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michaelbjorkwrites · 5 years ago

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10 Lessons from a Decade of Writing

Over the last decade, I graduated from high school, got a bachelor's in writing, earned an MFA in fiction, and started working as a copywriter.

In that time, I grew a lot as a writer — so I thought I’d share the lessons that helped me most along the way!

How does one from each year sound?

2010: Don't let high expectations be a barrier to good writing

As a teenager, I had unhealthy expectations for my writing. This not only made writing painful, but also held back the quality of my work. Thankfully, in my last year of high school, I had to crank out a short story for a class, with no time to revise as I went. The result? I had fun, and ended up writing a story that was better than anything I’d written before it. That’s when I realized how toxic lofty expectations could become, if left unchecked.

2011: Good stories often depict, or inspire, change

In my first college writing workshop, our professor (of "It's never about the bread" fame) told us that a good story often does one of two things: it either depicts a change in a character, or inspires a change in the reader. While a bit simplistic, that guidance was invaluable to me at the time. The first option gave me a clear target to aim for in workshop, while option two exposed me to the full, baffling mystery of what makes a story worth telling.

2012: Clear, specific language brings scenes to life

As a sophomore, I fell in love with Raymond Carver's minimalism and was particularly struck by the following description from "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love":

Mel handed me the saucer of limes. I took a section, squeezed it over my drink, and stirred the ice cubes with my finger.

The description struck me as remarkably vivid, yet lean — making me realize how a small description could breathe life into a scene when written with clear, specific language.

2013: Personal experiences fuel good writing

After years of avoiding the genre, I took my first poetry workshop as a junior, and SURPRISE. I loved it. It was the first time I’d ever really tried writing about my own experiences, and it brought an invigorating sense of reality to both my poetry and my fiction. It also inspired me to become more observant, which fed back into my writing and made me better appreciate life’s little moments.

2014: Never mow the same grass twice

Throughout college, I had a trumpet instructor who’d often say, "Michael, I hate to mow the same grass twice!" You can find a full explanation here, but long story short, he encouraged me to fix flaws in my performance immediately upon discovering them, because if you repeat mistakes, they become habits. Bad habits that only get harder to break over time.

I didn't take his advice to heart in my music, but I did apply it to my fiction. In the coming years, it would be instrumental (ha) in honing my craft.

2015: How to tie plot to character growth

In high school, my stories were all plot. In college, my stories were all character. During the first year of my MFA, I learned how to merge the two, by writing narrators with:

Emotions that drive actions,

Actions that trigger consequences, and

Consequences that compel growth.

This structure is simple, but effective, particularly when your character is motivated by a clear emotional struggle. More about this structure here.

2016: Write the stories that excite you

Throughout college, I almost exclusively wrote non-genre stories, because I wanted to pursue particular goals in that space. I learned a lot in the process, but it wasn't until the second year of my MFA that I realized my stories themselves had lost a certain spark. So I switched back to writing the genre stories I loved. Like an old friend, the spark came back — and the writing got a lot more fun.

2017: Accept that you'll never catch up to your expectations

The great irony of being a writer is that the more you hone your craft, the further away "perfection" seems. Why? Because as we improve, we not only overcome weaknesses, but also discover the flaws we never knew existed. So we fix those flaws. Discover new ones. Fix them. And so on. It’s a frustrating, never-ending cycle, and it wasn’t until my final year of the MFA that I was able to fully accept it — finding comfort in the fact that my dissatisfaction was a sign of growth.

2018: Be willing to let stories go

In my first year as a copywriter, the fast pace of agency life quickly taught me the importance of knowing when to "let go" of my writing. At work, it was because I had deadlines. But in fiction, I realized I couldn't keep revising the same stories forever, when others were waiting to be written. “Art is never finished, only abandoned,” said Leonardo da Vinci, and it's true. Our stories will never be perfect, so it’s our responsibility to decide when it’s time to cut the cord.

2019: If you want to write meaningful stories, start with what’s important to you

After my fiction professor gave that brief explanation (back in 2011) of what made a good, meaningful story, I became obsessed with finding a clearer answer. Something to grasp onto to guide my writing.

But this past year, I realized it was a bit of a fool’s errand. The things that make a story worth telling are incredibly subjective and different for everyone — naturally arising from their backgrounds, desires, fears, and more.

You can’t predict it. Or at least, you can’t predict it well.

So you just need to look inward. To find what you think is important.

And then write.

2020: TBD

Cheers to a new decade, everybody! May we keep honing our craft and fill the years to come with incredible stories.

— — —

Your stories are worth telling. For more helpful tips on how to craft meaning, build character-driven plots, and grow as a writer, follow my blog.

#writeblr #Writing tips #writing advice #writing #writers on tumblr #writers of tumblr #writebrl #how to write #writerblr #writeblogging #plotting #characterization

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qonqr · 5 years ago

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Fall Clean Up

Today I woke up an hour earlier than usual, and I awoke thinking about new code. I honestly can’t tell you the last time I felt like getting up to write code, instead of going back to bed. It must be at least a year or more.

For most of the past month, I purposely avoided writing much code for QONQR. Partly this was out of necessity. With the newly migrated server code, it is important not to add too much new code while waiting to see what was broken in the migration. Surprisingly, less broke than I expected. There was a multi-day scramble to fix some android subscription and PayPal receipt confirmation issues, but most of the other things were minor and took only a few hours to track down. The migration was far more stable than I anticipated. It is rare that 8 months of work is released all at once with so few issues.

Another very positive outcome (so far): the old mission server stopped counting launches, but the new one kept going. Hopefully we have seen the last of missions that get stuck.

The other reason for writing so little code was I needed a break from QONQR, as I alluded to in my previous blog post. However, I promptly overfilled that time with way too much other work. I coach a high school robotics team. Last week I took six students from the team on a 4-hour road trip to one of the largest tech conferences in the Midwest. There we put on an all-day camp where kids built small Raspberry Pi robots, using 3D printed and laser cut parts I designed. I spent much of my last month learning CAD, creating assemblies, writing robot code, and testing the parts and code our students would use to teach kids how to make robots. Like many entrepreneurs, taking a break doesn’t mean sitting around, but rather working on someone else’s problem. Working with the students to create a robotics camp was a chance to learn some new skills and accomplish new goals. The team is already planning our next camp this fall.

So today, the second day back from the conference, I woke with new energy. Energy for our community. I’m going to do my best to keep that forward momentum and try to spend at least part of every week working on community stuff. I firmly believe that the QONQR community is why this game has survived so long. More on that in a bit.

