What does it mean to clean a room mindfully? It means to go slow, to appreciate each and every item in the room. As you clean, ask yourself how you feel about each item and what each item means to you. What emotions do you associate with each item as you pick it up, dust it, polish it, etc. Explore feelings of self-appreciation. Appreciate your physical ability to clean: the ability to bend, stretch, lift, and carry. How does the room feel when you’re finished cleaning? How do you feel?
Mindfulness Journaling:
After completing the ‘Clean
a Room Mindfully’ activity, describe how both you and the room have changed.
How do you feel now that the chore has been completed? How does the newly
cleaned room make you feel?
Mindfulness journaling can be very
private. However, I would love to invite you to comment below and share your
experiences with the ‘Clean a Room Mindfully’ exercise.
Check out
my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you
never miss an episode!
I’m certified in Holistic Stress Management and Mind/Body Fitness. I’ve been practicing Mindfulness for 10+ years and am passionate about helping others in their pursuit of a more mindful existence.
Alita is a creation from an age of despair. Found by the mysterious Dr. Ido while trolling for cyborg parts, Alita becomes a lethal, dangerous being. She cannot remember who she is, or where she came from. But to Dr. Ido, the truth is all too clear. She is the one being who can break the cycle of death and destruction left behind from Tiphares. But to accomplish her true purpose, she must fight and kill. And that is where Alita’s true significance comes to bear. She is an angel from heaven. She is an angel of death. Written byAnthony Harmon
MY 2 CENTS:
Writing/Story: ★★★★
This movie was Based on a graphic novel series by Yukito Kishiro. I haven’t read the graphic novel series so I can’t compare them to the movie. I’m just reviewing what I saw on screen and I personally think that James Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis did an awesome job with the adaption and that Robert Rodriquez was exactly the right director to bring it to life.
Right from the start of the film, you are swept away in this mysterious, dangerous new world where nothing is as we know it today yet the societal struggles of class are all too familiar.
The only think I really had a problem
with was the unnecessary romantic storyline. I didn’t really believe the
relationship between Alita and the local boy who falls in love with her.
Cinematography: ★★★★★
I don’t usually call out the cinematographer by name, but this film was so much fun to watch and the imagery that Bill Pope gave us on screen was truly beautiful. The world created in this film is stunning and the effects are amazing!
The motor ball scenes which depict this
world’s sporting event are insane. Basically, the players go around a race-track
with a metal ball that they have to capture. Its violent and fast-paced, and so
exciting. As a movie goer, I was drawn right in.
The visuals in this world are insane!!!
The fight sequences are so exciting. I love a strong female character, but I do
think that Alita is a character than all movie goers can enjoy.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★
Rosa Salazar was fantastic as Alita and the special effects associated with her character were astounding. I will definitely be checkout out more of her work.
Christoph Waltz was good as Dr. Dyson Ido. You could really feel his fatherly love for Alita as well as his internal struggle with what he was doing just to survive.
I’m a Jennifer Connelly fan but with this film, I felt that her character was really under-utilized. There just wasn’t much character development with her character. I felt like they could have done so much more with her.
Mahershala Ali was another actor that just felt stagnant in this film. There wasn’t much to his character. He was a puppet and I felt like just about anyone could have played his role.
Keean Johnson who plays Hugo, Alita’s love interest, actually surprised me. No, I didn’t believe the romance between them, but he did a great job with his internal struggle. He so desperately wanted to get up to the upper world and will do, and has done, literally anything he has to do to get there. Then, when he meets Alita his starts to struggle with some of his decisions.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“This is just a body. It’s not bad or good. That part’s up to you.” ~ Dr. Dyson Ido
“You’ve been given a chance to start over with a clean slate. How many of us get that?” ~ Dr. Dyson Ido
TO SUM IT UP:
Overall,
I loved this film. I’ve seen some less than flattering reviews on it, but I
really enjoyed it and think it was a lot of fun. Sometimes you really just want
a fun, strong, unstoppable character and that’s what you get with Alita.
Have
you seen Alita: Battle Angel yet? If you have let me know, in the comments
below, what you thought of it!
