Gratitude breaks the spell of Writers Block |
Staring at a blank page is like staring into a snowfield. The snow, untouched by civilization and unmarked by living creatures, blinds you for a few minutes, it glistens reflecting subtle shades of pure white and rainbows at odd angles. If you stare at the snow too long, you get lost in the interplay of light and shadow. As the day wears on, you become awestruck at the beauty of the snow's perfection. You marvel at the way an oak tree cast its ebony shadow across the pure white snow. You watch the tree's shadow change, grow and shrink, as Earth turns and the sun moves from morning to evening. If you stand out in the snow too long without moving, you risk snow bite or freezing. If you are fortunate, a red fox will walk across your line of sight. The fox will leave his footprints written in the snowfield. As you watch the fox move, the spell holding you in one spot staring at the snow is broken. You are free to go inside out of the cold and out of danger. I must say, writing 500 words a day isn't difficult, unless I'm attempting to write on a single subject. On Monday, October 28, 2013, I began posting my weekly goals at "Weekly Goals" ![]() "O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Bah'u'll'h The Hidden Words of Bah'u'll'h, Part I.'From the Arabic, #31, page 11 'Heinlein's Rules for Writers Rule One: You Must Write Rule Two: Finish What Your Start Rule Three: You Must Refrain From Rewriting, Except to Editorial Order Rule Four: You Must Put Your Story on the Market Rule Five: You Must Keep it on the Market until it has Sold' Robert A. Heinlein It is enjoined upon every one of you to engage in some form of occupation, such as crafts, trades and the like. We have graciously exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship unto God, the True One. Ponder ye in your hearts the grace and the blessings of God and render thanks unto Him at eventide and at dawn. Waste not your time in idleness and sloth. Occupy yourselves with that which profiteth yourselves and others. Thus hath it been decreed in this Tablet from whose horizon the day-star of wisdom and utterance shineth resplendent. Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed After the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Pages 21-29: gr 32 I changed the way I did entries in this book several times. Beginning on March 21, 2018 the entries will cover the topics of spiritual, inspirational, and religions. However, the genres it will be under are Women's, Inspirational, and Spiritual with a tag of Religious. |
Istijlál (Majesty ), 18 ‘Ilm (Knowledge) 174 B.E. - Thursday, November 2, 2017 "Praise be to God, the hosts of the Supreme Concourse secure the victory and the power of the Kingdom is ready to assist and to support. Should ye at every instant unloosen the tongue in thanksgiving and gratitude, ye would not be able to discharge yourselves of the obligation of gratitude for these bestowals." ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, 68: “O ye who are firm in the Covenant and the Testament!…” This is the first Thankful Thursday in November 2017, it has been a while since I wrote a gratitude list in any journal or blog. I have said and read prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving, but I have not written down the things I am thankful for. ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá tells us we need to be thankful at all times, even though we can never discharge our obligations to give thanks to God for his blessing. I know that I am able to handle difficulties and tests easier when I both raise my voice in gratitude to the Almighty and list the things I am grateful to have. Gratitude list for Thursday, November 2, 2017 Today I am thankful... 01. ...that my story "Gertrude Plans Thanksgiving Dinner" ![]() ![]() 02. ...for fresh brewed coffee in the morning. 03. ...that, on November 1, I was able to write 1,773 words in "Introduction and Invocation" ![]() 04. ...for the cafe mocha form McDonald's I had for breakfast yesterday. 05. ...that I found several items in the boxes Faye brought last month that brought back memories, which I can write about in "The World According to Snow" ![]() 06. ...for the bottled water we have in the house because it tastes better then water out of the faucet. When the water taste good, I drink more. 07. ...that I have a working computer in the house. In October I went without a computer for fifteen days, I survived. 08. ...for the chocolate ice cream I had for a snack this evening. 09. ...that today I write 1,717 words in "Roses: Flowers of the Spirit" ![]() 10. ...for the cool fall days we are experiencing here in Las Vegas. |