Walk With Me

It’s suggested to know someone you should walk a mile in their shoes.

Imagine the feel of those cowboy boots as you tug on the straps and immerse your feet and thoughts in the life and stride that created that worn leather. Feel how confident you are as you strut across a crowded room. Notice how everyone hears the powerful, echoing sound of the unyielding leather soles as they meet the wood floor beneath your feet. You can almost hear the haunting whistle from the theme song “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”.

Now a code blue alert beckons your attention as you run down the hallway. You hear the sound of your rubber-soled shoes squelch against the polished tile floor. You arrive first to the room and thank your comfortable leather uppers for allowing you to move without concern for yourself as you concentrate on helping a patient during this crisis.

Who are these people? What do they do for a living? What happens in their life? How would it be to walk in their shoes for just a little while?

The fictional stories presented here give you a glimpse of another’s walk through life. So, come on, slip on those shoes and…walk with me.

Click here to view the short stories.

Life is Delicate

This week’s Photo Challenge from Michelle Weber at WordPress is to share a picture that means delicate to me.

I feel that I cannot concentrate as I watch the news today and think about how delicate life is. The tragedy that occurred today in Newtown, Connecticut is causing my heart to ache. I wish that I could hug each and every person in that community and everyone affected. I recall very clearly this period of my life and cannot fathom what it would be like to have to live through something like this. All I can do is encourage everyone to hug your children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents. Talk with your family and friends about this. Tell them that you love them.

Delicate
©2012 Tracy L. Constantine

I share with you the above image. I recall as I took this picture, the wind blowing gently, causing the delicate fronds to sway in the breeze. Let the breeze of love blow gently on each and every one of you.

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Winner, Winner...Chicken Dinner

“So, what’s with the title of this post?” you ask. Let me tell you. One month ago, I started a journey that many of my friends start in the month of November. It’s called NaNoWriMo, which stands for National Novel Writing Month. It’s a challenge sponsored by The Office of Letters and Light for writers to complete a 50,000 word novel in one month’s time. When I started, I thought I might be a little twitterpated, as you can see in my initial post:

Gone Writing…and a Little Twitterpated

I passed the 50,000 word mark on the morning of November 24th and kept writing. In the final week, I was able to write an astonishing 36,794 more words. I always knew I had a lot to say, but with 86,794 words, this just proved it. I proudly display the certificate presented for my accomplishment.

Winner, Winner…Chicken Dinner

The funny thing is that throughout this entire process, I still found myself editing, especially during that first week. Taking off my editor’s hat, even for a short time, was hard but very rewarding, as the characters took control of my fingers and told their story. The month of December will be spent entirely on conversing with them to determine what should stay and what should go. I’m sure there will be a few disagreements, but in the end, we should come to a mutual understanding about how their story should be told.

Back to your initial question. What’s with the title of this post? My husband promised that if I was able to reach the goal of 50,000 words, he would take me out to dinner. I chose chicken. Hence the title, Winner, Winner…Chicken Dinner.

To all my friends who participated in NaNoWriMo this year, I congratulate you on your accomplishments and thank you all for your support. And, as always, if you like what I’m doing, please let me know by clicking on the Like button. If you don’t have a WordPress account, don’t worry, you can type a simple comment letting me know. You can even do this anonymously if you’d prefer. Thank you so much for your feedback. I really do appreciate it.

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Gone Writing...and a Little Twitterpated

Each November, hundreds of thousands of writers come together online to share in a similar goal, to write as many words as possible in one month. The goal is to write 50,000 words toward a novel, without doing any editing. That’s 1,667 words per day. It seems improbable, you say? Well, I don’t know. We shall see, because I’ve decided to join in the fun and frivolity! You may think me out of my mind, a little warped, or simply twitterpated. Well, you and the Owl in Bambi may be right. You might say that I was walking along, minding my own business, looking neither to my left, nor to my right, when all of a sudden I ran smack into NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month. I let out a hoot! And a holler! Said, Sign me up!

Now, before you all say I’ve lost my marbles. Let me tell you. I’m off to a good start. I’ve already written 942 words and yes, old habits are hard to break. I’ve already edited it once and had to remind myself several times to concentrate on the story. Don’t worry about the editing, that can come later.

This is going to be quite the journey. I hope I don’t end up going weak in the knees. I’m sure my head will be in a whirl before this is over, and as long as I don’t lose my head, I should be just fine.I hope to be walking on air as I reach and hopefully surpass the goal by November 30th. I just hope my quill is light as a feather as the words tumble out of my brain and onto paper.

They say becoming twitterpated could happen to anybody. Well I’m here to tell you, I’m willing to take the chance. I’ve prepared the snacks, stocked up on tea and hung up my Gone Writing sign. I hope to pop in every once in a while to give you an update, but just in case, there’s plenty to read in my archives, and you can always visit my other blogs to see what I’ve been doing there. Your words of encouragement are more than welcome. Thank you for being here and talk with you soon!

My blogs: Enjoy The View, Walk With Me, On My Mind and Ravenous Reader

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More Matter

I’ve just posted the second installment in a series of stories about Mel, David and their friends as they mark off items from their bucket list. I couldn’t help myself. The moment I saw the You Matter video from the TED Talks, my mind kept playing a fictional story in my head. Please click here to read It’s Time To Say…You Matter. I hope you enjoy it.

And, as always, if you like it, please leave a comment. Thank you.

These Two Words Can Change Your Life

A while ago, I saw a TED Talk by Angela Maiers. I came across it again just the other day and have been thinking about what she said. The topic was ‘You Matter’.

These two simple words can change your life. You matter. Two words. One fewer than its intended meaning…I love you. We say these words all the time to our family and friends. We say the words so often that we sometimes do them instinctively. It’s a habit. An extremely wonderful habit that does not need to be broken.

When you tell someone that they matter, you’re saying that they are a human being and they are noticed. They are important. They are necessary. They are significant.

Every person on this planet needs to know that they are cared for. Let’s notice one another. Let’s tell someone that they have been noticed. Then tell someone else. And then someone else. Change your life. Change someone else’s life. Make it a habit. I will start and tell you that…You matter.

If you like this, please click on the Like button. Also feel free to share and leave comments. Thank you!

What It Would Be Like Without Peace

What It Would Be Like Without Peace
©2012 Tracy L. Constantine

I searched through all of my images for something that would be suitable for today, the International Day of Peace. I felt this was most appropriate. Please let me know what you think.

The International Day of Peace is observed every year on September 21st. For more information, please visit http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org.