Upside Down Cats

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

3. I love the way my mind works. I've always known I was smart but recently I've discovered that I'm a really good thinker. To me, that means that not only do I learn easily but I make valid and logical cognitive leaps. I'm insatiably curious and I love to research and figure things out. Nothing thrills me intellectually like the pieces of a knowledge puzzle coming together to reveal the big picture.

Nothing makes me feel more comfortable in my own skin than knowing I've got it going on upstairs. It's the most meaningful type of beauty - a beautiful mind. 

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

2. I am quite interesting. (You'd know that if you'd shut the hell up and LISTEN to me!)

Perhaps it comes from being the youngest in a household of terribly interesting people - I grew up without trusting that I had a "voice" worth listening to. Or maybe I cultivated it within myself by internalizing a myriad of self-doubts and negative experiences along the way that convinced me that I didn't have much of interest to say and was therefore easily ignored. Whatever the cause, I naturally fell into the habit of being "shy" - not forthcoming with opinions or emotions, unwilling to share my "real self" with many people, for fear of experiencing the lack of respect and the rejection that is manifested by being ignored.

But I've overcome it - especially in the last several years. I have learned that I am indeed quite interesting, clever, intelligent and not a bad conversationalist - IF you bother to listen. I will not, however, beg for your attention. If your pet, children or another conversation is more compelling than I am to you, by all means, heed what you must. But should you be interested in what I have to say, you most likely won't be disappointed.

In fact, rather than accept being ignored, now I am insulted by it. If listening to me isn't worth a few moments of your undivided attention (which I respectfully give to others) then I see that as an unwillingness to really know me. I'm not fast food you can consume without thought. I'm a real meal, worth savoring, at least for a little while.

It's NaBloPoMo Again!

Yes, for a brief time I thought I would pass on NaBloPoMo this year. It's quite a commitment of time and thought. I wondered if I had it in me this year to commit to blogging every day throughout the month of November. Business is brisk and the days slip by so swiftly...did I really have time for this?

Apparently, the answer is, "Yes, yes I do." Or maybe more accurately, "Yes, I want to." After all, I've been participating in National Blog Posting Month since 2007 - that's a track record of which I'm proud and would regret breaking. While blogging - now that I'm a "professional writer" - gets pushed to the bottom of my to-do list, I still love and cherish the opportunity to write just for the sheer joy of personal expression.

Although blogging on a theme isn't a NaBloPoMo requirement, I've never done NaBloPoMo without one, so here's my 2011 theme:

drum roll please...

Things I've learned since becoming a freelance writer

Let me tell you, this career reinvention has been an education! I've made a list of lessons learned and I'll share one per day during the month of November. So that's the plan.

I've already mentioned #1 a couple times in this very post -

1. I am a listmaniac. (As a professional writer, I'm authorized to create my own words - it's in the bylaws.)

I can't imagine the concept of facing a day without a list. If it enters my mind, it must go on a list. Otherwise, "it" stays in my mind, rattling around aimlessly in some ill-fated attempt to process itself - without the all-important procedural step of being placed on a list. In fact, since my discovery of Springpad, a personal organization program, I even make lists of my lists. Oh my.