Check out my YouTube channel and the video
review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
US residents only. Receive a FREE eBook download code for Awaken (book 1 ~ the Blood Angel Series) when you purchase the Sector C Series three (3) eBook package ($12 plus $1 shipping and handling fee)
$13.00
Set in a futuristic dystopian where society is governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes, selection students are sheltered and raised in a deceptively utopian world. Strict rules are imposed to control population growth, education, and even personal interactions with other members of the Sector, all in the name of safety. When ‘A’ comes of age, she like all youth throughout Sector C and her selection classmates aren’t sent out into the world to find jobs, make money and lead happy carefree lives. They are forced to endure the rigorous physical and mental testing of Selection Week before choosing their destiny or being forced into a fate far worse. Those that make it out alive are announced as sector residence, given a position within the society, and allotted all the privileges of their chosen “culture.” However, when your only choices are vampirism, lycanthropy, breeder, blood donor, or banishment to the Wastelands, what choice do you really have? Suspenseful, intense, passionate, and awash in paranormal delights, Sector C captures the enchantment and mysteries of the supernatural world and the power of friendship.
In the future, most of the world is governed by a council of vampires and lycanthropes. Sector residents are offered the freedom to live as they desire provided they stay and abide by the laws handed down. After being jolted awake by the blaring screech of the sector alarm, Zelina is dragged from her bed, gagged, and tied to a chair. Confronted with the brutal murder of one of her former classmates, she realizes that all eyes are on her as the primary suspect. Whether she was involved or not doesn’t matter. In the eyes of most sector residents, and most Council Members, Zelina is already a pariah—feared for the powers she will certainly come to possess. For she is the first human known to have both vampire and lycanthrope blood flowing through her veins. Zelina will find herself on a gripping adventure that will take her beyond the borders she’s known all her life in an attempt to save those she loves—and herself from becoming The Hunted.
Change is happening all around Zelina and with it a prophesy is revealed. Is Zelina the key to unlocking a new way of existing on earth? What will she do when she discovers the true monsters of Sector C – the darkness that feeds off of the fear and the unknowing. Will she be able to suspend her own disbelief about what is possible and secure a new future?
With the help of Merick, a motley crew of defectors, and a host of unexpected allies, Zelina bridges space and time in an attempt to bring forth a new future for all sentient beings.
Join Zelina, Merick, and the others as they discover the power of the prophesy and their parts in setting their stagnant world free.
When you purchase the 3-book package above (The Chosen, The Hunted, and The Bridge) you’ll receive a FREE e-book download code for Awaken (book 1 ~ the Blood Angel Series).
Awaken is set in a world very much like our own, yet Atlanta isn’t just an ordinary city and Alee isn’t just an ordinary girl. Having barely survived her childhood it will take the death of her father for the truth of her true bloodline to come out. Even if it means losing her life, or at least her identity she won’t be able to escape her true destiny as the first surviving Dhampir in history. Surrounded by a new world where the horror films she grew up watching have become reality and the most unlikely characters have become her lifeline, Alee will struggle to find herself and her purpose if she hopes to survive.
Complete this thought: “I wish an alarm would notify me whenever…”
I
wish an alarm would notify me whenever it was time to wake up and go to school.
I’m twelve years old and I haven’t been to school in almost two years.
I
miss it.
It’s
funny, when I was going to school every day, I hated it. Sure, I liked seeing
my friends and recess of course, but sitting in a class, listening to the
teacher talk all day… I can’t say I enjoyed that.
But
now, I miss it.
I
guess you always miss the things you can’t have; the things that are taken away
to early.
You
see, where I’m from, if they find out you have powers that can be useful to the
government, like mine, you’re carted away to the Operation Atlas headquarters. I’m one
of four watchmen with the power of telepathic perception. Basically, it is the ability to receive information from another mind. It’s more complicated
than that, but you get the picture.
I have alarms that wake me up, tell me when to eat, when to leave for work, when to sleep, and just about everything else. My movements are monitored and I can’t do anything out of order or without permission. For once, I’d love to sleep late, skip a meal, play outside, or just go to school.
