​Do you remember what Christmas was like when you were young? The childish excitement around things as simple as baking gingerbread men, hearing the first Christmas carol, participating in family traditions, and giving and receiving (often) home-made gifts?
The ‘getting-back-to-basics’ of family, friends, and the REAL meaning of Christmas is what I’m aiming for this year. No Insta-worthy moments – which never happen in our family, by the way! – unless it’s posting that ONE pic out of thousands for Grandma where everyone is finally looking in the same direction with what could pass for a smile.
No wearing myself out trying to meet some impossible standard of The Perfect Christmas, sliding into credit card debt and with my hair turning even more grey from the stress of it all…
Christmas this year will be seriously pared down. Here’s the plan:

• A mix of home-made and old decorations on the Christmas tree. No need to rush out and buy new ones that will then languish in a dusty box for another year. Rustic is in, baby. Extra points for decorating to the tunes of ‘Ol Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra himself.

Influencer. Insta-this. Facebook-that. #idontknowwhattosaysoilluseahashtag.

These days it seems everyone's preoccupied with the opinions of a bunch of savvy marketers and their carefully-curated streams of shiny new things.

More aspirational than relatable, we measure our humdrum lives against the jet-set faux realities of the Insta-famous.

The real problem is not that all this comparison can drag us down, making us feel inferior instead of inspired.

It's that our own glow - our sparkle - becomes dull. Those that should be lifted by our life-light find it dimmed instead.

Truth is, you - yes, the friend, partner, mum or dad, student, young/old, regular you - are an influencer. Even if you don't realise it, you touch the lives of multiple people every day.

The average person influences anywhere from 150 people (Dunbar's algorithm) to 80,0000 in their lifetime. And that's without even trying!

What if we were intentional about projecting our authentic selves to those around us? What if, instead of trying to be a second-rate copy of someone else's unattainable standard, you were really YOU?

Being really you - refreshingly honest, with no masks - is the best gift you can give to yourself and the world. And it sure takes a lot less energy and angst than the alternative.

Are you ready to polish off your own 'sparkle' and get ready to reflect your own talents to the world? Try the following this week:

1. Embark on a digital detox. That's right: no Facebook, Youtube, Snapchat, celebrity blogs, or Instagram. By turning off the stream of other's 'perfect' lives, it's easier to reconnect with our own. Like a regular food/health detox, it doesn't have to be forever, but the benefits you'll feel might even persuade you to stretch it out a little longer ;).
2. Make a date - or two - with yourself. All that extra time freed up from not being online (see the tip above) will give you a chance to sit down with a coffee and journal - or take a stroll in nature - and reconnect with your goals, strengths, and dreams. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What did I used to love doing that I now no longer make time to regularly do?
• What brings me a feeling of joy?
• If there were no bills to pay, what would I spend my time doing?

       Spend some time thinking about your answers, and then             make a plan to include some small elements into your life.
     3.   Think about the people around you who you influence        e.g. partner, children, workmates, friends, neighbours). Practice being totally present when you're with these people - that may mean putting the device away or turning off the TV more often - and allowing them the privilege of sharing an authentic moment of connection.

You have so much to offer.

What are you waiting for?

If you try any of the tips above, I'd love to hear how you're going, either in the comments below or on my Facebook page.

As I sit at a beach-side cafe, sipping a latte and gazing out at the bay, I find myself pondering a BIG question.

While I'd never pretend to have all the answers - anyone who does, short of the Creator of the Universe, is trying to sell  something - there is one question that has me wondering:

To be, or not to be?

To paraphrase the Bard, that really IS the question.

BEING - to be fully immersed in each moment, cognisant of your worth and value as a human BEing on this rock called Earth, to be fully alive - is at complete opposites to what most of us spend 99.9% of our waking hours DOing.

How much of modern society's current ills, both physical and mental (and most definitely spiritual), can find their roots in this false paradigm?

Plenty, according to a plethora of experts. Here's a quick snapshot for the time poor/Type A folks amongst us (ha!):

• Almost a quarter (22.8%) of 15-19 year old young people in Australia display symptoms of probable serious mental illness - up from 18.7% five years ago (Mission Australia Youth Health Survey 2016).
• More than 11 million Australians (50%) reported having at least one of eight chronic diseases in 2014-15 (AIHW 2016). Key preventable chronic disease risk factors include insufficient levels of physical activity, high blood pressure, and poor nutrition/obesity.
• The number of working age individuals in Australia who received disability support pensions for psychiatric conditions increased by 51% from 2001-14 (Med Journal Aust, 19 June 2017).