But first a word from our anti-hacker department (also me). If you use an app cloner, auto-clicker, root cloak, GPS spoofer, hit our API from your own software, or any other attempt to cheat or manipulate the information about your device, you will be banned. Stop emailing support asking for the account you used for 4 years be unbanned because you didn’t realize it was against the rules to clone the app so you can try to multi-scope. When you attempt to clone QONQR, you are decompiling our app and modifying it. Regardless if you think this is cheating our not because “Android makes it possible without rooting your phone”. You, the human behind the device, violated our terms of service and copyright. All your accounts are banned, not just the accounts on the hacked software.

As part of my “fall cleanup” tasks, I am finally moving our DNS. This process began yesterday and will take a week. Once complete, the old servers will be shut down, and everyone will be using the new servers. Please review my previous blog post for how that will impact the mobile clients. Here is the short list.

QONQR classic no longer supported

Android 4.4 no longer supported

Windows Phone, might break completely and won’t be fixed

Chat and sync lock mini-game definitely broken on Windows Phone

Another clean-up task that is long overdue is to take down the forums. If you didn’t know there were forums, don’t worry, very little good content has been posted in them for years. The monthly cost of the forums wasn’t painful enough for me to take action on them before and there was some good content in the forums that I was reluctant to lose. It wasn’t until I had to avoid QONQR code, that I could invest time in the old forums.

Over the weekend I was able to get a dump of the forums database. With several hours of database querying, I was able to identify nearly 24,000 spam posts, which was about 1/3 of the total content. This was the problem with the forums. It was impossible to create a good integration between the 3rd party forums and our player database. We tried once, it was expensive and broke with the very next forums upgrade. The forums were impossible to manage because we didn’t have good control of the users. In the end the forums failed because it was overrun by bad people. By the way, the creators of the forum software promote their “spam filtering” plugin, which I did have enabled.

Part of my invigoration this morning is that as I was going through the database, I saw the names of our very first players, with whom I spent hours chatting with on the forums. I saw suggestions for game features and advice given to fellow players who were struggling. I saw tutorials, art, stories, and invitations to meetup in person. I saw a connection to the broader community that I haven’t had in a long time.

I want to have a new forums site. One that we fully control. Forums where you can only post if you have launched today. Forums with abuse systems that allow the community to self-manage poor content, and consequences for behaving badly. I dream of players gaining reputation for having a positive effect on the community, and points for helping fellow players find solutions to their problems. I want those who give substantial positive impact in the forums to have recognition for that in the game.

This is a huge effort, one which I am reluctant to undertake with the other goals I had hoped to accomplish this year. However, the prospect has me excited and I want to capitalize on that energy, which I haven’t had in a very long time. Will we have new forums this year? I doubt it. Maybe we will never have the forums I want. However, I’ve been reminded that our community is key to QONQR’s success and will try to spend a little time each week on community initiatives.

If there is anything you want off the old forums, grab it this week. I have an archive of the forums and will be saving the fan art, fan fiction, and other stuff worth keeping. Not sure what I will do with it yet. Don’t post anything new in the forums, I won’t be pulling a new snapshot.

Sometimes you need to go back to the beginning to find your way forward. Thanks for being part of QONQR. Thanks for making an impact.

-Scott (aka Silver)

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criticalessay116 · 4 years ago

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custom paper

About me

Fundations Handwriting Practice

Fundations Handwriting Practice Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this materials with out specific and written permission from the proprietor of Wise Owl Factory is strictly prohibited. One image with a link back may be used supplied that full and clear credit score is given to Wise Owl Factory and with applicable and particular direction to the original content. Copying a post partially, or fully, is strictly prohibited. Autumn Acrostic Poem - Write a poem about this season utilizing the letters within the word autumn. This lesson supplies that actual life reference to writing a pleasant letter to an actual viewers. They're so elegant you may want some free cursive writing worksheets to apply before you start. This classy writing paper has a fall theme with leaves scattered over the sand. This summer season writing paper has grass, butterflies, clouds, and bushes. Finally, this paper is meant for first graders and higher. Students will draw photos of what occurs at first, center and end of their tales. The packing containers are on the left facet of their journal and the additional traces are on the best facet so they can still see the pictures. This paper is supposed for use for kindergartners who're in their starting stages of writing. They will draw a picture within the box after which write their sentences below it. You also can talk about college students’ writing goals with them as you meet with kids individually and in small groups. Sometimes I like to make use of drafting paper that includes a self-assessment checklist. These checklists are great for getting children to consider whether or not they arereallyfinished with an article – and if they've accomplished their finest work. You can simply create a word bank by writing or projecting words on the board that youngsters can use whereas they're writing. I also really like to let children have a word bank right in entrance of them, so that they’re more likely to use it. Tonight I created some different writing papers that I need to use during Writer's Workshop based off the ideas that he gave us. Studentreasures Publishing is right here to set your little learners up for writing success. We provide free classbook publishing kits to assist lecturers foster creativity within the classroom. We additionally present enjoyable, exciting 1st-grade writing prompts and worksheets so that you can higher interact your college students. I usually begin the college 12 months with these stapled booklets. As the year goes on, I begin offering extra pages for youths to add to their booklets, after which finally pages that kids can staple to create collectively to create their very own books. Give college students 3-page stapled booklets to use when writing tales. As the year progresses more strains are added. I've talked about before that I use Lucy Calkin's Units of Study for Writing. Today I want to share the handwriting paper I use with my students to assist them manage their Writing. This can help us a) problem greater college students to write more, or b) prevent struggling students from feeling overwhelmed or insufficient as a result of they will’t refill all of the strains. Give some students paper with fewer/more strains than the paper most students are using. This page has over 128 artistic writing worksheets and related printables. This 38 web page printable book includes a full 14 days of writing activities as well as a spot to draw pictures and add images. I determined to go forward and make a few of these pages myself in order that I may share them with you here today! Here is a listing of patterns printables available from Houghton Mifflin. They can be used for a shape book or themed writing page. This web site and blog have lots of of academic printables and sources for Pre-K by way of the elementary grade ranges. Schools, homeschools, and youngsters's teams corresponding to scouts are welcome to access our supplies. Use the blank writing paper for creative writing ideas. Bright blue autumn days with brilliant leaves crusing within the wind are so refreshing and invigorating. See more printable lined paper for the seasons beneath in a near alphabetical order, or go to see them so as by seasons. It dawned on me that I could train the names of every section (and LINE!) far more explicitly, and that we could follow what to call every line entire group! Then I discovered one other with just blue, inexperienced, and brown and the strains on it,and then I made my own massive format (eight.5” x eleven”) page in black and white with just the lines on it and nothing else. You may also just like the free December theme kindergarten writing pack. It downloads from the December freebies page. Practice for all letters of the alphabet and in addition 1-10 is included. That was fun and my college students actually realized how to write some procedural items, but I fell in love with writer’s workshop and wanted to create a unit that aligned. I needed my students to own their how-to pieces, get excited about them and walk through the entire writing course of from brainstorming to publishing.