There are times, first thing in the morning before I even open my eyes, that I forget where I’m at. I forget about the ten-foot by ten-foot whitewash room they keep me in. I forget that I’m not just another normal kid. Those first few seconds of the day are my favorite. But lately, they’ve been happening less and less. I think I’ve started to forget… forget my past, my friends, even my family.
Alright,
now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in
you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing.
Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
Complete this thought: “I wish an alarm would
notify me whenever…”
What books have made your August reading list? Check out the New York Times bestsellers for August 2019 by CLICKING HERE!
Are you an author who is looking for ways to stay organized and on track with all your writing goals? Check out my author workbooks below. They are full of all the tools I use in my writing process!
Are you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel
Jason Ranieri was often asked when
he would run for office. According to Ranieri, this was because of what he
called the “father factor”. “My father was a politician and if your father is a
blacksmith, chances are the boy will do the same,” said Ranieri.
Initially, Ranieri seemed destined
to follow in his father’s footsteps. In his freshman year at Worcester State
University, he was elected class president. After college, he became a member
of the political activist group M-power. During his tenure, Ranieri
successfully reinstated Massachusetts’ health coverage of eye and dental exams
for those in need through the state’s House and Senate.
Now Ranieri is devoting time to a
new passion: writing. So far, he has published two books and three short
stories on Booksie. However, the “father factor” still finds ways to influence
Ranieri’s writing. His latest novel is a political satire.
The Story of Polka Dots and Politics
Q: Where did you get the inspiration for Polka Dots and Politics? How did the story come to fruition?
A: The inspiration for Polka Dots and Politics came from political happenings in my younger days. My father was a politician and if your father is a blacksmith, chances are the boy will do the same. Many people would ask me when I would run? The story is the result of that “father factor”. A factor that can influence and upon doing so inspire.
Q: How did you come up with the title of the book?
A: I came up with the title Polka Dots and Politics by viewing the complex characters that surrounded me in this book as “polka dots”. Each person is a “polka dot”. Although a difficult pattern to wear, it is a style that is unique like the characters of this book, the “polka dots” were the chess pieces and politics was the game. The only game in town.
Q: Which characters, especially the fictional Ranieris, are most like you?
A: The characters most like me I would say would be Ernie Taft and Joseph Ranieri. Ernie had a laid-back attitude, political insight, loved History and had a sense of adventure. I graduated Cum Laude in my major, History, traveled America for a year and a half and am a born-again dude. Joseph would grab the bull by the horns and make friends with that bull. As he did all living things. He was a philosopher and artist much like myself. I am a vegetarian also. Animals are people too. Joseph loved all animals great and small.
Q: Have any of your relatives or friends read the book yet?
A: I gave most of my relatives and friends a copy. They enjoyed reading the character portrayals and laughed at the humor. The exaggerated plot put a larger than life twist to a satirical story that invites them to cast a ballot for the main character.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from your novel?
A: I hope readers take away from my novel that politics is a learned behavior. The door begins to open when we focus on what’s working and what is not. Hopefully, we can become informed voters and not just rely on the influence of others to decide who we vote for. We must hold our politicians accountable. They weren’t born that way but somewhere along the line, they learned behavior that encourages democracy. Democracy is a form of government where the people decide. If a politician wants to win then please the people. Some politicians will say and do anything to this end. Those aren’t leaders they’re something else.
A Look Back at the Writing Process
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a writer?
A: I enjoy the process of writing. The actual writing and completion of the finished work is very rewarding. What we say is not as important as what we write because of the process that goes into writing. I like brainstorming also which forces me to become creative. Thoughts and ideas must be developed and I enjoy the method of procedure that results in a well-written story.
Q: What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you?
A: The most challenging part of the writing process was constructing original characters that would become the “polka dots” of the story. Each one of them had to be believable. The outlandish circumstances that they found themselves in prove that small-town politics can be fun, glorious, and exciting.
Q: What advice would you give to new writers?
A: Those who wish to travel on a path within the continuity of space and form as a truth-seeker begins to recognize purpose, will, and intention. Having a purpose is not as important as serving a purpose. Thinking and feeling our purpose enough when combined with will and intention.
Will you catch me a fish? The
intention is to feed myself. In Zen, the act of doing leads to a deeper understanding.