It's clear to see that the Western World is facing some serious challenges, despite the fact we have better health care/medicines, education levels, and disposable income than ever before.

What's the average, time-poor individual to do?

Well, I could probably DO a bit less and BE a bit more, I hear you say. But how?

Here are some easy starting points to help change your focus from one of competition/consumption to one of CONNECTION - with the outdoors, with loved ones, with the Creator, with yourself:

• Go for a daily walk in nature (which could just be to your local park, not necessarily in  pristine rain forest or by the ocean). Extra points if it's with someone else, even your pet.
• Take mini BEing breaks. Practice being mindful, employing all your senses in any given moment. (Right now, I'm enjoying watching an old dog in front of me beg for treats from its owner, the taste of strong, hot coffee, the sound of seagulls and cafe tunes... all against a backdrop of tropical sea and sky.)
• Start a gratitude journal. Five minutes a night before bed is all it takes to tap into this powerful habit. Try not to focus on the external trappings of success - i.e. I'm thankful for my big house, my sports car, etc - but on relationships, health, and fulfilling the steps towards your purpose.

There's so much more to include, but I don't want to overwhelm either of us. After all, we're on this journey called 'life' together.

Thanks for walking beside me.

Please share any of your own tips or thoughts about getting off the DOing treadmill to start the intentional stroll along the BEing path.

 Once upon a time, there was a little girl who grew up with stars in her eyes, who dreamt of writing stories for a living (or of being an archeologist / flight attendant / marine biologist / lawyer, depending on what mood she was in and what book she happened to be reading at the time).

She wrote novels for her school friends - with each friend featuring in their own story - and started countless drafts of new works of fiction. (ALWAYS fiction. The alternative was just too dry.)

Then I - I mean, she - okay, you caught me; this IS an autobiographical story - got married at just 19, went to university for 5 years, travelled and had fun, and then decided that we should start a family - despite never particularly liking children that much. It was just what you did.

So, we had 4 babies. In 5 years.

What was I thinking?!

And in the haze of feeding, nappy changes, toilet training, and wiping fingerprints off the walls - just kidding, I only clean when my mother-in-law comes over or we have a rental inspection, whichever comes first...

Anyway, in the middle of the crazy-busy of motherhood, I decided I wanted MORE. Creativity. Self-expression. Words of more than two syllables.

I wanted to write.

My first novel, Blue Freedom, was published in 2010 when my daughter (baby #4) was just one.

And you'd think that if I could accomplish that during the arguably busiest, bone-wearying season of life, it'd be a piece of cake to replicate that once they grew up a bit and started school.

WRONG!

There's been just one unpublished manuscript since. No novel every two years (achievable). No regular blogging schedule (certainly doable).

This poor brain's been occupied with school runs, lunches, after-school sports, and paid work commitments. Filled with cobwebs and the sound of crickets, instead of a symphony of creativity.

Are you finding yourself in the same soul-drying drought of everyday life, your own personal groundhog day? Are you crying out for the internal nourishment that comes from travelling on the narrow Path of Purpose, of regularly sowing into meaning and your values? Do you make time to nurture your creative self?

You've come to the right place. Let's encourage each other on this path. Not with stern accountability, but with gentle prodding and leading the way.

I'm game. Are you ready?

I don't know about you, but some days I'm hanging out for a long, tropical vacation. Or a live-in housekeeper. Or both.

When the stress of trying to do too much, or be too much (superwoman, anyone?), when everyday pressures build to the point where you're about to explode... you know that something's gotta give.

But most of us don't have the luxury (or the dollars) of booking a month-long holiday at a health retreat, or selling up everything and moving to the south of France (bon voyage!).

So what's an everyday, stressed-in-every-way, person to do?

Here are some easy (and cheap) ideas:

1. Plan a 'stay-cation'... this is just like a vacation, except that you stay at home. Choose a long weekend (or take Monday or Friday off and make your own), and get ready to r-e-l-a-x. The important thing is to treat this time as if you're really going away - that means no appointments, errands, or housework (yes!). Stock up on your favourite (and hopefully semi-healthy) foods and snacks, movies, and books, and chill.

2. Act like a tourist... a change is as good as a holiday, right? Put your explorer's hat on and seek out some new/interesting/ relaxing activities or sights near where you live. Check out river cruises, educational tours, theme parks (if adrenaline's your thing), new restaurants and cafes, or other visitor attractions.