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hakimnoah · 7 years ago

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Week 1, Fortaleza

It’s been 9 days now since I arrived in Brazil, and while I feel exhausted from the adjustment, I am so grateful to be here. My Portuguese is good enough to communicate freely about almost anything, as I am able to describe words that I don’t know. The only thing that is still difficult is trying to understand some of the Acreanos who have thicker accents and speak only about 10% of each word. It’s basically it’s own language, and when I get to Mapia there will be more people speaking that way than there are here. Hopefully I’ll pick up on it!

So where am I? The state of Acre, which is where the Santo Daime was created by Mestre Raimundo Irineu Serra in the early 1930s, is located in the northern region of Brazil. I flew from Miami to Brasilia, and then eventually made my way to Rio Branco (the capital city of Acre) after an adventurous layover in the airport.

I’m holding a lot things simultaneously. First and foremost, I must remember my mission here, which is to bring a consciousness of love and gentleness to the Santo Daime that is lacking in many churches in its embodied manifestation of care toward our brothers and sisters. I am not always able to hold this consciousness myself, as I can be vulnerable to the pressures of what others are doing, thinking or feeling, yet I am learning from my Padrinho and Madrinha at my home church about how to bring this consciousness that they embody so well. This, above all things, is my goal for this trip––to trust myself and to trust God in me, the light that guides me on this path and all paths, so that I may participate in the healing of the world in the way that am meant to.

Second, I am here completing my degree in Human Ecology, bringing the Santo Daime more fully into my studies and also joining its energy more fully with the College of the Atlantic, for the sole purpose of bringing more love, light, joy, harmony, peace, and hope into our community. My writings, based on my own experiences and the experiences of those I talk to, will be guided by this mission and the divine intention that brought it about. This intention, to merge the world of the mind and the world of the heart, is my purpose in academia and thus my purpose here in Brazil. As I learn to trust myself and my inner guidance, I know that I will be brought closer to understanding my work here on Earth.

I have just returned to the capital, Rio Branco, after spending 10 days in a small Daime community called Fortaleza, located just south of Capixaba on the Brazilian border with Bolivia (marked below with red arrow). Tonight, I head up towards Céu do Mapia, a large Santo Daime village deep in the amazon rainforest which serves as the global headquarters for the CEFLINA/CEFLURIS lineage of the Santo Daime (explanations to come in later blog posts).

The community stands in some of the last remaining Rainforest in the area, as the amazon basin has been ravaged by deforestation for agricultural purposes (mainly cattle and soy to feed said cattle).

Already my healing abilities are opening in the works, and I have had three different people come sit with me or ask me to come help them during the works. One man in particular, Joel, feels something he calls “força” in me, a word that is used very commonly in the Daime including by its founder, Mestre Irineu Serra. On new years eve, we opened the Santo Daime work at about 9PM. After the rosary, I saw my first Daime wedding. It was interesting to see, but strange that both the bride and groom were not smiling, and hardly anyone seemed to be experiencing much joy. The community came together in a more religious, serious manner than I would have expected. Leading out of this, we began the hinario around 10PM, singing Luiz Mendes. As we began singing, I was dancing strong for about 40 hymns, and I began to notice the seriousness of the current even more. The focus on military discipline, and an energy of pushing that I am very familiar in myself of having to fulfill the structure or rules more than the love and joy of being able to celebrate together. There are many people here that I am already friends with, many who have welcomed me and some who have been drawn to the energy I bring to the works which I have learned from Julie (my spiritual teacher) and Doran and Mashubi (the leaders of my church at home, and my godparents).

There are so many beautiful amazing souls here, with so much love. I feel connected to this community in daily life, at least more than I expected I would. Yet somehow, in the works themselves, all that seems to disappear as the structure takes shape and the dance formations are made. It feels like a battle, much more than any other church I’ve been in. More than anything, the lack of guardianship is striking. I hear it is common in Acre, and probably will be the case at Mapia, but if you are going through a passage, no one is there to look out for you unless you ask for it.

The Daime here takes a very long time to take force, it is made from native jagube (banesteriopis caapi) and rainha (chacruna) that grow in the forest here. I drank three times before I felt hardly anything, and then later it was quite strong. When I left the line in the middle of the hinario to get water, Nick Wong called me over (Nick is a friend that I met in Portland OR). He said “I need you to tell me that I am here for a reason.” I immediately affirmed this, and allowed words to come through me about our mission here in this current to bring a consciousness of light that is not yet present. Nick was helped greatly by this and began to cry, and I kept talking softly to him but firmly, only short sentences as I was guided. I was very clear through this part, and even though I knew I shouldn’t be talking (according to the rules of the house), it was obvious to me that God was guiding my words and placing me where I was needed. It was no accident that Nick is here, and that he was having the exact same experience as me of the current being full of an energy of control, and a lack of love. During this time, a few others needed help and I was able to help them as well. I was astounded at how God was using me to do the work of Julie and the christ within the very current where I had perviously been feeling simply sad and dejected, lost and disappointed in what wasn’t possible. It was so profound to me that my mission was being conducted through my body and energy field, and through my words and actions, without me having to do anything. None of it was because I “wanted” to do something or help or change something in any way. Instead, I was placed exactly where I was needed most.

I like this lineage very much in many respects- The one thing that is missing, which is important above all else, is the love and joy in the salão itself. I feel much joy and love from everyone after, and even during the breaks, just while the work is going on there is a kind of seriousness that takes on a militaristic quality.

Finally I returned to shower, then eat, then slept some 4 hours.

The next two days have passed in a blur, and I am feeling my system simultaneously depleted and invigorated. When drinking so much daime, all night, every day or every other day, one’s system becomes saturated with the medicine. I don’t feel the force during the day to day work, but I can feel it’s presence nonetheless.

As I continue on my path here, it is hard to hold the overall picture of the project. Much must be done daily to help out around the community and to simply take care of my body. In nearly 100% humidity, it is easy to forget to drink water as thirst doesn’t present itself. Clothes never really dry fully, so one is constantly damp and trying to dry one’s clothes. It’s a difficult life here, and I can see the consequences in the culture. People are very adept at “dando um jeito” or “finding a way.” This Portuguese expression contains much of the culture, as nothing happens the way it might be expected in the United States. Even the way people dress is far more casual, the way they express love physically is more casual, they time that they arrive places is more casual (“Brazil time” is 1 hour after scheduled time).

Much of these adjustments are easy and natural for me, as they largely make sense and conform to some of my own pre-existing habits such as a lack of timeliness. I know that the adjustment back to the US will be harder than the adjustment here, as it always is when I travel. For now I’m just hoping that my strength returns as my body adjusts to the climate.