For example, I may explain how to write. I may show you a film about writing a
book, nothing will increase your understanding about writing then actually
writing so if you want to learn how to write then write… simple as that!
Q: How did you feel when you saw your e-book available on Barnes and Noble for the first time?
A: I was very thrilled and excited. I feel I can get my book into the hands of a lot more people and thus sell more copies. I believe the reviews of the book will be great. I would love for all of you lovers of political, comedic wisdom to purchase a copy for only $3.99 and write a few words about my unique style, original expressions and overall satirical glam.
More About Jason
Q: What was your childhood like? Were your parents into politics?
A: My childhood was a time of great learning. I was disciplined in the ways of Jesus of Nazareth and politics. Religion and politics, the two subjects you don’t mention in polite society, but my parents often did.
Q: Were you allowed to date anyone who shared opposing political views?
A: Dating someone with opposing political views is never easy. One summer I dated a girl with dreadlocks who practiced witchcraft. My parents thought I was becoming a pot smoking, communist, Satan worshiper. I just liked her smile.
Q: Out of all the genres out there, why political satire? How did you develop your passion for politics?
A: I chose to write a political satire because I like political cartoons. They capture the absurdity of bad public policy and politicians. The drawings reveal a lot but a story can reveal so much more. I developed my passion for politics by studying History, working on campaigns, becoming Freshman Class President, joining the Massachusetts Leadership Academy and lobbying for eye and dental exams for those in need through the Massachusetts House and Senate.
Q: Are you a fan of Lewis Black or Bill Maher?
A: They both have a good grasp on current events and use critical, comedic commentary. I am a really big fan of George Carlin. He was once quoted as saying, “Politicians claim they are serving the Nation. I am in public service. Yes, I like America. The food is great but the public service is terrible.”
Q: Who do you hope wins the 2020 presidential election?
A: I hope whoever wins the 2020 presidential election will be honest and trustworthy. I would like to see Bill Gates as president. He’s highly intelligent and a great philanthropist. He would focus on the environment, curing disease, education, poverty, and technology.
Q: Do you have any books planned in the future?
A: Yes. I wrote the poetry book, The Good Old World. It contains 33 original poems that are all songs I sing as I’m also a musician. Please YouTube (Jason Ranieri) you can hear some of the songs. Check out “Fixing to Die” an anti-war political protest song.
My third book will be a book of
essays which I have already begun. Essays like “Man of Peace” and “Industry of
Insanity” are hard-hitting, controversial reports exposing hypocrisy and
institutional fraud. The majority of works are thoughtful, provocative articles
which challenge the conventional wisdom concerning issues of importance. The
essays have something new and significant to say. For the quality of writing, I
make points clearly and in a way that holds the readers’ interest. A reader
should not have to struggle to guess an author’s meaning. The essays contain
social and ethical commentary in a broad sense, religious and ethical perspectives
on society, culture, medicine, music and more.
Q: Where can readers go to learn more about your upcoming projects?
A: I plan on making 3 compact discs of 11 songs each from the poetry book, The Good Old World. Furthermore, I’m currently in contact with Taleflick. They are a company that turns books into Hollywood movies. A future project is to turn Polka Dots and Politics into a film. Please follow me on Facebook to learn more about my upcoming projects. You may email me at jason.ranieri@mail.com for autographed, printed copies of each book for $10.
Jason D. Ranieri is a graduate of Worcester State University and was Freshman Class President. He graduated Cum Laude in his major, History. He passed the Massachusetts Educator’s Exam with a perfect score in Economics. He is a “Heroes Among Us” award recipient from the Boston Celtics organization for playing Santa Claus for physically and mentally handicapped at Wrentham Developmental Center for over 20 years. He graduated from the Massachusetts Leadership Academy and became a member of the political activist group, M-power. He successfully reinstated Mass. Health coverage of eye and dental exams for those in need through the Mass. House and Senate. He was nominated for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette’s Young Leader Award. He is the author of the poetry book, The Good Old World and Polka Dots and Politics. He is a vegetarian, Freemason and avid musician. Jason toured America for a year and a half.
