Posted by Kathy Waller
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When the January schedule for Writing Wranglers and Warriors came out, I was pleased to find I would post on Friday the 13th. Last month–I’ve spent the past three hours writing about exactly what happened last month, but the result was so deadly dull it could have been used as a substitute for Ambien, so I’ll summarize–
Anyway, I got the dates mixed up, tried to post a day ahead of schedule, ended up posting a day behind schedule, took the post down–
In short, Friday the 13th seemed a good idea. You can’t forget Friday the 13th. Unless you forget to look at the calendar until 10:00 p.m. on the 12th.
So I spent three hours banging away at the keyboard only to find that the result read more like typing than writing. I hate it when that happens. Fortunately, I’ve been blogging long enough to have a safety net.
I rummaged around in my old blog, Whiskertips, and came across the following piece. It was originally posted on January 1, 2010. I’d forgotten all about it, and I’m glad to have it back.
I need to remember the words.
More than that, I need to remember I wrote them.
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… Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ~ Luke 11:9, King James Bible
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What do I ask for the coming year?
I ask for less:
Less judgment, less cynicism, less prejudice;
Less fear, less worry, less self-absorption;
Less anger, less blindness, less pettiness;
Less noise, less need.
What do I ask for the coming year?
I ask for more.
More reading, more writing, more stories, more words;
More friends and family, more people and places, more earth and sky;
More listening, more loving, more giving;
More kindness and compassion;
More gratitude;
More health and vitality;
More fun, more joy, more laughter;
More knowledge and understanding;
More vision, more imagination, more creation;
More patience, more serenity;
More letting go;
More openness, more growth;
More courage;
More faith and hope;
More beauty;
More life.
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I own a writing calendar, a date book, and a Franklin planner. Over the years, I’ve owned four Franklin planners in a variety of colors and sizes. They were all pretty but none of them worked. I’ve given all that up to concentrate on taking the key out of the ignition before locking the car.
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Kathy Waller is a member of Austin Mystery Writers,
the Writers’ League of Texas, and Story Circle Network.
She edits the Sisters in Crime Heart of Texas Chapter website
and blogs at Telling the Truth, Mainly.
A resident of Austin,
she has two cats and one husband.
Writing Wranglers and Warriors 
I agree. We all need to look back at some of our earlier writing. I’m sure anything written in the 2010 period is more optimistic. Right now I am really jaded. I do have some straightforward goals for the year: finish the Civil War novel; outline and start another, perhaps the SF one I wrote about earlier this week, and do some short stories for my author’s page. That’s doable, right?
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That’s doable. And even optimistic.
I hadn’t thought about being more optimistic in 2010. I guess I was. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, and yet… Times change, don’t they?
Thanks for your comment. And best wishes for all your goals.
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What a wonderful post, Kathy. These are words of wisdom written with a flow that makes one realize just how special life can be. I really like that you shared such personal words with us. Thank you.
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Thanks, Linda. I usually feel too self-conscious to share those sentiments. I wish I could remember what prompted me to write them.
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Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
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Thank you. Your response means a lot to me.
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Perfect. I’m so glad you shared this blog. Doris
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Thank you, Doris. I appreciate your kind words.
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Kathy, you’re not the only one re-blogging old material. As I said in my post here a few days ago, in the wake of my trip to Florida, I had little time to come with something original. Fortunately, I never saw this before, so it was new to me.
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Reblogged this on Kathy Waller and commented:
I’m posting today at Writing Wranglers and Warriors…
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Enjoyed your blog. Well written. I am trying to hold visions of what it will be like after I leave this life, and how much the little or big irritations, hurts, and other concerns in my life now will mean nothing and not exist. No, I’m not dying…well, some day of course…but it does make it easier to have more patience, more letting go, and to remember to judge less and understand more. I am practicing holding that vision and attitude. You lay it all out nicely.
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Thank you, Neva. All the negatives take so much energy, and get in the way of our enjoying the positives, don’t they? Holding the vision does take practice.
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Fabulous, Kathy. The less is good to be less; and the more is just what I’d love, too.
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Thank you, Nancy. If only we could have those things without taking some responsibility for getting them.
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Great post, Kathy, and very much a beautiful reminder …. and a hope and prayer! Thank you for posting this!!
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Thanks, Gayle. I hate to say it, but when I found it, I thought someone else had written it. My mind doesn’t usually work that way. I’m glad to know it did.
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Love it. Great fun and super meaningful. I loved this: “I’ve given all that up to concentrate on taking the key out of the ignition before locking the car.” Thanks Kathy. Cher’ley
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Oh, Cher’ley, about the key–you have no idea. They say, “Be in the moment,” but there are so many moments to be in. Thanks for your comment.
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A very beautiful and poignant piece, Kathy. It resonates with me now as well as I’m currently struggling with what I’m writing and what I’m doing. We have to remind ourselves every now and then to what we are capable of and what is yet unrealized inside of us. Thanks for sharing.
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I understand about the struggling over writing, and about the need to remind ourselves. I hope things smooth out for you soon. Thanks for your comment, Sarah.
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I love the way you ask for more, it is so beautiful like a prayer of perpetual light. Amazing!
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Thanks for sharing these wonderful words. They re a great reminder for all of us.
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