Will write more soon! Going to mapia in a few days. Won’t have much internet but when I return I will have much to share!

Blessings,

Hakim

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nexaeliya-blog · 5 years ago

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STRETCH SPOT

PHYSICAL THERAPY AND RECOVERY

If you play sports or other physical activities, then you know that injuries come with the territory. Depending on the type of injury and the extent of your injury, you may need physical therapy. Physical therapy is the process of rehabilitation and recovery from your injury or physical ailment. Physical therapy works on recovery of your musculoskeletal system. Massage therapy is used as part of the recovery process. Some of the more advanced therapy clinics are starting to use massage chair recliners as part of their arsenal of tools to help people recover from their injuries.

If you start a physical therapy program, then you will be assigned a physical therapist. The therapist is a trained professional to help restore your strength, motion and activity. The therapist understands the mechanics of your body and will help design a treatment program for you. You will learn specific stretches, exercises and other specialized techniques to help your body recover. You may also use specific equipment that can address particular issues. Massage therapy has become an important tool in the recovery arsenal and many clinics are making use of massage chair recliners.

Your therapist is trained in different surgeries, treatments and rehabilitation techniques and goals. The therapist will design a recovery treatment targeting the areas of your body that needs greater flexibility or strength. If you are recovering from surgery, then the therapist will be knowledgeable about different surgical procedures. The therapist will help in setting goals as you work through the initial limitations of your physique. Some of the important physical therapy tools are stretching, exercises and massage therapy.

Stretching is important to help regain lost flexibility. The muscles may be tight, the joints stiff and you may have scar tissue. These reduce your range of motion and decrease flexibility. Stretching helps to elongate the muscles. This helps to stretch the muscles helping their elasticity. A frequent and continuous regimen of daily stretching helps to speed recovery. Your therapist will design a stretching routine which will help focus on restoring the range of motion.

Exercises are important to help rebuild strength. When we have an injury, we tend to protect that area. Protecting that area is usually to isolate and immobilize it. In other words, we tend not to use the injured area. This helps to prevent further injury, but at the expense of strength and conditioning. To help rebuild the body, exercises help to build up strength, endurance and agility. Physical therapy clinics have a wide array of exercise equipment from treadmills, stationary bikes, weights and more. These help you focus building up a particular set of muscles.

Massage therapy is important to assist the total healing process. The muscle tissue breaks down and its fibers become shorter. This makes the muscles tighter. Massage therapy starts where stretching leaves off. Massage therapy helps to penetrate deeper into the muscle tissue to help elongate and invigorate the muscles. This helps the healing process by restoring flexibility throughout the muscle and scar tissue. Massage is given either by a massage therapist or a massage chair. Massage chairs come with a variety of therapeutic massages, heat therapies and even traction. These not only provide effective therapy but also help you to relax and clear your mind.

Whether you are a professional tennis player or a beginner skier, injuries can happen to anyone. If you do find yourself in physical therapy, work on setting goals to recover. Find yourself an excellent physical therapy clinic. Make sure they have qualified people, proper exercise equipment and massage therapy. And if you need massage therapy, make sure a massage chair is part of your recovery plans.

Article Source: https://stretch-spot.com/

ABOUT US

StretchSPOT is a health and wellness studio based in Torrance, California. We came into being in September 2017 and have been helping people feel better ever since! Our focus is on improving body health and performance through stretching and movement. StretchSPOT’s goal is to help people move freely to the best of their ability and live a pain-free life without resorting to surgery. We welcome all types of people, from nine-to-fivers and weekend warriors through to elite athletes. Most humans can gain health and movement benefits from the ancient practice of stretching.

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PREVENT INJURY WITH AT-HOME PHYSICAL THERAPY

At the ripe, young age of 24, I have already gone through two stints of physical therapy - once for my lower back and most recently for my shoulder. My lower back was weak and felt sharp, excruciating pain therefore I was required to perform an odd muscle contraction exercise followed by extensive electrical stimulation combined with the muscle contractions. Regardless, my back actually became stronger although it still aches occasionally. My shoulder was abused for 20+ years by throwing baseballs and ski crashes. It resulted in bone spurs and a partially torn rotator cuff. The treatment: at-home physical therapy. I have to thank my orthopedist for being honest and saving me money by providing me with the necessary exercises immediately following my diagnosis. It also saved me from surgery and I ultimately got my shoulder strength back, although I still have to perform the exercises to this day.

What I concluded from my two "therapies" was that physical therapy can be performed at home. That being said, I still believe a physician should be sought first if the pain is unbearable. However, I learned numerous exercises that I could complete in the privacy of my own home after being diagnosed with these so-called injuries.

What I also concluded was that injuries could potentially be prevented before they even occur. This of course is not some newfound conclusion by me, but physical therapy is in fact not just a way to rehabilitate, but an opportunity to prevent injuries. If you have the dedication, basic physical therapy-like exercises can be performed during your workouts or in your spare time. Many do not even require the use of equipment let alone a gym membership leading back to my previous conclusion.

Rather than taking part in physical therapy, we can perform workouts and exercises routinely to prevent injury. As you progress through your workouts, you can begin participating in more advanced exercises that may involve physical therapy equipment, often weights or exercise balls.

Below I will explain a few physical therapy exercises that you can perform at home, without equipment, whether you are feeling pain or just want to proactively to avoid common injuries.

Knee Exercises

Common Injury: Many people for pain around and/or under their kneecap - this is known as patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Targeted Treatment: Stretching and strengthening exercises that target the soft tissues around the knee, including the hamstrings, calves, and quadriceps.

The Exercise: The straight leg lift involves lying on your back with your injured leg (or targeted strengthening leg) fully extended forward and elevated several inches, 6-12 approximately, off the floor. Hold this position for five to ten seconds, lower your leg back to the floor, and repeat five to ten times.

Shoulder Exercises

Common Injury: The shoulder experiences a number of conditions, including bursitis, arthritis and tendinitis as well as ligament and muscle strain and shoulder separation.

Targeted Treatment: Improve/restore joint function and treat conditions listed above.

The Exercise: Stand with your unaffected arm closest to the back of a chair, lean forward and hold the chair lightly for support and balance. Let your injured arm hang below your chest and gently swing it back and forth several times, then side to side multiple times and finally in small circular motion, both clockwise and counterclockwise. Progressively increase the range of motion each time.

Lower Back Exercises

Common Injury: Lower back pain.

Targeted Treatment: Stretching and strengthening the abdominals and erector spinae.

The Exercise: Perform basic crunches or situps to strengthen the abdominal muscles. The bridge exercise exercises the erector spinae muscle group, which is in your lower back. To perform the bridge, lie on your back resting your head in your hands, with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Elevate your hips your torso and thighs align diagonally and hold for 5+ seconds.