Today’s
#MindfulnessMonday Tip: We can’t all meditate
at work, and that’s ok, but you can still take advantage of the benefits mindfulness
has to offer, like stress reduction and increased focus.
5 tips for bringing
mindfulness into your WORK life:
Be
Consciously Present – being consciously present means that you are aware not
only of what is going on around you, but also what’s going on within you. Mindfulness
can help you be consciously present in what you’re doing, while you’re doing
it, as well as managing your mental and emotional state.
Use
Short Mindful Exercises at Work – Finding time for a 30-minute mindfulness
exercise such as mediation can be hard a work, if not impossible. Does that
mean you can’t be mindful at work? Not at all. Mindfulness exercises can be as
short as just one minute, you don’t even need to close your eyes or be sitting down.
Be creative about finding time throughout your day to connect with your senses.
This process helps to tone down the fight-or-flight response we can feel when
stressed, engages your brain, and helps us focus on individual tasks to
increase productivity and reduce stress.
Be
a Single-Tasker – Multi-tasking is known to increase stress and reduce
productivity leaving us feeling more overwhelmed than necessary. Try focusing
on just one task at a time and keep a ‘to do’ list, adding items throughout the
day instead of moving from one task to another, so that you stay on track.
Use
Reminders to Stay Mindful – Until mindfulness becomes a habit in your daily
life, it might be helpful to set an alarm on your phone – even a vibrating
alarm that doesn’t disturb others while working – to remind you to take time to
practice mindfulness. One mindful reminder I really enjoy is the Breathe app on
my smart watch. It reminds me once every hour to take a minute and just
breathe.
Accept
What You Can’t Change – This one isn’t always easy at first. However,
acceptance lies at the heart of mindfulness. To be mindful means to accept this
present moment as it is. Once you are able to accept your current moment… your
current situation… you will be able to move past it and try and deal with the
situation. If there has been a mistake at work, accept that it happened… it can’t
be changed… Once you can accept the situation you can learn from the mistake and
move on. Acceptance leads to change where a lack of acceptance can lead to
avoidance and even aggression.
For the next thirty (30) minutes I want you to pick one
task – ONLY ONE TASK – and focus solely on that one task. When you find your
mind wandering to other things, jot down a quick note so you don’t forget then
move back to the original task.
Practicing single-tasking can help increase productivity,
improve focus, and reduce stress. You just might find this becomes your new preferred
working style.
Mindfulness Journaling:
How did you feel
completing your 30 minutes of single-tasking? Did you complete the task? How
many times did you find yourself becoming distracted with other tasks?
I’d love for you to
complete both the 30-minute single-tasking exercise and the mindfulness
journaling reflection once a day for two weeks. Studies show that with consistent
practice, your results will improve increasing your productivity and improving
your mental focus.
Check out
my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you
never miss an episode!
I’m certified in Holistic Stress Management and Mind/Body Fitness. I’ve been practicing Mindfulness for 10+ years and am passionate about helping others in their pursuit of a more mindful existence.
The early 1970s. William Miller is
15-years old and an aspiring rock journalist. He gets a job writing for Rolling
Stone magazine. His first assignment: tour with the band Stillwater and write
about the experience. Miller will get to see what goes on behind the scenes in
a famous band, including the moments when things fall apart. Moreover, for him,
it will be a period of new experiences and finding himself. Written by grantss
MY 2 CENTS:
Let me start by saying that I’ve seen this film at
least a dozen times. It’s one of my all-time favorite films. This film is one
of the most thoughtful and emotional journeys that you can experience in a
film. When the movie was over, I felt like I had been on a rollercoaster of
emotions. I was connected to the characters and invested in their journey.
Writing/Story: ★★★★★ Almost Famous takes place back in
the year 1973 and is all about William miller a 15-year old aspiring rock
journalist as he travels across the country with a band called Stillwater. William
has been hired to write a feature story about Stillwater for an upcoming issue
of Rolling Stone magazine and has to interview the band. Eventually, William
forms a deep bond with the band members and the band-aides a group of women who
follow the band while on tour. The band-aides are led by Penny Lane (played by
Kate Hudson).
