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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

IWSG - End of Year Thoughts

Posting the First Wednesday of every month, the Insecure Writer's Support Group, is the brainchild of Alex Cavanaugh. YOU can sign up HERE to participate.

Every month a question will be posed that may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Remember, the question is optional. You can write about anything that relates to your writing journey.

Let's give a warm welcome to our co-hosts:  Tonja Drecker, Beverly Stowe McClure, Nicki Elson, Tyrean Martinson!

This month's question is:  Let's play a game. Imagine. Role-play. How would you describe your future writer self, your life and what it looks and feels like if you were living the dream? Or if you are already there, what does it look and feel like? Tell the rest of us. What would you change or improve?


If I were living the dream, the only thing I'd change is having my own special space, a she shed as it were. Other than that, I'm good.

End of Year Thoughts
It's December, already. The year seems to have gone by way too fast. Maybe it's because I'm older? 

Aside from politics, climate change, the destruction of natural habitats and wildlife, the ever increasing problem with plastic, the suffering of millions and millions and millions of people due to war, famine, and disease, I personally have had a pretty good year. 

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a split-brained society/world, a strange schizophrenic place where one thing means another, where reality is questioned, where on one hand science is denied while on hand it is nonchalantly used every second of every day - the computer/internet, medicine, cell phones, cars, electricity, engineering on all levels... the list of how we use science is so long I'd be typing for who knows how long. And yet, science, or certain branches of it, is denied as somehow not being science or not being scientific or not being factual. 

When you take the temperature of someone who is sick, do you deny the reading of the thermometer? Do you argue that something must be wrong with the thermometer, or the person taking the reading, or the numbers being registered? And while you're arguing and/or denying do you ignore further readings that say the person's fever is getting worse and continue to do nothing to correct the cause of the fever?

Via NASA: “The area covered by older and thicker sea ice
 in the Arctic diminished by almost 50 percent
between 1980 and 2012.”
Asking for a friend. 

No matter what this planet, this tiny spec of dust in a vast unknowable universe, is the only home we have, it's the one that grew us. It's the only place around, for who knows how many light-years, where we can live in relative comfort. We are not built to live in space or on the moon or on Mars. Earth is it folks.

I think I can safely say that if we continue to go in the direction we are going it is not the earth that will be destroyed, it will be OUR habitat and US. The earth has survived for billions of years and in that time has gone through many changes and has evolved many species. We are only the latest incarnation, and a pitifully new one at that. As a new species we have taken this miraculous blue ball and, like an undisciplined puppy, torn it to pieces and we are now wondering what happened to the toy and wondering where the next toy is going to come from and are thinking about going off to find a new one to rip apart.

No matter what, the earth will survive, whether we do is questionable.

As we come to the close of 2019 and move into 2020, think about what your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are going to have to deal with. Are you going to teach them to love this planet and each other, or are you going to buy them more plastic toys for Christmas?

May the holidays bring us meaning and understanding and love. May we all learn to be grateful and thankful for the small, yet oh so important, things in our lives. Things like, air, water, food, and our very lives.
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year

17 comments:

  1. Good morning, Bish. Your own special space would be nice. No interruptions when you're working. And, what happens to our planet only time will tell. Have a good day.

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  2. A she shed sounds wonderful! I worry for the future of our planet as well. :(

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  3. Very well written post. The reality of global warming is more frightening than any horror story I've ever read, but every once in a while, there is a bit of good news. I watched a short video yesterday of a concrete company that has figure out how to put CO2 into their concrete instead of releasing into the atmosphere. The process makes the concrete stronger, so less has to be used, which helps keep the cost down and will hopefully inspire more concrete companies to use it. Concrete manufacturing is the second worst source of CO2 release. We need more good news and good ideas like this.

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  4. Very true that it has survived a long time and undergone many changes. It will survive what we do to it but will we?

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  5. This year has indeed gone by too fast. I like the idea of a she shed :)

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  6. I love the idea of a She Shed! Let's build a couple and write like crazy.

    After standing in the Sahara and trying to imagine it 400+ million years ago when it was a sea, has set me to thinking a lot about our planet.

    Have a wonderful Christmas, Bish. Looking forward to sharing more writing experiences with you in the future.

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  7. There's so much to do - where to begin? Earth is one day supposed to be Heaven though.

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  8. Awesome that you're pretty much living your dream. Congrats on having your story in the anthology! Happy Holidays!

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  9. Hi, Bish! I'm glad that you are basically living your dream. And thanks for your thought-provoking post on climate change and what is happening to our lovely blue ball. I will never forget seeing our planet from the perspective of Voyager 1 on its way beyond the outer limits of our solar system or Carl Sagan's writing about our planet. I have not given up hope, but we need to smarten up as a species! Congratulations for your selection for the 2019 IWSG anthology!!!!

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  10. A she shed sounds nice! I think I'd just like an office where there's peace and quiet and I could get some writing done.

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  11. CONGRATULATIONS! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can't wait to read your story!

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  12. Lovely end of year musings. And congratulations on the anthology publication! I look forward to reading your story. @samanthabwriter from
    Balancing Act

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  13. So happy for your inclusion in the anthology! Blessings to you, Bish and thank you for your conscience and caring.

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  14. A She Shed! I'm so happy to have a writing room with doors. Maybe I should put a sign on the door that says Carol's She Shed :)
    Merry Christmas!

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  15. I too find it disconcerting that scientists are treated like fiction authors.

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  16. Thought-provoking post. I wonder - does man ever learn? History proves otherwise...

    Congratulations on your story acceptance into the IWSG anthology, Bish!
    Have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Peaceful New Year.

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  17. The situation with regards to Global Warming is no less horrifying than a Stephen King Novel. Only this is reality.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!