Hamstring Stretches

Common Injury: Hamstring pull, or strain, which can occur when muscles and tendons beyond their conventional limits.

Targeted Treatment: Stretching your hamstrings may help rehabilitate hamstring pulls or strains gently.

The Exercise: One method of stretching involves sitting with your legs extended forward and reaching toward your toes until you feel a light stretch in your hamstrings. Emphasis on light, you do not want to feel excessive pain by reaching too far and too fast. Hold the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds and try to increase the distance of your reach gradually. Article Source: https://stretch-spot.com

WHAT IS MYOFASCIAL RELEASE IN MASSAGE THERAPY?

Myofascial release is a highly specialized stretching method utilized by massage therapists to treat patients with various soft tissue disorders.

To know what myofascial release is and why it works so well, one must know something about fascia. Fascia refers to the thin layer of connective tissue that covers all organs of the body. This tissue covers every muscle bundle as well as every muscle fiber inside each bundle. All muscle stretching really is stretching of the fascia and the muscle, collectively known as the myofascial unit. When a person injures his muscle, the fibers and the surrounding fascia become short and tight; i.e. muscle spasm. This imbalance of stress can radiate through the fascia and ultimately to other parts of the body, thus promoting pain and various other symptoms in places you normally would not expect. Myofascial release addresses these symptoms by releasing the uneven tightness in the injured fascia.

To put it in other words, myofascial release is the stretching of the fascia. The stretch is guided by the feedback that the massage therapist gets from the patient's body. The therapist can gauge how much force to use, the direction of force and for how long to maintain that force. Small areas of muscle are stretched at any one time. Occasionally, the massage therapist uses only two of his/her fingers to stretch that part of a muscle. The feedback that the therapist receives from the patient allows him/her to determine which muscles are stretched and in what particular order.

The same components are used when a therapist utilizes myofascial release. First, the therapist locates the area of tightness. Then a light stretch is applied to the area of tightness. When the tissue begins to relax, the massage therapist then applies greater force to increase the stretch. This process is repeated until the entire muscle is fully relaxed. Then, the therapist addresses another area to be stretched.

The massage therapist will be able to locate sore spots just by light palpation. Many times, patients are unable to show the therapist where the sore spots are or have grown accustomed to them until the massage therapist palpates them. These myofascial trigger points as they are called will disappear with treatment.

Many patients are amazed at how gentle myofascial release really is. Some of them doze off during a massage therapy session. Others go home and take a nap. Most patients find that myofascial release can be a very relaxing form of massage therapy.

Keep in mind that myofascial release is not massage therapy entirely. Myofascial release is only one of many techniques used in massage therapy to equalize muscle tension throughout the body. Uneven muscle tension can put pressure on the nerves and muscles and promote pain. Progress is determined by an improvement in overall posture and the decrease in the patient's pain. Article Source: https://stretch-spot.com

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#myofascialrelease #stretch #physiotherapy #massage

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theartstew · 6 years ago

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March’s Steward Collectable Card, Anya Campbell

Anya Campbell

Fearless Maker

Anya finally learned that the secret to progress is saying yes to projects she was scared to try. Now she revels in the tingling sensation of creative fear.

Instagram: @somedaymaker

Location: Ashland, VA

Mediums: Sound is her main medium, as well as fiber arts.

Favorite Quote: “How you spend your days is, of course, how you spend your life.”—Annie Dillard

Get To Know Anya

Anya Campbell is a very old friend of mine and once I saw she was creating and making on Instagram, I immediately invited her to the Stew. Anya was sharing a lot of her fiber arts there BUT I also knew she had a lot to say with her voice. Her perspective on the *magic* creating brings to your everyday is something I knew the Stewards would really appreciate SO I organized an interview with her for the Art Stew 52 Podcast. That was way back at Ep. 4, MAKING ART-MAGIC with ART-MUGGLES. (If you missed it and would like to get to know the artist behind the Steward card a little better, have a listen.)

I especially knew I must feature her on a Steward Card when she willingly composed a jingle for the Patreon Stewsletter Podcast. You can have another listen, here.

A Gift to You from Anya

(Each of these blogs will include some kind of treat from the featured Steward and for this one Anya is sharing yet another lovely perspective I know you will find encouraging on how to live more fully as an artist.)

How To Change Your Life in 10 Minutes

(A crispy sampling of common sense, served up on mod-fusion small plates!)

Maybe my favorite author of all time (at least for invigorating inspiration) is an educator from Great Britain who lived over 100 years ago. Her name is Charlotte Mason, and she’s been posthumously kicking my rear for the past few years, as I slowly underline my way through her 6 volumes. She talks about habits a lot; how almost all of what we do in a day is habitual to the point of not even being aware of it (ie: brushing our teeth, or drinking water, or not drinking enough water).

“A habit is 10 natures.” -- What we purposefully do to the point of it becoming habit is far, far, far (and 7 more fars) stronger than our natural bent. And there’s no start too small, which sounds partly inspirational, but is true, too! It means the statement, “I suck at lettering.”, or “I’m so disorganized.”, or “I’m not a math person.”, or anything else you can think to plug in here can be changed -- with nothing more than a bit of gumption and a timer.

Further, if we don’t purposely develop habits, we’re more likely to be pulled around by whims and circumstances, rather than taking baby steps toward fulfilling our goals.

Haha, so now you know I’m not a motivational guru -- but for real, guys, this idea of taking a few minutes of purposeful, careful, thoughtful (and all the other adjectives that also mean the same thing) time toward something --- and I’m talking 10 to 15 minutes a day --- can change, not only your perception of yourself, but your actual ability. Here’s how, in 4 steps!

Make a (very) short list of one change that you’d like to see in yourself or your life in the next month. Please be on your own team, be friendly, and be realistic -- so don’t write “be debt free” or “run a 4 minute mile” or “learn to play Mozart D Major violin concerto” -- but opt for things you’ll succeed in, like “practice lettering,” “take 5 deep breaths of fresh air every day,” “read at least 2 pages of a book every day,” “clean the kitchen,” etc.

Minimize distractions and disruptions. Put your phone in a drawer. Turn off the TV. Purposeful work is absolutely key to making new habits.

Set the timer for 10 or 15 minutes. (I got a sweet Casio watch on clearance for $5. It has a built-in timer and I literally never work without it. I love it so much that I’ll share the Amazon link below. In the event of no sweet Casio watch, use a kitchen timer or phone on airplane mode.)

With your distractions gone and your timer set, put your hand to your task. Work carefully and diligently until the timer rings. This can be a lot harder than it feels like it should be (thanks for nothing, 15-second attention span world!) - but if your mind wanders, gently shepherd it back to your task (remember, you are your friend). When the timer rings, allow yourself to be done for the day (you want to want to come back tomorrow).

