There are so many things to draw inspirations on. A lovely breeze, the smell of fresh baked cookies, or a small little ally that’s the perfect place to dump a body after a murder…. Okay, maybe that last one is a little specific to a crime writer….
I’m talking about the things that inspire me, be it people, places or things in the latest I SPY, IN JULY video:
>>Check all about my book – KIDNAPPED Entanglement >>>here
What are your inspirations? Tell me and we’ll be inspired together! If you want to read my book, head to the link >>>here for the KIDNAPPED Entanglement eBook, OR get the paperback direct from me for the cheapest price!
Don’t forget to check back every night this month for another video – there are some pretty fun things coming!
Bullying. It’s an UGLY word with a lot of negativity attached to it. Usually, Bullies have been bullied. Usually, victims are innocent. Usually, bullying is scarring for all involved.
Everyone is different – that’s life. We have many different cultures and many different personalities. Being bullied is not an excuse or a reason TO bully. If you’ve been pushed down and abused, you know how it feels. You know how it can affect someone.
Being bullied is not an excuse to bully.
A lot of people turn a blind eye to someone being picked on. They pretend it isn’t happening; that there’s nothing they could do about it anyway.
Some people think there aren’t clicks. Not in their workplace surely! Maybe in other offices, but never in our. The sad news, is that bullying is everywhere. In our schools, in our workplaces, in our clubs and online; it’s as much an epidemic as any virus.
Bullying kills. Bullying scars. Bullying is an ugly word.
Love. Love is blind to different. Love is accepting. Love is strong. Love is a BEAUTIFUL word.
Strength is more than just physical. Strength is more than superficial. To show sympathy, empathy and compassion are not weak – it shows strength.
There’s a lot of pressure when two or more gang up on someone to follow. But there is also a lot of power when two or more gather to defend or pray.
Love heals, restores, FORGIVES, and is patient.
If someone is hurt, be there to heal. If someone is lost, be there to lead the way.
If someone is being bullied, dare to do something.
Stopping bullying doesn’t have to be a huge display. All you have to do is stand up and speak.
If you feel an urge to say something that you know is hurtful, take a minute and think about the roles being reversed. It’s not enough to just agree with the idea that bullying is bad. We need to recognise when WE are doing the bullying.
Everyone has something that can be attacked. Everyone has something about themselves that they wish they could change; that they don’t like. EVERYONE.
Most people have been bullied at least once.
Peers, parents, relatives, strangers. It can happen from anywhere at any time.
There is nothing we can do about how others treat us, but there is always something we can do about how we treat others.
Over the last year when I left my stable full time job to seek out more creative work, I applied for one in particular that I secured an interview for! But, something came through in the confirmation email that was NOT what I bargained for.
What was supposed to come? A map of the area and some general preparation documents.
What actually came? A shortlist for the interview candidates.
Right away, it was clear that the shortlist document with a table containing names on the left and information filled in on the right was NOT supposed to make it’s way into my inbox. But, there it was in black and white.
I quickly closed the document down without reading anything else (I’d only seen the names and the title ‘shortlist’), but then came the decision.
This was my chance, wasn’t it? To get a one up on the competition?
What if someone else had better qualifications and experience? What if I could do or say something to look better than them? I just need to know what it is that they have over me and I’d be a shoo-in to get the gig, right?
Some people told me to read it – what’s the harm? Some people told me to delete it and NOT tell the employer about their mistake. This silly little document that wasn’t meant for my eyes was giving me insecurity against my fellow interview candidates. It was causing me to compare myself to imaginary people and doubt my own abilities – and I hadn’t even read it!
It got me thinking. Life is a little like this sometimes. We can get an ’email’ sent to us that isn’t meant for us. It wasn’t supposed to show up in our path and seems legit. When that happens, we have two choices
You can read it, but when you do, it changes everything. Sometimes it changes the way we see ourselves or other people. Sometimes it changes the way we act, or speak to other people. Sometimes, we can let this opportunity or information cloud our mind.
The other option, is to send it right back and never look at it. Push aside that information on your college which could get you the promotion, but ruin their lives. Push aside that opportunity to move to another country, but would uproot your family and make them miserable.
I chose to be honest, and I chose to delete what wasn’t meant for me.
Hello friends; writers, readers, life livers, everyone really.
WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?
I found myself in an interesting position recently. Along with everyone else, I’ve been in lockdown at home – which means i’ve been able to write more and work on my 1st book manuscript a lot (which is great!).
So, when a familiar writing competition entered my view a month before Coronavirus, I thought
I don’t have time. My manuscript won’t be at a point where I want others to read it. I can’t get it to the ‘good point’ in just a month and a half. My plot is being kept under wraps for now, so I don’t want to share it.
And on, and on, goes the list.
After being able to pay A LOT of attention to the manuscript, I realised that the competition I had seen (and entered several times before – coming in 2nd in 2011 thank you very much!) was still open – For 2 more weeks…
Then you have the excuses like
Will it be good enough in 2 weeks? I can only do ONE solid round of edits – perhaps 2 if I get my butt into gear.
Eventually though, I committed to it, and edited the crap out of that manuscript! I surprised myself and did 2 good rounds of edits, AND made the deadline with 2 days to spare 😀
I stepped out of my comfort zone, where I felt my work was ready to show, where I felt I didn’t have time, where I wasn’t sure of the outcome; and jumped head first!
So, what’s stopping you from chasing that dream you’ve been pushing off? Is it fear of failure, or because you just don’t have the time (or won’t prioritise the time…??)?
I’m so excited to have thrown my hat in the ring this year, and I know that my work is heads above anything i’d ever entered before. Regardless of the outcome, I did it. I stepped out and wasn’t afraid of failure.
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