Our prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “jour.” Find a word containing “jour” or use it as is. Bonus points if you start or end your post with that word. Enjoy! (Thanks Linda Hill!)
Bonjour!
I took three years of French in high school and loved it. Thought about majoring in French even. Then, biology, then psychology…. a journey of revelation. Such is life.
Spanish would have been more practical. Maybe someday, I’ll learn Spanish. But the older I get, the more I realize my time is limited and I must prioritize.
This month, I’m prioritizing NaNoWriMo. Not that I’m knocking myself out, but I’m doing it. Writing a novel is work. Incorporating my family history, or rather basing the novel on my parents, requires some research – just to try to get the timelines accurate. At least when I’m done with the first draft, I’ll have a family history for my kids, plus some fiction to fill in the gaps.
Writing a novel is a process. A long one. Like this election in the US is a process, not an event. Like recovery. The process will hopefully prompt ongoing recovery. A healing I hope.
It might take a long time for my country to heal from the damage that has been done, for us to bridge the divide that has grown at the hands of so called leaders, a divide widened by media’s focus on our differences and conflicts. But it is a journey we can decide to take in faith, or at least in hope. Because if you can’t find faith, look for hope, and hope will lead you to faith.
One step at a time.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” LaoTzu
Sometimes we don’t know how many steps the journey will take, but we can start taking them anyway. Maybe it’s better not to know. Just keep moving toward the light at whatever pace works for you.
Rest when you need to, but don’t give up!
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For more streams of consciousness and rules, please visit Linda Hill at:
November 7, 2020 at 9:28 am
May you all recover
November 7, 2020 at 10:26 am
Thank you, Derrick.
November 7, 2020 at 9:54 am
I did not realize you were writing for NaNo. My story is fiction and has taken a bit of a dark turn. Taking out my frustrations on my characters I think.
November 7, 2020 at 10:41 am
I haven’t written much fiction, but it’s interesting the turns the story can take. My novel is based on my parents/family history as a framework. Yesterday I delved? into a dark event that I briefly heard happened to a neighbor when I was 5. I guess that event wanted more attention than I ever planned.
November 9, 2020 at 10:58 am
I can definitely go down a rabbit hole or two. I must be careful because they can be time sucks if they spark your interest!
November 9, 2020 at 11:15 pm
That’s for sure. Gotta watch out for those rabbit holes.
November 7, 2020 at 10:13 am
Hoping for the recovery 💗
Congrats on your National Novel Month writing!
November 7, 2020 at 10:51 am
Thank you, Ka! It’s a new adventure! ❤
November 7, 2020 at 11:40 am
Congrats on making the plunge with NaNoWriMo. I had intended to do the same with my own family history, but too much has gotten in the way. It might be a 2021 project when hopefully the climate in the country is a little less divided and angry, and I can write with a calmer and more focused mind.
In the meantime, have fun with your writing JoAnna!
November 7, 2020 at 8:16 pm
Thanks, Mary. Writing about my parents in the 50s and 60s has been a distraction from the world as it is now. I started this a couple years ago and hadn’t touched it since then. I believe it’s okay to do things in sections. When the time is right, you could start with your favorite family story.
November 7, 2020 at 1:13 pm
#NeverGiveUp! Beautiful message. I am in a resting mode as we speak but I’ll be up and at ’em shortly.
November 7, 2020 at 8:36 pm
Glad you appreciate the message! Rest is an important and necessary part of balance.
November 7, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Thanks for the uplifting message to take with us on our journey forward as a nation.
“[T]here are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13: 13)
November 7, 2020 at 9:17 pm
Thank you for this heartfelt reminder, Rosaliene. Faith, hope, and LOVE. May they grow in abundance.
November 8, 2020 at 6:58 pm
❤
November 8, 2020 at 10:31 am
“Rest when you need to, but don’t give up!” – I love that.
November 8, 2020 at 9:57 pm
Thanks, Dan. I’m glad you love it. I need that kind of balance between rest and moving forward.
November 13, 2020 at 11:51 am
Good luck with your novel! I’d planned to use NaNoWriMo to finish a work of creative nonfiction, but WORKKKKK is killing any time or energy I thought I’d have. We’re halfway through November…I wonder if I can finish 1/2 a book… That would be something, at least.
November 13, 2020 at 9:14 pm
Thanks for the good luck wishes. I remember having a challenging job and writing a book, but I’m not sure HOW I did it. Maybe scheduled writing time on the weekend. ANY work you do on your book is commendable. Please take good care of you!
November 14, 2020 at 10:48 pm
I’m trying. Insert cry face!!!
November 15, 2020 at 8:49 pm
I’m sending some virtual hugs with smiles on the way!