Blogspiration (9): Endlessness

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/
http://growingupya.blogspot.com/

I'm getting this post in before my weekend off comes to an end. Quite a small blogspiration this week, but when I was considering what I could possibly post, I realised I was looking right at it.

As corny as it might sound, whenever I'm driving to or from work, whenever I've been cooped up all day and just don't feel like I'm coping, I look at the sky. It just relaxes me instantly. There's something intimidating and humbling about it that just puts things into perspective. I hardly ever take time to just stop and look so when I do, it's a nice feeling.

What about you? Do you have something that helps you take a step back and just be humbled by its presence?

Blogspiration (8): Have you ever...

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/
http://growingupya.blogspot.com/


I missed last week so I forced myself to make time for this. I feel better now :)

Have you guys ever read a memoir or story about someone who has had a life way more screwed up than your own? Been moved by the hardships and triumphs of others? Is there one person in your life, or whom you have read about that just made you stop and think that maybe this world isn't completely miserable after all?

I flew down to Melbourne for a random visit on Friday and whilst on the plane, I got to thinking (as per usual) about the various places I've been. It's always weird, the stuff I remember and the stuff I don't. There's no system or pattern to what my brain responds to or focuses on. So even though I wasn't actually leaving the country, I got to thinking about Fiji and my visit there last year.

Now, it's no secret around here that I'm constantly friggen busy. I whinge and whine about how hectic things are and WOE IS ME, I go to uni and work full time. I get an education and make decent money. What a horrible life I have!

In Fiji, it was like a whole other world. The villages are small and only some of them have electricity. Owning a car is a luxury that only a few have and the people there who actually have a job, put their heart and soul into it. Everyone is relaxed, there's no stress (which to me is a foreign concept), and everyone works on 'Fiji-time'.

It's so refreshing to be surrounded by a bunch of people who love life. Who value every single thing they do and actually LIVE LIFE without all the worry and concerns that smother the rest of us. They don't get to travel and see the things the rest of us take for granted. They are lucky to have one day off a week and they love it.

These couple of months I've found it so hard to focus on anything other than sleep/work/uni. It loops through my brain and I'm lucky to remember to eat. It was nice, to just have an hour to myself to remember these people that made me forget all the worries I had. Who welcomed me into their homes and shared their culture with me without even needing to ask. Who were SO FRIGGEN HAPPY every moment of the day. It reminded me that this craziness will come to an end and I should try to enjoy it while I can.

One of the friends I had there, was a scuba teacher at our resort and his day off, he came down to hang out with us. We all took to the pool and after about five minutes he turned to me and said, "This is the first time I've ever swum in a pool without working. I keep expecting someone to yell at me for slacking off." That one sentence right there, really put my shiz into perspective.

This week, the Fijians reminded me of true inspiration.

Blogspiration (5): Music for the Soul

So this week's blogspiration isn't something I've given much thought too. I only just remembered today that I wanted to post something before I get back to all the heck load I have next week.

Sunday night; a time to remember why I put so much stress on myself. So much pressure. A good night to look back on the week and be happy with where I am compared to last week. A night to have a chill by myself and rejuvenate before it all begins again. A night to wonder about where I will be next week. A night to hope.

Then I realised that it's these little moments I have alone. No partner. No family. No characters beating on my brain. Sometimes you just need some downtime. Sometimes you need time to yourself to remember who you are and why you're that way. It leaves me feeling refreshed and relaxed. Even though I'm starting a new store tomorrow, and even though I have two uni assignments due next week; even though Jenna's rewrites still aren't finished and event though I'm STILL not published... it's okay. It'll happen. Everything doesn't have to be a rush. I don't need to be stressed ALL THE TIME to stay busy.

I have a CD (yes, A CD!) on and my creativity is flowing. My brain has relaxed and planted seeds of ideas for more books, a way to do my assignments, and even more plot points for Jenna. I may use some of them. I probably won't. But so long as I have Sunday nights like this, it's all good.

Just for the record, music is a massive part of this. I can't play an instrument and I definitely can't sing; but there's nothing better than finding an artist or album that has music to get you feeling a certain way.

