Tag: writer

Six Years Gone & the Blog Goes On

ARTifacts, The Creative Process, Uncategorized

Happy birthday dear blog, albeit two months late.  Although I have not been as attentive to you these past two years, let me tell you how much you mean to me…

Thank you for being the virtual scrapbook of my adventures, musings, and ramblings.  Thank you for providing a platform for my essays and poetry and for connecting me with other like-minded people.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity be my own publisher and editor.  Thank you for making me a better writer.

I may not get to complete memoir in my lifetime, but you are there as my proxy.  You are an essential thread in my life and for that I am grateful.  In the coming years, I will strive to be more focused and more timely.  May I also acknowledge my dear readers for their commitment to reading the meanderings of my mind.

Now, let’s blog on, shall we?

Tune into my other blog onesweetearth.blog on sustainable living.

Artwork by the author

Why I am Still Blogging After Four Years

The Creative Process, Uncategorized

My WordPress account just renewed.  Here it is- my fourth year and I am still at it.  My first post was on Jan. 4, 2017.  I started blogging during the aftermath of the 2016 election.  At that time, I thought I could not survive the chaos, but here I am, bruised by events but not defeated.  I am thankful for the companionship of my pen which has acted as a lightning rod, keeping me grounded during difficult times.

When I write down the bits of my life the unremarkable becomes remarkable. Those bits become a pathway back to myself when I get lost. Writing combs the tangled strands of my thoughts back into an orderly fashion. When I share my writing with others in a blog post it’s like leaving footprints in the universe to perhaps help others on their journey.I have shared poetry, personal stories, opinions, artwork and photography. It’s been a hodgepodge of myself.

For the most part, my blogging is a weekly practice, a Sunday morning ritual that affirms my existence. I have no master plan or theme as is advised.  During the week I try to pay attention to what pops into my mind worthy to blog about.  It’s an intuitive process.  I don’t fret about topics.  I write for myself but I’ve noticed that the posts where I stay truest to my own sensibilities get the most readers.

If you are reading this post, I am grateful for your time and attention.  It’s gratifying to have readers from all over the world, sometimes from countries that I have never heard from.  Today I have had readers from India, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Indonesia, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mauritius, and Malaysia. I have met some great blog friends and hope to connect with them in person some day in the non-Covid future!

If you are not a writer, I encourage you to write a few words a day.  It doesn’t have to be good- but if you make it a daily practice, you will improve.  It’s a journey worth pursuing.  If you choose to blog- go for it. It’s much more meaningful than Facebook Meanwhile, see you on the blogosphere!

Alanna also blogs about sustainablility on onesweetearth.com

The Art of Getting Out of Bed

Poetry, The Creative Process, Uncategorized

hippie-487046_1920It shouldn’t be that difficult.  Most people open their eyes, pop out of bed and voila!- on with their day.  For me, making the transition from Dreamtime to wakefulness is a sacred ritual.  This can sometimes take up to an hour. Even when I was working full-time I always allowed some time for this.

I have a lot of “wild hamsters” that populate my head and if I don’t get them in line my day seems chaotic.  First I brew a cup of tea, heat up my “hotties” for my tight back and then meditate for 12 minutes.  Once my “spousal equivalent” feeds our two dogs, Bandit (Red Heeler) and Dougan (Golden Retriever) he lifts them up on the bed which is the favorite part of their morning as well.  (Nothing like starting the day with four-legged love).  Then he crawls back into bed to read the paper.IMG_1630

I spend a few minutes in my planner thinking about my goals for the day or week.  On to my journal where I may write anything that’s been lurking in my mind, a poem, or a person-984236_1920sketch for some art.

Notice I don’t start the day reading the news.  I fail to see the point of starting the day feeling depressed.  I can always listen to NPR as I go about my day to stay informed.

Then I am ready to transition from human being to more of a human doing with a foundation of centeredness that I carry with me throughout my day.

Continue reading “The Art of Getting Out of Bed” →