So come back again tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. Don’t miss a day for 31 days and you’ll be well on your way to a fine new habit, which means it’ll be just as easy to do the thing than to not do it.

Slow, careful practice turns little things into big things. Honest it does. All it takes is diligence and trust (pixie dust optional), and a short term goal you can stick to without burnout (remember to be your friend). These ideas (as with alllll ideas) feed each other…shoot for little, repeatable habits that can build on each other to achieve big goals.

I won’t be offended if you’re still hungry -- small plates aren’t supposed to be a full meal. Here’s hoping maybe these thoughts sparked an even greater appetite to greatness!

And perhaps, buy a watch.

Steward Card portrait and design by Gracie Klumpp.

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the-bounce-back · 6 years ago

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REALISTIC RESOLUTIONS - 5 TIPS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

So, we’re officially a week into the New Year™. How’s that working out for you so far?

Since I’m currently just chilling, packing and waiting to move to London and start my new job, I’ve been left with a lot of time on my hands to reflect on how terrible 2018 was for me - and I refuse to have a year that bad again. I’ve decided that 2019 is going to be dedicated to rebuilding my happiness, confidence and mental health again, and I’ve set my resolutions with this in mind.

Besides giving me a ton of blog ideas, all this time reflecting and planning has challenged me to ensure that my resolutions don’t end up being unrealistic and empty promises to myself, that I end up abandoning halfway through the year. After much umming and ahing, I’ve finally come up with 5 tips to keep in mind that should (hopefully) keep me on track, and I believe that they can be applied to other people’s resolutions, too.

I know what you’re thinking.

“But Liv, I swear you said that New Year Resolutions are a scam? Is your head alright?”

First of all, revelling in hypocrisy is my favourite pastime. One of my biggest flaws is that I give stellar advice to everyone around me, but I rarely apply it to myself - which is probably why my life is a bit (a lot) of a mess right now. Taking my own advice is actually one of my goals for this year, because I’m really very wise (on paper). Also, read my disclaimer.

Secondly, this advice can be applied to any type of goal setting at any time - not just New Year Resolutions. My “New Moment, New Me” mantra from my previous post is still very much applicable, thank you very much.

And finally… the title slaps. Sue me.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the good stuff.

The way I see it, you basically need four traits/skills to achieve your goals:

1, Patience. 2. Discipline. 3. Motivation. 4. Organisational skills.

Patience helps you trust the process of slowly but steadily getting closer to your goal. Discipline helps you stay on track, even on bad days. Staying motivated makes you remember why you started and helps you envision how proud you’ll be of yourself when you achieve the goal, and organisational skills help you plan, track and reflect on your progress. Combining all four should make you a goal-smashing machine, a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately, I barely possess the first four at all. I can fake being patient for a limited period of time, but deep down I want to see results almost as quickly as I have started. When I don’t see any progress, I start hating myself and finding comfort in an extremely unhealthy coping mechanism, thus killing the little discipline I had. And after indulging in said coping mechanism, I feel guilty and fall even deeper into a spiral of self-loathing, ask myself what the point of even trying was and give up - losing every single ounce of motivation.

All healthy and not at all self-destructive ways to deal with failure. Love it.

Luckily enough, I have been blessed with exceptional organisational skills. Seriously. There is little I enjoy more than buying a new notebook or calendar, writing endless to-do lists, writing down future plans and brainstorming. I even have 3 different notebooks for this year to maximise my ~*oRgAnIsInG*~.

This ain’t no game, homie.

The amount of time I spend on devising workout schedules, meal plans, budgets and habit trackers is actually bordering on insane - but I love it. If I could apply this same energy to the other 3 traits, I’d probably have reached my goal weight, have my driving license, have £100k in my savings account and be 100% sober by now. Let’s all laugh together please.

With these incredibly triggering self-attacks in mind, I will now present my 5 tips on how I plan to achieve my goals to bounce back this year, and from now on.

1. Be kind to yourself.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll know that this is the hardest and most important one. Being self-critical isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when it gets to a certain point it stops being helpful and starts being damaging to your mental health. I am probably the queen of beating myself up over minor slip-ups, mostly because they feel like such a big deal at the time. Honestly, the amount of times I’ve literally cried myself to sleep because I skipped a day at the gym, cheated on my diet or messed up at work is really heartbreaking to think about, because it never was that deep in the first place.

We are humans. We f*ck up. It’s okay.

The most important thing here is to acknowledge the mistake, accept it, figure out what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again and get right back on track towards your goal. Try to see the mistakes objectively as minor problems that you need to find a solution to, instead of applying emotion to it and seeing it as a negative reflection on your character. You are not a bad person for messing up. I cannot stress this enough.

2. Understand that certain goals will take time to achieve.

Sweetie, no one in the history of the world has achieved their dream body 2 weeks before their girls trip to Magaluf, no one has ever magically woken up with billions in their bank account, and no one has ever instantly gotten a million subscribers on their recently started YouTube channel.

Things. Take. Time.

As much as we all wish that we could snap our fingers and get everything we wish for, life doesn’t work that way. It takes consistency, hard work, endless motivation and self-discipline to achieve certain things, and it’s important to be realistic. Besides, you know what they say - nothing worth having comes easy.

Instead of seeing time passing as an enemy of progress, try utilising it as a tool to determine the logistics of achieving your goals. Devising a realistic timescale detailing the what, where and when of the different stages of my goals has worked wonders for me in the past for smaller projects, especially when I was in uni. Why I haven’t applied this to my adult life yet is a mystery that will remain unsolved, but I am definitely going to apply this to my larger goals from now on.

3. Set milestones or miniature goals to keep you motivated while working towards your “big” goal.

I think this is especially helpful for goals that are focused on something numerical, for example losing a specific amount of weight, going a specific amount of days without drinking/smoking or saving a specific amount of money. Being able to celebrate how far you’ve come since the beginning is equally as important as focusing on how much further you have to go - if not more. It provides boosts of motivation along the way.

In theory, that is. I think this is going to be challenging for me because when I’ve tried it in the past, I’ve ended up putting even more pressure on myself for not reaching the milestones in a timely manner - leading me to throw all my toys out of the pram like a spoilt brat, and ultimately giving up on the goal altogether. However, this time around I intend on applying Tip 1 to my miniature goals as well, so you know...hopefully it works out. We’ll see.

4. On your off days, remember why you started.

Trust me, I know this is easier said than done. Everyone has bad days where everything just feels pointless and like nothing is even worth putting energy into. Maybe you’ve cheated on your diet for the third time in a week, or spent money you promised yourself you were going to save, or been unable to turn down a drink despite getting close to being a whole month sober (P is for projection!). Chances are, you feel very disappointed in yourself and start questioning whether or not you’re actually serious about this life.

