Harvesting the Fruit of the Spirit!

As life has gotten more hectic I find I need all the help I can get. Often I find that help on my book shelf. One of my favorite books is A Woman's Walk With God by Elizabeth George. The book reminds me of how I need to be showing the "fruit of the spirit" in my daily life.  But the book doesn't leave me there. Its is a wonderful guide in HOW to do that. I recently wrote a review on George's book on HubPages. If you are finding yourself looking for some spiritual guidance based on Biblical principals, check it out!
A Must Read for Christian Women!

Living in Reality

I am trying to be honest these days. Not that I was ever really dishonest.. I guess what I really mean is I am trying to honestly look at everything.  How I feel, what needs to be done, what makes me happy, what makes me unhappy. Now I know that some people are always in touch with their feelings etc.  For me, I tend to feel things about three days later.  Something bad can happen and I seem to cope fabulously initially and then collapse later.   Like three days later. Or maybe later than that. This can be an annoying problem because sometimes when I am feeling down, or depressed or fearful - its about something that happened three days ago. And I can't always remember what happened three days ago.  So today I am trying to live in reality. Today's reality.  Feeling all my feelings today.  Accepting whatever is going on as it really is... today.  I am not completely sure I like this.  It's easier to accept yesterday because it has already happened and what can you do about it?  I mean if I have to accept today on its own terms I might have to be honest about my feelings in the present moment.  Oddly, nothing bad is going on today... but I have that "waiting for the other shoe to drop" kind of feeling.  In fact I am not aware of any shoes that have dropped.  A shoe might have dropped three days ago. But I can't remember. So why am I feeling this way?  This is the kind of trouble I get into when I attempt to live in a present moment.  If I can wait three days, it gives me perspective on whatever was going on and I can decide how I should feel then... Hmmm. I don't know how I feel about that.
I guess I will find out in a couple of days.

Its the litte stuff that drives me Crazy!

I don't know about the rest of you but does it seem like when something breaks down, everything breaks down? We are beset currently with car problems and internet modem problems. Meaning we can't get anywhere in either the real or virtual worlds.  All our cars have oil issues. I just replaced a computer several weeks ago only to have my home modem's cord get chewed through by my cat. And of course, after visiting various AT&T stores, come to find out that the modem is old and there is no replacement for the cord. So now 100 bucks later a NEW modem will be coming my way... eventually. For some reason I can deal, with earthquakes, mud slides and death easier than I can with this stuff. It is maddening. Maddening because it is so small and yet affects everything I do.  I work a lot from home so I have to have a working internet connection. Obviously a car is critical if I ever want to leave my house. So here I am, limping along on some default connection that is probably my neighbor's and hoping my car doesn't burn up because of loss of oil. 
Still when I put all of this into perspective... say Haiti - I really am still ok. Crazy maybe, but ok nevertheless.

Hollywood Networking Mistakes: Ten No No's

In my experience of working in the film industry, there are as many things you should try NOT to do as there are things to do. In my previous article on Schmoozing I talked about ways to increase your success at networking in Hollywood. In this article I address some of the major actions that will hurt your chances of being asked back to parties, meetings and screenings. The reason I have created this list is that I have been guilty of many of these mistakes at some point in my career. I just want to help others avoid the embarrassment! Enjoy!

Hollywood Networking Mistakes: Ten No No's

Overwhelmed!

Some days the little things get to me.  For example, the cat chewed through the cord to my DSL line and now I have to go get another one.  We are out of cat food and one of our cats has a medical condition requiring special cat food and no one has time to go get it.  Dishes need washing. I have a doctor's appointment,  there are bills to be paid, books to be returned,  class prep to do.  I haven't even scratched the surface of it all.  And even as I write it down here, it doesn't seem like such an insurmountable mountatin. In my mind it is Mount Everest.  As I look ahead to my week, I see more chores, more tasks, more problems to be solved. How can I possibly do it all.  This is where God comes in. I can't do it. But God can.  I don't know why it is, but when I take time for God I have enough time to do what I need to do.  I talked about turning it over yesterday. This is another one of those days that I need to turn over. 
One thing God tells me to do - is to just focus on whatever is in front of me right now.  To live in the present moment and not get caught up in what I should've done yesterday and what huge thing awaits me tomorrow. I am just to do what is in front of me today.  I know this. I have read this. I have been told this many times.  But the truth is I have to relearn this EVERY day. Every day I have to slow down and just do what is in front of me and let the rest take care of itself in time.  I wish I could say that I do this perfectly.  I don't. Which is why I am writing about it.  And why I will probably write about it some more.  If someone out there has a way of living, or getting things done that they want to share with me.. PLEASE DO.  Or if you are in the same boat... let me know. Misery loves company.  Not that I am miserable... just struggling to learn how to live each day for itself!