Character(s): ★★★★★
Character
development is usually something I talk about when reviewing books rather than
movies, but this film really shows you the truth in the lives of these characters.
They are so invested in living in the present moment… the here and now… something
I often talk about in my #MindfulnessMonday posts and videos, but something often
taken for granted living in 2019. I really enjoyed seeing these characters
living this amazing Rockstar life. They experienced highs and lows, but seemed
to take things more in stride than maybe we tend to do these days. While the
characters still dealt with stress and conflict, everything just seemed simpler.
I’m not saying simple as in unrealistic ether… as a movie viewer, you are
fulling invested in their lives and almost feel like you’re on tour with Stillwater
too.
Cinematography: ★★★★★
This film is so fun to watch and it isn’t just the acting and the writing – the
camera angles and lighting have a lot to do with it. One scene that really defines
this film for me, is when they are all on the tour bus and break into song
singing ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John.
Acting: ★★★★★ AMAZING!!! Whenever you’re
watching extremely recognizable stars on the big screen, it can be hard to suspend
your disbelieve. However, even though this movie is packed with amazing actors
we already know and love, there wasn’t a single moment when actor recognition
pulled me out of the film. Each of the actors took on their role and became
their characters for the 122 minutes of this film. They were utterly believable
and profoundly realistic.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“From
here on out, I am only interested in what is real. Real people, real feelings,
that’s it, that’s all I’m interested in.” ~ Russell Hammond
“I
always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriously,
ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get
lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.” ~ Penny Lane
TO SUM IT UP:
Overall,
I really loved this film. It’s an amazing story about love, life, and the
pursuit of happiness. The cast is stock full of phenomenal actors with the acting
chops to pull off the story in a realistic, heart twisting way. The soundtrack
captures the 70s and makes you really feel like you’re there. Then, to top it
off, the cinematography pulls you in and paints a beautiful picture that even
if seen in still frames you’d be able to feel all of the emotions of the feature
film. There was NOTHING I didn’t like in this film.
Have
you seen Almost famous yet? If you have let me know, in the comments below,
what you thought of it!
Check out my YouTube channel and the video
review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, here it is… The independently ranked top 10 Fiction selections for August 2019!
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the title or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
#1 ONE GOOD DEED
by David Baldacci
A World War II veteran on parole must find the real killer in a small town or face going back to jail.
What was the last thing you read or saw that really inspired you?
The
last thing that really inspired me wasn’t something that I read or saw… it was
a conversation I had while out in Los Angeles recently. I was visiting with an
old friend and we were talking, over coffee, about all the screenplays he has
written. He’s a struggling writer out in L.A. trying to make it in ‘the
industry’ and he was telling me how he reads 60+ scripts a week and has written
40, 50, 60+ scripts himself. I can’t remember the exact number. I just remember
thinking, WOW!
This
guy, in my opinion, is one of the most talented screenplay writers I’ve ever
met… yet he is struggling. It’s not easy to sell a script in Hollywood. It’s
not easy to pitch ideas and get turned down again and again. It’s not easy to
keep your spirits up and continue to be motivated to put pen to paper… or
rather fingers to keyboard. Yet, he does it. He does it every day, day after
day, week after week. He hasn’t given up and neither will I.
His
drive to keep going. His determination to continue pursuing his dream inspires
me to do the same.
Alright,
now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in
you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing.
Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
What was the last thing you read or saw that really inspired you?
Are you an author
looking for inspiration? Take some advice from these amazing authors:
Ransom Riggs, author of Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children says, Start a collection!
Cormac McCarthy, author of ‘The Road’ says to talk to people!
David Mitchell, author of ‘Cloud Atlas’ says to explore extended metaphors!
Are you an author who is looking for ways to stay organized and on track with all your writing goals? Check out my author workbooks below. They are full of all the tools I use in my writing process!
Are you working on a manuscript, but need a little help getting organized? Check out SO YOU WANT TO WRITE A BOOK ~ An Indie Author Guide to Outlining and Planning Your Next Novel
It isn’t just for indie-authors. I have filled it with all the tools I’ve learned over the years and use on a regular basis with each book I write.