3. Set up your own day spa... who doesn't love an opportunity to de-stress and relax? You don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home. Transform one of the rooms into a relaxing retreat in just a few steps:

• declutter - clutter is the enemy of calm
• think comfort - fluffy towels, comfy cushions, plush throws
• set the scene - soft lighting (e.g. candles), chilled tunes, relaxing scents (oil burner, scented candles, or incense)
• prepare your tools - mani/pedi essentials, massage oils (rope in a friend or your partner, or book a mobile masseur), face masks and moisturisers, bubble bath. 

So the next time a one-way ticket to Siberia is sounding good, try one of the above tips and take a mini stress-busting break instead. Your health - and sanity - will thank you.

What are your favourite ways to escape? Share in the comments below (or on my Facebook page).

    Can you believe that 2014 is almost half over?! What began as a fresh, shiny year - a newly-opened journal with blank pages just begging for you to fill them with details of all your amazing adventures - is now looking a little worn around the edges. (Kind of like how many of us feel at times...!)
    This moment of panicked realisation (it's almost June!) is an opportunity to take stock of how your goals for this year are going. Or not.
    What's that you say? You have no defined goals, or the ones you have just aren't workin' for you? Well, there's no better time than the present to decide what you really want out of life - and I don't just mean that you prefer your eggs hard-boiled or your morning latte made on skim, three-quarter strength, and extra hot (oh - sorry, that's me!). 
    I'm talking about what really matters to you, what keeps you awake at night (aside from heartburn!), what you'll regret not doing when your time comes to leave this world for the next.
    Your values.
    Sure, it might be easier to follow the crowd and plan to make it to the top in your chosen career, retire before you're thirty (or forty, or...), and have a house full of shiny things.
    But will the traditional success paradigm really make you happy? 
    As we approach mid-year, take a moment out of your day to reflect on these few questions:
1. What would I miss most about my life if it was gone?
2. What makes me smile?
3. If I knew the world would end tomorrow, what would I regret not having done?
4. What's stopping me from making steps to start (or finish) it now?

    I'd love to read your answers, either in the comments below or on Facebook. 
    
    With some honest assessment and planning (even baby-steps), the second half of your 2014 will be infinitely more rewarding,  intentional, and values-oriented. Go for it!

The talented Kathryn Apel has tagged me to take part in the Author Process Blog Hop (sharing four questions about my current W.I.P. - work in progress).

 Kat was born and bred a farm girl – but she’s still scared of cows! Kat lives amongst the gum trees, kangaroos and cattle, on a grazing property in Queensland. Her chapter book, ‘Fencing with Fear’ is part of the Aussie! Read! series, and her rural rhyming picture book, ‘This is the Mud!’ has been read by Justine on ABC PlaySchool. Kat’s verse novel for younger readers, ‘Bully on the Bus’ will be released in July, with UQP. Prior to publication it won the published author’s manuscript section of the 2012 CYA Competition.

Kathryn co-ordinates Month of Poetry each January, and has had poetry published in magazines and on CD in Australia and New Zealand.

You can read more about her work at katswhiskers.wordpress.com .
_______________________________________________________


What am I working on?

I'm in the middle of a final edit of The Guardian, my first young adult novel (supernatural suspense). It's been a slow process - plenty of gaps when life has got in the way - but I'm hoping the time taken will make it better in the long run. Maybe more full-bodied like a good wine, or even cheese (but less stinky!).

How does my work differ from others in its genre?

Here's a one-sentence synopsis:

When tragedy takes her first love, Indiana feels an evil darkness closing in - until a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue.

Most YA paranormal novels are very dark, which is understandable, considering the genre and various storylines. The Guardian also depicts the struggle between good and evil - which can be quite intense - but I specifically chose to focus on the 'good/light' supernatural side, instead of the 'evil/darkness'.

Why do I write what I write?

I love a plot with plenty of action and suspense - with a good dash of romance - so naturally I enjoy writing these sorts of stories as well.

I've noticed that many YA novels can be quite depressing, leaving the reader with little sense of hope. My wish is that my stories will provide readers with both absorbing escapism and an optimistic anticipation for the future. 

How does my writing process work?

If there's a phrase to describe my writing process, it would be 'stops-and-starts'. Once I'm on a roll things progress quite quickly, but there are too many big gaps in the middle!