This is where forcing yourself to remember why you started is imperative, because it really could be the only thing standing between moving past the slip up and losing your motivation, leading to you giving up completely. If you’ve been regularly tracking your progress, use this as a reminder of how far you’ve come. Also, refer back to Tip 1 again. Sure, holding yourself accountable for your actions is important, but that doesn’t mean you now have to fully cancel yourself just because of one bad day.

More time you’ve even come further than you think, so reflecting on your journey up until you messed up is definitely a good idea.

5. Stop comparing yourself to others.

For me, this mostly applies to my fitness goals and how far other people in my age group have come in life. I used to spend so much time on social media scrolling through endless pictures of people that “have their sh*t together” - with their perfect bodies, perfect relationships, perfect engagement rings, perfect baby scan photos, perfect homes… you get the point. All it ever did was make me feel like crap about myself and like I somehow was too far behind in life, or somehow inferior to my agemates. Because we all know that having a perfect life online makes you superior to everyone else.

To be clear, I’m obviously joking. Once you understand that everyone’s journey is different, and that your own blessings will come when the time is right - you will be so much more at peace with yourself. Minding your own business and channelling all your energy into bettering yourself (for your own benefit!) is extremely invigorating. With this in mind, you should also ensure that the goals you are setting are solely for the betterment of yourself, and not to compete with others (I’ll definitely be writing a post on this at some stage, so… stay tuned and that).

So, there you have it. My 5 tips on how to achieve your goals with your sanity and mental health intact. At the end of the year, maybe I should revisit this post and reflect on how the tips worked out for me in achieving my goals? Perhaps I can reflect on how much better my patience, discipline and motivation has become?

If not, well...hopefully it can help you. If it did, let me know so I can feel better about putting all this energy into giving yet more advice that I didn’t apply to myself. Good luck!

Love,

Liv

#goals #selfhelp

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ourstars-ourstories-blog · 8 years ago

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BEHIND THE STORYTELLING CURTAIN

A Day in the Life of a Storyteller, Episode #17

“That must have taken a long time to memorize all those words!”

“Do you practice over and over until you have it all perfect?”

“How do you come up with the stories you’re going to tell?”

“Do stories ever just come to you?”

The mystery of the storytelling profession is both what I love and what drives me crazy about it—the constant need to explain what it is that I actually do as a storyteller can be frustrating, but at the same time the constant chance I have to create what it is I do as I go along, while quite scary and challenging, is also invigorating, and often downright fabulous.

Considering that the whole point of A Day in the Life of a Storyteller has been to attempt to disseminate the world of storytelling as an art form and profession, I’ve decided this week to delve more into the actual process I go through to prepare stories to tell.

I often hear comments like that very first one, “That’s a lot of words to memorize!”, or questions like this one, “Do you say the story over and over again until you have it perfect?”

I find that many people hold a misconception that storytelling is just like performing a scripted theater piece.

While some tellers follow a tighter script than I do, the majority of storytellers I know (including myself) adhere more to the practice of learning a story by heart rather than memorization.

What do I mean exactly when I say by heart? Isn’t memorizing something the same as learning it by heart? The terms are often used interchangeably, but for me as a storyteller there is a huge difference.

To memorize something is to have it in my head, with the precise words and sequence down pat. To learn something by heart is just that, to have it in my heart rather than solely in my head.

I was never great at memorizing lines for plays growing up, but I always wanted to perform the scenes—I wanted to feel the lines and be in the character, to know the story so intimately that I didn’t need the exact words, I just needed to be the character, the story itself. I’ve heard a lot of actors tell me that when you become good at acting this is how it is—you feel the character you are playing so much that you can take more liberties with the lines, and you know the story and plot in and out that the lines just come naturally.

While I haven’t gotten there yet in theatre, I have found that heart full experience of performance in storytelling.

Before I choose to tell a story I have to be able to feel the story deep down—to feel the message and the importance of it for myself, before I share it with anyone else.

There is a beautiful thing that storytellers have different names for, but I’ve always called it enchantment—where the triangle of “story”-“audience”-“teller” is formed, all three elements linked, and in the center enchantment forms, a moment in time never to be repeated and unique to those within the triangle, where all is connected and all are experiencing the heart of story—the essence of the power of storytelling to change and shift and expand horizons of all involved.

I’ve started to work on a story and had to stop, because I’ve realized that I couldn’t really feel the heart of the story, that I wasn’t connecting with it the way I wanted to, the way that is necessary to be effective in telling it to others with the potential for enchantment.

Once I find a story where my heart is in it, I get to the business of learning it by heart.

This involves a process of visualizing the story—through drawn images, or often just by imagining the sequencing of the story in my head as I walk through the park, take a run by the creek, or sit on my porch drinking tea and watching passersby in their daily routines.

I find that learning a story by image, rather than by words is easier to hold in my mind—words memorized can be fleeting, but the image sticks because I can see how it is part of the whole.

Our brains are wired for story, and there is scientific research out there now to back this statement up.

Kendall Haven, author of Story Proof: The science behind the startling power of story, shares that our brains have something he calls the neural story net (NSN), where the information received by the subconscious is storied before it reaches the conscious mind. The NSN is our brains’ make-sense tool—it changes facts, makes assumptions, creates new info, ignores parts, infers connections and intent, and misinterprets information (Haven). Haven says that stories themselves minimize what our NSN does—by applying effective story structure to the information we give our brains, we minimize distortion done by our NSN. If it’s already in a story, our brain has less work to do!

To remember how to tell the story I wish to tell, I first have to really know its structure and flow—to understand the whole and not just the parts. When I try to learn something by heart using just words, I end up focusing too much on the parts and lose much of the whole. When I use images and visualization, I can imagine the whole and the parts begin to make more sense in relation to that whole.

Of course there are certain phrases or parts that are more effective for an audience when they are spoken a certain way. Often storytellers choose to learn the beginning line (“Many say that ghosts do not exist…” or “I never did like our neighbor’s dog…”) and the ending line or paragraph (“Rambling Richard went on his way, and as he went, he sang…) or a jingle or repetitive phrase word for word (“I’ve got two eyes and ears, ten fingers and toes, I stand on my feet, and follow my nose…”) to use in the story to provide structure and a part to hold on to when performing. I find this helpful, though any more than this and I begin to lose sight of the whole again.

The idea that storytellers practice their stories over and over again exactly the same each time, well, for some this is true, but for me this almost never happens.

I do find that it is important to tell the story again and again—to friends, family, people I meet—but each time it is different, each time there is some variation on the phrasing, some difference in how I embellish certain parts or not. And this is in fact the useful part of telling it over and over again—not to “perfect” it in the sense of having it be the exact same each time, but in determining what different ways there are to express the story, and how that shifts and flows depending on who is listening and what my ultimate goal with the telling happens to be.