Want help meeting your writing goals? Check out JUST WRITE: The Ultimate Author’s Bullet Journal
Would you prefer to watch the video tips rather than reading them?
Today’s
#MindfulnessMonday Tip: Becoming more mindful
of how you proceed through your day to day activities is the antidote to
feeling like you’re just running in circles. Think of it this way, it is so
easy to just go through life on auto-pilot. We procrastinate… fail to get
things done on time… don’t get enough sleep or exercise. So, when you become
more mindful, it’s about being more present and aware of your behavior in the
moment. Mindfulness helps you change the habits, like procrastination, that are
no longer serving you.
7 tips for bringing
mindfulness into your life:
Meditation – Taking just
5 minutes a day to sit quietly and focus on your breathing can help you feel
more conscious and connected for the rest of the day.
Focus on one thing at
a time – Studies show that tasks take 50% longer with 50 % more errors when
multi-tasking, so consider focusing on one task at a time, with breaks in
between tasks whenever possible.
Slow down – Enjoy the
process, no matter what you’re doing. Deliberate and thoughtful attention to
daily actions like writing a report at work, drinking your morning coffee, or
washing the dinner dishes, can promote healthy focus and keep you from feeling
overwhelmed.
Eat mindfully –
Eating without the distraction of a television, computer, or smart phone in front
of you allows you to truly taste and enjoy what you’re eating. Eating mindfully
is good, not only for your body, but for your mind and soul as well.
Keep phone and
computer time in check – It is so easy in today’s world to get overwhelmed by
all of the technology we have at our fingertips. Information overload is a real
thing. You need to set boundaries for screen time, not only for your children
but for yourself as well.
Move – It’s important
to move throughout the day. Your body needs it! So, whether it’s walking,
stretching, or just getting away from your desk for a few minutes to grab a
glass of water, be aware of your body’s sensations and move whenever needed.
Spend time in nature –
Take a walk through the park, the woods, mountain trails, or my personal
favorite – on the beach. Just get outside wherever you can. Getting outdoors is
good for your body, mind and spirit and it keeps you in the present moment.
If you don’t have the ability to be outside, in nature, that’s
ok. You can do this exercise anywhere, but there are added benefits when you
walk in nature.
Step 1 – It doesn’t matter where you are, just start walking.
Step 2 – As you walk, pay attention to your breathing. How does
the air feel as you pull it into your lungs? How does it feel as it leaves your
body? Pay attention to what parts of your body move as you breathe in and out.
Spend a few minutes just focusing on the full experience of breathing.
Step 3 – Next, focus on the rest of your body. How do your feet
feel with each step? What are your arms doing? Do they hang at your sides or
swing back and forth? Notice all of the physical sensations associated with
walking.
Step 4 – What do you hear? Next I want you to listen, outside
of yourself. What do you hear around you as you walk? It might be the sound of
your shoes on the sidewalk, crunching leaves under your feet, the wind in the
trees, birds, or even a barking dog. Practice simply being open to all the
sounds around you. Don’t search for them, but listen to them when they come.
Step 5 – What do you see? Notice all of the images around you –
above, below, in front of, and to the sides of you. Notice the colors and the
textures. Don’t search for anything but be aware as new things come into view.
Step 6 – As you complete your walk, I want you to shift your
attention from one sensation to the next, taking in every experience in your
internal and external environment. But most importantly, breathe… nice slow
deep breathes as you allow your body to relax into the natural movement of
walking.
Mindfulness Journaling:
After you’ve
completed your mindfulness nature walk, I want you to take 5 minutes, in a
quiet place, to reflect on how the walk made you feel. With pen and paper – not
a computer, tablet, or smart phone – I want you to write down all the sensations
you can recall from the walk and how you felt both during the nature walk and how
you feel now after its over.
Mindfulness journaling can be very private. However, I would love to invite you to comment below and share your experiences with this short 60-Second Breathing Mediation.
Check out
my #MindfulnessMonday YouTube Series and don’t forget to click subscribe so you
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I’m certified in Holistic Stress Management and Mind/Body Fitness. I’ve been practicing Mindfulness for 10+ years and am passionate about helping others in their pursuit of a more mindful existence.
Nina Soden 