I'm a 'plotter' by nature, so all my scenes are planned out before I write them. Since I take so long to write a manuscript, though, sometimes  the various plots and subplots can get a little tangled! So my editing process involves trying to make sure everything is all neatly tied up at the end - I couldn't bear to leave my readers hanging!


Now it's over to the below wonderful writers to keep this 'blog chain' ball rolling:

Andrea Grigg is a fellow Queensland author who I've had the pleasure of spending time with at several writers' conferences.

Andrea grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, but has lived more than half her life in Australia.

Her debut novel, A Simple Mistake, is a contemporary romance, and was a finalist in the CALEB Awards 2012. She is currently putting the finishing touches to her second novel, Too Pretty, to be released in August 2014 by Rhiza Press.

Andrea lives with her husband on Queensland’s Gold Coast, where they have raised their three adult children – two daughters and a son.

Recently retired from teaching ten-year-olds, if she isn't being a domestic executive or socialising, Andrea can be found in her cave, writing stories.

Look out for Andrea's link in the blog chain a fortnight from now on Monday 31st March: [email protected]

Michelle Dennis Evans is another  wonderful Queensland author. She writes picture books, chapter books, young adult contemporary novels and also enjoys dabbling in free verse poetry.

Her debut novel, Spiralling Out of Control, and her poetry collection, Life Inspired, both reached #1 in sub-categories on Amazon in their first week of release.

Michelle lives in the Gold Coast hinterland of Australia with her husband and four super active, super fun and super time consuming children.

For Michelle's answers to the Author Process blog chain questions, check out her blog a month from now (on Monday 7th April): www.michelledevans.blogspot.com.au .

 This past summer, I read a blog post on Life Hacker by James
Clear: You Have 25,000 Mornings as an Adult. Here’s How Not to Waste Them. I had to read it. In the article, Clear offers much of the same advice I’ve shared here in the blog: manage energy not time, don’t check email until noon, prepare the night before, and move your cell phone to another room. 
  All of this is well and good for those of us who use mornings for intellectual and creative work. But in one of the comments, a reader criticized the tip: What about folks who work third shift and sleep in the morning? I’d add: What about people who work days and cannot use their mornings to write? What about those who don’t their best work in the morning?
 This is where genius time comes in. Genius time is that part of the day when you are best able to work on your primary purpose. Mine is writing—and my genius time is mornings. That doesn’t mean I cannot write at other times of day, it just means that I don’t do it as well or as fast in those hours. So I’m with Mr Clear—I don’t want to waste my mornings with email, social media or meetings. I need to use those precious hours to write. But your genius time might be in the afternoon or just before bed or while you’re eating lunch. Your job is to protect and nurture your genius time no matter what happens. Here’s how:

 Step 1. Map your energy.
Take a look at your most productive days. Map when you have performed like a genius at social, intellectual, creative, and  physical tasks. Pro Tip: Your genius time for each type of activity will probably be at different times of day. I’m a writing mastermind at 7:00 AM but don’t make me talk to anyone. (Mornings: Social Dolt, Writing Genius; Early Afternoons: Social   Wannabe, Writing Dolt). You might also have genius times that  overlap—perhaps you’re good at both social and physical tasks in the mornings. This is okay. Just get it all down on paper, real or virtual.

 Step Two: Choose your one thing.
What’s the one thing you want to accomplish this week with your genius time? You’re at a writing blog, so I’ll talk about writing books, blogs or stories, but you may want to use your genius  time to plan a corporate take over or invent an app that will entertain tweens.

 Step Three: Schedule!
If possible, match your one thing (writing) to your intellectual   and creative genius time. When I say schedule, I mean more than “think about it” – as in, I think I might write tomorrow after work. Note the following information:
 When will I work on this project?
 Where will I work? Is the setting conducive to what I need to do?  Do I have what I need to get work done?
 What will I write? Choose the chunk.
 Oops: What might interrupt my plan? How will I deal with that? 
How will I stick to my genius time when the kids are screaming or friends invite me out for drinks or a client needs me or I'm weary and just want to take a nap? Decide now.

 Step Four: Honor the genius time and write: no matter what.
Some tricks:
 +Repeat a mantra like: “When I get home from work, I will write for 20 minutes on my novel.”
 +Record your mantra on paper and post it where you can see it. 
(Cheesy—yes. But it works!)
 +Set up your writing space ahead of time—like you might set the table for dinner—so that you are ready to work when you get to your genius time.
 +Throughout the day before, imagine yourself in your writing place, successfully creating.

