A brief reflection for today.
This past Thursday evening, my wife Lucille and I dined at a local restaurant, in the process collecting fodder for my "From My Seat" hospitality blog. If you haven't visited the blog yet, please do so: https://stevesearswriter.weebly.com/hospitality. As we dined, we discussed what makes us happy, and both agreed that part of what accomplishes this was occurring right there: she and I together, eating and talking. Include my daughter, Stefanie, and make it a trio, and it's even better. One of my recent goals was to spend time more time with my family. Therefore, both my computer and phone get shut off at 6 PM EST, my workday complete, the evening dedicated to my wife, daughter, miniature dachshund, and me. During a meeting on Wednesday at a local bookstore, a client asked me how business was. I told him it was challenging, then further said, "But, I enjoy what I do." I halted, then continued. "See this," I said, waving around the bookstore with my hand, "I love this." I also described how a visit to a store filled with books and magazines fuels my creativity and working spirit. "Yeah, it's like a library," he said. "Yes, but what does it do for me? It thrills me." I then went on to tell him how someone I know was encouraged to visit a bookstore, and he refused, saying it was boring. "For me," I continued, "this is far from boredom. You see, I don't need to be rich. I have what I need: my family, my home, my health, my spirituality, my writing - my work. Give me that, all that I have right now, and I'm happy." Yes, that's all I truly want. It's all I really need. Steve
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If you follow the Roman Catholic religion, whether from afar or ensconced seriously within the rituals it suggests, you know that this past Wednesday, February 14, Ash Wednesday, kicked off the Lenten season. During a pre-January 1st blog post regarding setting goals, I stated that I never set resolutions as a kick off for any new year; instead, I set my goals in action prior, so that I hit the ground running (make that, I am already sprinting) while others see the first of the year as the leap day.
So that brings me to my Lenten observances, and how I am using this time period as a checkpoint as to how I am progressing. The funny thing is, minus the 40 days of Lent, I hadn't set up a date and time to periodically check and see how I am doing. That's not good, but God has come to my rescue. Being somewhat transparent, I can admit that my writing life has been going well, and my earnings should soon be better. As for my health, I have become stagnant, my only activity lately typing away here at my writing desk. Pair that with less-than-par nutrition and you have an alert. There's a silver lining here, though. A recent blood test and cholesterol profile prove that my past workout and nutrition regimens have brought my poor past levels to a current better one. So, I created updated goals for my health coach, which she applauded to spur me on to even better health! And then there's family and spiritually. To be a better husband to my wife Lucille and Dad to my daughter Stefanie, well...shouldn't that top all? Sure, but I won't get there without the better physical health and spiritual health. I NEED to be here for them, and My Lord wants and needs me to be here for them. So, for Lent, I'm giving up anything and everything that separates my from Jesus and my family. Will I be perfect? No. But turning away from poor "anything" and being good "something" ensures I can be better. Steve I try to be a person of deep spirituality. I may be less spiritual than most, but there are some folks who may think my twice daily constitution of prayer and scripture reading is a bit much.
