writing off the grid

A couple weeks ago, I ran out of my asthma inhaler. An unfortunate set of circumstances meant that it would be a week before I could see my doctor to renew my prescription. Normally, if I run out, my pharmacist can give me one refill while I organize to see my doctor, but she was on vacation. And for me to go a week without my inhaler, which I take daily, would—and did—trigger an asthma attack. Pair that with a 48-hour period where I didn’t sleep more than three hours, and all my favourite friends came out to play: self-doubt, procrastination, and defeatism. I knew my biggest challenge would be getting unstuck.

When Mindset Falters

I’ve always known the importance of mindset as I pursue my writing and other goals. I must believe that I can achieve what I set out to do. And if I believe, then I know I will show up and do the work…on most days. Because I’m human, and sometimes I falter. But as I dealt with my asthma (and the difficulty I had breathing for several days) and the fatigue, the momentum I had built up over the preceding weeks had almost instantly waned. It was a struggle to focus, to write, to not let distractions rule the day. And I felt like giving up, asking myself repeatedly, “What’s the point?” [Read more…] about Getting Unstuck

I used to think that I thrived in organized chaos. In any office job that I’ve held, I kept a tidy desk. Everything had its place, and everything was in order. But at home, I never saw the top of my desk. I told myself that that was okay because I ‘knew’ where everything was. While I don’t have an eidetic memory, I can easily recall in what box or drawer I’ve placed documents or books that I’m looking for. But now, to increase my productivity and efficiency, I know how important it is to get organized. [Read more…] about Get Organized

There are a lot of things that make change hard. The people who don’t support us or believe in us. The discomfort that gives us pause and, consequently, incites us to give up. The disappointment of showing up day after day and not seeing results. Comparing ourselves to those who’ve made it in our field and then wondering why we haven’t found the magic sauce. But if we want to be successful in our change initiatives, or if we want to bring our dreams to life, we must first master the self. [Read more…] about Master the Self

When you are working on your dream, not everyone will understand your commitment. Not everyone will believe that you can achieve it. Friends will tempt to you go out for drinks when you know you need to put in time on your goals. Others may resent how much time you’re putting in to make your dream come because you’re ‘neglecting’ them. That’s because they don’t have your vision of the life you’re working to create for yourself. That’s why you must be prepared to walk alone.

A Lonely Road

In 2004, I was in a job that I didn’t like. I dreaded going into the office. The days passed slowly…to the point where it was torture. I knew I couldn’t stay. Even though I had nothing lined up, I decided to quit and spend time working on my writing. In many ways, I was at the beginning of my writing journey, and I had no illusions of hitting it big super quickly. But I was prepared to walk alone, and I resigned from a well-paying job in the federal civil service. [Read more…] about Be Prepared to Walk Alone

There’s a quote from Steve Jobs that, when I start to feel overwhelmed, always pops into my mind because it’s cited often: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” But if we go a little further, Jobs adds, “And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition, they somehow already know what you truly want to become.”

Follow Your Heart

It’s hard to follow your heart in a world where there are so many expectations placed upon us from a young age. I did a lot of things to please my parents because I did not want to disappoint them. For a long time, I attended work events that drained my energy until I finally had the courage to set boundaries about what I do and won’t do. The worst part was that I put off pursuing my creativity because a lot of people said I needed a sure thing. [Read more…] about Your Time is Limited