My most recent inspiration, and the one I'm playing right now is:

What about you? Is there a time you dedicate just to down time? A person? A CD? A movie?

What is it that gets you thinking about all the difficult things you have to work out and just gets you through the working week?

Blogspiration (4): Inspirational Books

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/
http://growingupya.blogspot.com/

I've read so many inspirational books throughout the years so when Sarah emailed out the question 'which book inspires you?' I knew I had to take time to think it over. Would I go with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland? The first book that took me to a world I never could have imagined.

Or would I go with the always acceptable and awesome Harry Potter series that got me through high school when not much else could?

You can imagine how hard these two were to strike off the list. But I haven't read either of them in a far longer time than I'd like to think about. So I went with a series that I make time to reread. A series I read when I'm a little stuck on my writing or drained massively of emotion. No matter which book of the series I pick up, I know I'll feel more when it's finished. There is so much real emotion, so much plot, so much friggen awesomeness that I'm just in awe with each reading. Richelle Mead is a writing queen.

So in answer to Sarah's question, the book I chose is:

It was hard to narrow down. Really hard. I love every one in the series but this is the one I remember finishing with tears streaming down my face. It ripped my heart out. It filled me with so much despair and hopelessness and hurting! I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe a book could end like that. I couldn't believe two characters could feel so much for each other, or that I'd feel the loss just as deeply as Rose. And each time I read it, each time I remember how it affected me, I'm ready to write again.

I know I'll never write something that amazing, or that affects people in the way this does. But if I come close, I'll be able to be proud of my work.

In short; this book inspires me to be more. 

Plus, Rose and Dimitri!

Blogspiration (3): Dream

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/
http://growingupya.blogspot.com/

 This week's picture:

This one pretty much found me yesterday while I was out shopping with Bec from Work Love Life Write. It was on the side of a box or something that we passed so I snapped a pic and here it is. 

I know this will mostly resonate with all you writers out there but it works for those who just love to read too. 

Like my other blogspirations it makes me happy. And that's what this thing is all about.

P.S. Sarah, totally didn't get your email until today. Going to work on that question for my next blogspiration post anyway :)

Blogspiration (2) Always Believe

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/

http://growingupya.blogspot.com/

This week's blogspiration is a little something I like to remind myself of when I'm feeling real down in the dumps:

And damn it, when I read the awesomeness that is this quote, I always try and do. Creating something - ANYTHING - makes me real happy inside.

How about you? 

Blogspiration (1): Brought to you by the Brothers Grimm

 

Blogspiration is a Brand Spankin' New weekly meme hosted by both GrowingUp YA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. An inspirational quote/picture/video is posted weekly, on the day of the author's choosing, so that it may inspire creativity, conversation and just a little SOMETHING.

 

Check out these gal's awesomeness:

http://saz101.blogspot.com.au/
http://http//growingupya.blogspot.com/2012/02/blogspiration-5-on-rumi.html

 

 

Let me first off start by saying I friggen love this idea. So much. I wish I'd had it myself but I didn't so aw well, I'll just join in with these two lovely ladies.

 

My little note of inspiration is brought to you by the brothers Grimm. As they are a favourite, and as I have taken to rereading a fairytale a night, I thought I'd share a quote with you that stuck true to me. It's the last line from Hansel and Gretel.

 

"My tale is done, see the mouse run, whoever catches it, may make himself a big fur cap out of it."

 

Now what in the heckers does that mean, right? I mean, these guys were apparently crazy but this line sounds like something Adrian Ivashkov might spout. Just trust me when I say this quote inspires me. Why? Because these wonderfully wonderful brothers knew that rewards only come with a whole lot of effort. And it's that message they're trying to convey. Hansel and Gretel had to fight their way back to their family and when they got there, they were richer than ever. Now the Grimm-y boys weren't saying hard work would make you rich. But they were saying it would be worth it. So next time you're about to *headdesk*, give up, or yank out your hair extensions, remember the brothers Grimm weren't bald.

 

And they wrote 201 fairytales that are still read today. Clearly these guys were on to something.