I beg to differ. It is within those time frames where my peace and strength for every day moments is found. I "take" what I read, do my best to ingrain it, and live a life of the message received. With regard to prayer and scripture, I know from where communication is delivered. However, when I encounter people or situations, be they good or bad, what exactly is being delivered, by whom, and why? This past June, following my first-ever job layoff, I was scheduled for jury duty. On the first day I met a man who was at the courthouse for the first time, a stranger in a strange land. He looked lost out in the parking lot, so I directed him where to go and as we walked we chatted a bit. Once inside we parted ways. On the second day, as we were waiting to get dismissed, he and I met up again in one of the waiting rooms and there struck up a deeper conversation about our families and our work. He told me he grew up in Argentina and had been in the United States for over 20 years. His parents, he said, chose to remain in the homeland. I then told him about my recent layoff. He looked at me a for a second, and then spoke. "So, what are your plans?" "We'll," I responded, "right now I'm going to work from home as a freelance writer." He came closer to me, as the televisions blaring in the room made it hear to be heard, and spoke firmly, "Make sure you do something...anything." I started to say something, but he put up his hands, halted me, and continued. "My father was a university professor in Argentina. At age 70 he decided to retire. For a year he did nothing; he just sat at home. It killed him." He then went on to tell me that his Dad often told him he'd wished he hadn't retired. I said nothing for a brief period, but then said, "Just like that...he died?" He nodded. "He was in perfect health, then he died an old man because he didn't keep busy." He backed away a bit into his seat, then again said, "Do something." We soon were dismissed from jury service and said our goodbyes, but his words have remained with me, I pondering them every so often when I sit here at my writing desk or, most of all, when I don't feel like doing anything, and then become lethargic. The question is, where did his message come from? Yes, he spoke the words, they expressed in sadness but determination, but from where were those words inspired? I believe -- and more so, have faith enough to know -- that it came from a loving God watching over me. Many individuals have belief, faith, hope, knowledge, and perhaps many have none of the before mentioned. I deny no individual their right to personal feelings and beliefs; you think as you think. As philosopher James Allen said, “You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.” So, I'm thinking that God was speaking through that man to me, sending me a very important message. So here I sit, a former 27-year computer operator, now a full-time writer -- always doing something. I'm heeding the message. Steve I most of the time work at a writing desk in my basement, and have been doing so since 1996.
A lot has changed on and around my desk area in 21 years, but much has also stayed the same. Pictures of my wife and daughter reign supreme, photos of both sometimes switched to newer ones, and books -- lots of them -- either stand upright and lay on their backsides nearby. Also "neighboring" me are statues of my Lord Jesus Christ, my bible, and my few prayer journals which will belong to my daughter when I depart this world. Anyway, as I yesterday (Friday) worked on an article in my bunker 5' below ground level, I reached into my file cabinet and reached for my current assignment and project sheets to update them. As I did so, I noticed in the back of the cabinet past file folders filled with assignment and project sheets marked "Completed." And those folders date back to 2007 only, folders of prior years long ago torn up and discarded. I thought for a moment of all that work, that abundance of toil in my writing career, not all of it fun, and much of it certainly "work." There's a saying that goes something like this: pick a career you love and you'll never work a day in your life. I'm sure you've heard it or read it somewhere. Well, I state now that work is work, whatever field you are in, and this applies even if your career is your dream, which mine is. But there IS a difference. The saying applies to those who select a career due to a fondness (profound or whatever) and "own" it. And owning it means embracing it, all of it, and for a writer that means late nights, the rewrites, the marketing, the study of the realm for improvement - all of it. It can be wonderful thing. At times, it seems you are walking on air. The above lends itself to this true story I relate to all writers, especially young freelancers. Back in December 2009, during a year which towards end picked up momentum in continuous work and didn't halt when the New Year's Eve chime rang, I had lunch with a publisher. As I drove to the restaurant to meet her, on my mind was what seemed like endless work I had waiting for me when I returned home, and how I had to complete that work by Christmas, which was two weeks away. As we sat there and enjoyed nice conversation, I said to her, "Man, I can't wait for this month to be over. I have nineteen articles -- NINETEEN! -- to finish by Christmas. It's ridiculous; I should've never taken it all on." My then-publisher, a jovial type, changed her expression from happy to disturbed, the first time I'd ever seen her face appear so. She pointed at me and said, "Stop. Don't complain about having too much work." I laughed and attempted a response, "Yeah, I gu..." She cut me off. "Steve...do you know how many freelancers have no work right now?" She kept staring at me to be sure her words sunk in. "So, stop complaining." Her words indeed sunk in, and to this day I often think about them, especially when I have work that is pulling me this way and that. So, Monday to Saturday, some work days being busier than others, I commute 15 seconds from the second- floor bedroom to the basement, anxious to get to work, eager to see what will be delivered to my plate. I embrace it all. I feel, and I am, fortunate. Steve |
Steve Sears is a New Jersey based freelance writer
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