Turning It Over Again

A while back someone gave me a rock that had the words "Turn it over" painted on one side. When you turned the rock over again you saw the words "Turn it over" on the other side.  Hence no matter which way you turn the rock it says, "Turn it over."  A really powerful statement actually. No matter what, turn it over - to God.  Everything. Every time.  We look for answers everywhere. The next diet, the better workout,  another class,  Oprah, the next door neighbor, Dr. Phil. And on it goes. Who can give us the answer? Turn it over.  Its hard to do at times. Turn over a problem to an unseen entity.  Sit quietly and really listen for advice. Especially if we are stressed or in a hurry or want an answer RIGHT NOW.
Turn it over.  I know that often God is the last place I go when I am trying to solve stuff.  Sort of, "I could have had V8!"  But instead its, "I could have turned this over to God!"  God is so patient.  He waits for us to finish running around, bumping into walls. When we are tired enough, we go to Him. Surrender. Today. Every day. But today is enough. Just today. I am turning it over.

Learn How to Network more effectively!

While teaching my Entertainment Business class this week it occurred to me that perhaps there are others out there that could use some advice on networking.  Whether you are trying to get into Hollywood or just find a new job, it is important to get out of the house and shake some hands. So I wrote and article for HubPages about Schmoozing (the Hollywood term for networking).
If you want to take a look, click here.

You are not too old for Facebook!

Facebook for Boomers

Since I am teaching a class about mass media this semester, I started thinking about how many people in my generation are still not connected on Facebook. Back in the early dawn of the internet.. oh 10, 15 years ago, I remember being irritated when I couldn't find a website for a company I was interested in. Or when someone I knew didn't have email. It just seemed so prehistoric. Well now, it's that way with Facebook. Everyone needs to be on Facebook. For me. So I decided to write an article for HubPages about it. Take a look!  Click here or on the link in the title!

A great book for midwinter blues!

I recently wrote an article on HubPages on one of my favorite books In My Father's Vineyard. Sometimes it seems, even here in southern California that Spring will never come and we will forever be slogging through muddy streets and rain soaked parking lots. But Wayne Jacobsen's book helps  put all the seasons into perspective as he writes about growing up around vineyards and comparing his life lessons to the wonderful lesson Jesus teaches the apostles the night before his death.  A beautiful message of hope and renewal! It might be just the book to curl up with on a rainy evening!

Blogging for fun and profit!! Business2Blogger

As I have been working on developing this blog I have been amazed at the seemingly endless opportunities that exist to help those who want to do a little extra writing for a living. In this new world of social networking,  having an opinion can equal making money by talking about the stuff you love, hate, places you have been etc.  One interesting opportunity I have come across is the website Business2Blogger.com which helps put together writers and businesses that need someone to write about their stuff. Word of the mouth is king these days on the internet and apparently there are tons of opportunities to share your opinion for cash! The only problem is... finding the companies that need your services. That is what Blogger2Business has done - quite ingeniously I might add! Give it a try for yourself and see what you think!! Let me know too!

Getting back in the flow of things

I had a lovely long winter break from teaching but started back this past week. Now I have stacks of stuff to read, emails to answer, papers to write, classes to plan. And there is this side of me that just wants to lie down and put a rag on my forehead.  And another side of me that actually likes all this activity! Balance.  Moderation. Not words that I embrace much. But so important. I guess one way to get more balance and moderation in my life is to try to focus only on what is in front of me. Instead of thinking about a million things at a time. Women are known for their ability to multi-task.. and I am the queen of multitasking! But the curse of that ability is that I feel like I am always in a whirlwind. And frankly its exhausting. So I am trying something new.... just for today. I am going to try to do ONE THING AT A TIME.  Scary. But for me - I need to do this for my sanity and for my family's sanity. We will see if it works.