2) I like this no pressure blogging thing I have going on right now.

I don't really have much to say tonight other than God is so faithful. I have a lot of dreams for my life that I've tucked away because the timing has not been right yet. Friends, one of those dreams is in motion. I'm in the first steps on a path I've wanted to walk for a long time. I don't want to go into too much detail right now, but as soon as I can, I will be posting about it all!

Oh yeah! Just something fun is that I will be getting my very first business card today and in a couple of weeks I'll be going on my first business trip. By myself. I love traveling on someone else's dollar! ;)

Remembering and Suggesting

This morning as I read through the blogs I subscribe to, I was not surprised to see several 9/11 memorials. Like most, I too remember where I was and what I was doing as the events unfolded. It's something that's hard to forget.


My memory of that day is in flashes of words and emotion.

"Did you hear about the plane crash?" my classmate whispered to me as the Professor of our Middle Eastern Civilization class began his lecture.


"Florida State University has been closed due to the events of the morning..." were words I read in my inbox from the University President.

"The planes that crashed into the World Trade Towers this morning were done in an act of terrorism..." is what I heard on the news.

"Alison, I saw the second plane crash live while watching GMA." is what my mom told me when she called to check on me that morning.

"What's going to happen?" were the panicked words I asked back.

I could go on about the words I remember, but the emotion of the day is what has stuck with me the most. I grew up a little bit more that day with a greater appreciation for the fragility of a life that isn't guaranteed. I think it was the first time my generation realized that our country is not invincible. Those of us born in the 80's and 90's had no personal memory of our country in crisis. We had been through Desert Storm as kids and even lost family & friends over there, but our home soil was never compromised like it was on 9/11.

I didn't lose anyone on that day eight years ago, but I still grieved. I grieved for my friends that did lose family and for those that didn't yet know if their loved one had been found. I grieved for the collective loss of innocence of my generation. I grieved for those who died without knowing God. I just simply grieved.

Today, though, I thankful. Thankful for my life, thankful for the men and women that sacrifice themselves for the safety of my country, thankful for a better perspective on finding security in my relationship with God. Just plain thankful.

Let's end this post on a lighter note though! I don't participate in Follow Friday on Twitter, but I would be remiss if I didn't share with you three of my favorite blogs!

Amy Beth @ www.ministrysofabulous.com has me laughing out loud on a daily basis. Especially this week with her British boy and her Ryan Gosling look-a-like friend Nicholas!

Ree @ www.thepioneerwoman.com has some of the BEST recipes with loads of pictures of the food, and even tells her story going from a city woman to marrying a cowboy and living on a working ranch!

Annie @ www.hootenannie.com - priceless sense of humor...that's all that needs to be said.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
-Alison