tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post4575628865316758656..comments2023-10-22T09:34:54.968-05:00Comments on Orchid and Mayhem: Easy. Breezy. Beautiful....(smirk)Sharihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15698723929756681121noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post-87059789098417374592012-05-29T20:43:40.306-05:002012-05-29T20:43:40.306-05:00Hm, the 'expounding' that I was hoping for...Hm, the 'expounding' that I was hoping for has arrived! I don't think Jeanine is precisely equating your situation with the Jones', as much as she is stating her personal position regarding risk/benefit - I only say that because I know her pretty well ;-) She knows what she isn't going to risk, and where her comfort zones and needs for growth intersect. (something I could stand to learn myself!!!)<br /><br />And, concerning people I know Quite well, as it happens, I know what a tough critic of your own work you are, so I think I still stand by my 'wolves' comment ;-) I certainly know what you mean about letting fear take the battle because I am a lily-livered fool about the process of growth relating to art - that you have to be able to see what's bad about your own choices before you can make better ones.<br /><br />Of course, that fear relates to life as well.<br /><br />Given what I know of your talent, i've wondered about the career choices you've made - Always respected them, but occasionally wished you'd surprise yourself by pushing yourself - and your writing - back out there. So know that every writer 'out there' - even ones I don't rate highly on style or mechanics - is still someone that I rate higher than me. Because they are putting it 'out there'. Like you, this summer.<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time for a thoughtful discussion, as you and I both know that it applies directly to a lot of Art.<br /><br />As well as a LOT of life ;-)<br /><br />S.Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698723929756681121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post-4800603673707931552012-05-29T17:51:53.639-05:002012-05-29T17:51:53.639-05:00Thanks, Shari. Yes, I write plays, but then I sti...Thanks, Shari. Yes, I write plays, but then I stick them in drawers and no one sees them (finally putting one out there for an audience to see this summer, which is a start). And part of the reason why I don't is because writing them is easy - REwriting them is hard. And I haven't really, consistently given myself permission to dive into the rewriting process. Anyway, it'd be like writing a blog but never posting it. What's the sound of one blog clapping?...<br /><br />Interesting that you saw through my statements about "applying myself" and realized that I was talking about risk. And of course, when one's talking about risk, one's talking about fear. Fear's a good adversary. And, fear wins pretty easily if you don't fight in the first place. Poof - game over, fear wins!<br /><br />That's pretty much what I'm realizing - that I've been "playing not to lose", which has kept me from winning. And no, Jeanine, I don't mean winning in a "beating the Joneses" way or "getting more stuff than the other guy" way, and certainly not in a "Charlie Sheen" way. By winning, I mean being able to feel good about how I've used my gifts and treated the people around me. <br /><br />Because I do feel like I've received a lot of gifts. Quite possibly more than my fair share. The one gift that I haven't received, however, is the knowledge of how to use them all. That is one thing I have to figure out for myself, and I took a big step towards that yesterday.<br /><br />Shari - I'm very glad that my admission/rant on Facebook sparked some thinking. Thank you for sharing and carrying it forward!Gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post-45269348557676705402012-05-29T10:27:10.947-05:002012-05-29T10:27:10.947-05:00Oh Jeanine :-) - I - and those who know and love y...Oh Jeanine :-) - I - and those who know and love you - would take issue with the tag 'mediocre'. You and I both know that 'accomplishment' isn't the bar to focus on, but how we feel about the outcome of our choices at the end of the day. <br /><br />When your outcomes are knowing that your family feels loved, that you took the time out for each other (whether or not it was as MUch time as you wanted!) and that you can feel like your integrity is intact when you put your head down for the night, you have surpassed 'mediocrity'.<br /><br />I would say that I have all the best intentions in the world, and can't fulfill half of them but half the time. Some days, that just has to be enough. Some days, it will never be enough...;-) you just gotta laugh sometimes....:-)Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15698723929756681121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post-37275798494255230642012-05-29T10:11:51.090-05:002012-05-29T10:11:51.090-05:00I realized a long time ago that mediocre is what I...I realized a long time ago that mediocre is what I do best. And that is ok. I know what I do well, and I know that what I do in my life makes a difference. I know that my family and friends love me for who I am and not whether my last name is Jones or what my accomplishments may or may not be. This is enough for me.Jeaninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16060553717507156009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221703311333810082.post-15123770129793205752012-05-29T08:45:07.607-05:002012-05-29T08:45:07.607-05:00Aww the joys of motherhood, housekeeping and busin...Aww the joys of motherhood, housekeeping and business planner! You wear many hats, make them cute ones! We all need to set the bar higher for ourselves, unfortunately, as we get older/wiser, we find lots of reasons why being mediocre is ok...sounds like I have given up? Nope, just a moment when I realize how many days I say I am going to walk farther and then I find excuses not to. Guess I need a ladder to set my bar higher :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com