 Step Five: Put that butt in your chair and write.
If you have an upset and miss a day, forgive yourself. And show up again the next day.
 Pro tip: It has taken me a really long time to honor my genius time and NOT feel guilty. So accept that you’re going to feel like a fraud when you tell people you cannot meet to plan the Queen’s visit because you are writing. If it helps, don’t tell them what you’ll be doing (and definitely don’t confess that you can’t take a meeting because you’ve got “genius time”). Just say: I can’t meet. I’m in another meeting. And you are: with your muse.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author, a certified professional coach, and a popular speaker. Melander has written ten books including Write-A-Thon: Write Your Book in 26 Days (And Live to Tell About It). As the Write Now! Coach, she teaches professionals how to write books fast, get published, and connect with readers through social media.
  Get your free subscription to her Write Now! Tips Ezine at
http://www.writenowcoach.com.

The Next Big Thing is a blog chain for writers and artists linking together and talking about their current projects. It gives you, the reader, a chance to discover great writers and their work you may not have heard of before.

The concept is simple: each creator gets a chance to share a bit about their latest project (new release, completed book or works in progress). The  opportunity is paid forward to another blogger or group of bloggers who likewise post about their next best thing in exactly one week’s time (23 January 2013).

Thanks to Lynne Stringer for inviting me to participate. Lynne is soon to publish her first YA Sci-Fi Romance novel The Heir and has two or three other books in the pipeline. Check out Lynne at  https://www.facebook.com/lynnestringer.author?fref=ts

The Questions
 
1. What is the working title of your next book?
The Guardian (part one of a trilogy).
 
2. Where did the idea come from for the book?
My over-active imagination! And the fact that I think angels are pretty amazing creatures.

3. What genre does your book fall under?
Young Adult – Supernatural Romance
 
4. What actors would you choose to play the part of your
characters in a movie rendition?
This is a tough one! A selection of young ‘up-and-coming’actors would be best.
  
5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? (Or what is the book blurb for your book?)
When tragedy takes her first love, Indiana feels an evil darkness
closing in – until a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue. 
 
6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an
agency?
My first novel, 'Blue Freedom', has been published by a progressive UK publisher, Sunpenny Publishing. I’m also considering approaching some literary agencies.
 
7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of the
manuscript?
Too long! A bit over 18 months, with some decent-sized gaps in there when I moved house, got too busy/slack, etc.
 
8. What other books would you compare this story to within your
genre?
One of my young beta-readers has compared ‘The Guardian’ to the ‘Halo’ series by Alexandra Adornetto.
 
9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?
With such a glut of darker paranormal books for young adult readers on the market, I thought I’d take the plunge and write a series that offers hope and a more positive representation of the supernatural (no vampires or werewolves! :) ).
 
10. What else about the book might pique the reader's
interest?
‘The Guardian’ is perfect for those who enjoy realistic romantic drama with a supernatural twist.

It gives me great pleasure to link you to the Next Big Thing
(uploaded next week on 23 Jan 2013) of a talented Australian debut author:

Adele Jones has recently had her first novel, 'A Devil's Ransom' - first in a sweeping historical maritime series - accepted for publishing by Sunpenny Publishing in the UK (due for release in February 2013). To find out more about Adele and her writing, visitt http://www.adelejonesauthor.com/.

This is what you've been waiting for all year, folks - the definitive directory you won't find anywhere else.
My 'Naughty or Nice' List:

Naughty
1. Alarm clocks - no explanation needed!
2. 'Pages feed' in Facebook - a recent development that means you rarely see updates from liked pages (such as mine) in your Newsfeed - unless the pages' managers pay to promote them
3. Unreliable cars - I've found myself waiting beside a country road in the hot sun TWICE in the past month!
4. Writers' block - otherwise known as 'writers' distraction', otherwise known as 'the Internet/ Facebook'
5. In-frequent bloggers - er... that would be me!

Nice
1. Free Kindle e-books - my 'to-be-read' pile has morphed from a small hill into Mount Everest!
2. Berry smoothies - I heart my new blender
3. Funny internet memes - anyone laughed at a 'Mayan Apocolypse/Oreo cookie parody recently? :)
4. Coffee - something of a necessity for night-owl writers like me
5. Living by the beach - I won't elaborate, or you'll be even more jealous.

So, what (or who) is on your 'naughty or nice' list this year? Share in the comments, or on my Facebook page.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!