Part of this practice for me of telling over and over again, is to tell the story to myself informally over time and in different places, without the pressure of an audience and often with the distraction of nature and movement.

One of the most effective practices I have is to take a run or a walk in the park, with a pen and folded up piece of paper tucked in a pocket.

I let my mind wander, though I will often set an intention to loosely (key word here) adventure through a specific story and how it might like to be told.

Sometimes I won’t set an intention, and a story will appear on its own. Other times a different story than what I set out to explore will find its way into my consciousness. Whichever way, I always find it to be a fruitful process.

The looseness of the thought process, combined with movement of the body and exposure to nature has a way of freeing my imagination and awakening untapped creation.

Three years ago, I had a story snippet come to me in a dream, but upon awakening I was left only with that snippet and nothing more. I’ve played with this snippet, focusing on it and trying to force it to show the rest of its world to me, but until recently I hadn’t gotten much out of it.

On the road this last fall, I had spent the day driving across Minnesota and South Dakota and the sun was getting low in the sky, the clouds thin and streaked just above the horizon. I’d been daydreaming and my mind was free.

Then, all of a sudden, as if I were watching a movie play across the darkening South Dakota sky, I saw the world clear and crisp, full, sequenced, ready to be told—the world of the story I had only the snippet of—blooming in pink, orange, dark blue as the sun set and the my story rose to meet me, finally ready to be told.

Story ideas have come to me before, but this time was special, a unique moment where the story unfolded itself, a comic strip visual, characters fully formed and full of voice, painted and singing across my mind in a moment of complete mental freedom.

These are the moments that make creating my own career path fabulous.

These are the moments where I love the mystery and magic of the storytelling profession.

These are the moments that make it possible to share heart-felt stories with all of you.

While this blog doesn’t always paint the full world of storytelling for you, my hope is that it provides a snippet, and in time the rest of that story will unfold itself for you when it’s ready.

#storyblr #storytelling #storyprocess #blogger #creativeprocess #daydream #imagination #behindthescenes #adayinthelife #storyteller

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mastcomm · 5 years ago

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Best Coast Almost Had No Future. Now Everything Has Changed.

LOS ANGELES — Bethany Cosentino can be eerily good at predicting the future.

She wrote the song “Boyfriend” before the guy in question took on that role. She released a track with the lyric “What a year this day has been” in 2012, well before our 24/7 news hellscape took hold. She spoke out about sexual misconduct in the music industry in 2016, a year before #MeToo took off. And she wrote a new song called “Everything Has Changed” about quitting drinking and finding happiness 14 months before she took action.

“Deep down inside, it was a life that I wanted — it was just not one that I thought I would be able to live,” said Cosentino, the 33-year-old singer, guitarist and songwriter for the indie rock duo Best Coast. She added that in an early version of a mission statement about the group’s fourth studio album, “Always Tomorrow,” due Feb. 21, she explained her seemingly divine powers in the lingo of the feminist internet: “As it turns out, I am indeed a very powerful witch.”

With that said, she paused to dip a thin brush into a small ceramic palette. Cosentino was spending a December afternoon decorating an oversized mug at Color Me Mine, a pottery-painting shop with an outpost minutes from her childhood home, steps from the since-closed record store where she’d first discovered the Blink-182 albums that inspired her to take up the guitar.

“If you had told me at one point in my life my hobbies would have been like, talking about my life over Color Me Mine, I would’ve been like, ew, that’s not true,” she said and laughed. “I’ve never been happier.” She shaped a large “S” for Scorpio in black, a homage to the so-called Stussy doodle.

On the topic of botched prognostications, Cosentino also didn’t foresee that the very qualities that made her such an appealing rock star over the past decade — her openness about her life in lyrics, her availability on social media, her seemingly cavalier attitude about her vices — were simultaneously causing her to unravel. “Always Tomorrow,” a powerhouse rock record with a sharp perspective and loads of hooks, is a document of an artist stitched whole again. It’s also the sound of an invigorated band rejecting the idea that the greatest music comes from tortured roots.

When Best Coast — Cosentino and the guitarist and bassist Bobb Bruno, 46, a friend from the Los Angeles scene — released its first album, “Crazy for You,” in 2010, it arrived with a sonic fingerprint: chiming guitars, gobs of reverb, girl-group grooves, vocals delivered with a casual affect. With the producer Jon Brion, the duo wiped away a layer of haze on its follow-up, the 2012 LP “The Only Place,” and spread its sound out further on “California Nights” in 2015.

Cosentino is what the “Always Tomorrow” producer Carlos de la Garza calls “one of the greatest singers I’ve ever recorded.” He described her “rich tone” in a phone interview as “a classic type of voice, almost like a Patsy Cline” in an indie rock slipcover. But an outspoken mob always seemed to be challenging the band in its early days. Best Coast’s songs weren’t all lyrical love letters to California — or weed, or Cosentino’s beloved ginger cat, Snacks — but the idea that the group was beholden to a guiding aesthetic and a thematic shtick stuck to them like sap.

Female musicians don’t just get asked a lot of questions about being women in bands; they face an outsized amount of verbal abuse. Best Coast’s rise coincided with the growth of social media as a marketing tool and omnipresent force. Cosentino was very online, and very sensitive to the digital daggers piercing her music, her personal life and her looks.

“I was so good at acting like I don’t care what you think of me, but deep down, I read every review, I read every comment, I cared so much,” she said. “And I believed those things. Like if somebody said, ‘This girl’s music is mediocre,’ I was like, oh, I’m a mediocre human. I should lock myself in my room for five days.”

Bruno cited the snarky and now defunct blog Hipster Runoff as emblematic of the era’s freewheeling fire hose of negativity. “There was a lot of misogynistic and really wrong, hateful stuff that site would put out there, and yet it was popular,” he said in a phone interview. “It still upsets me.”

The story Cosentino wanted to tell on “California Nights” five years ago was of maturity and evolution, of demons conquered and ladyboss status achieved. That wasn’t exactly accurate. While contemplating the lettering on her mug, she quoted the lovably loose-moraled “Seinfeld” character George Costanza to explain her personal relationship to the truth at that time: “It’s not a lie if you believe it.”

She added: “And literally the entirety of my 20s, that was my M.O.”

During the five-year gap between “California Nights” and “Always Tomorrow,” Best Coast toured with Wavves, the band led by Cosentino’s boyfriend at the time, Nathan Williams, as well as with the pop-punk juggernaut Paramore. The duo released a children’s album, and served as the house band on “What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage,” a parody of TV after-show programs.

Cosentino’s very public relationship with Williams, whom she said she has “nothing but respect for,” made her a tabloid figure for the Stereogum set. (They shared a Spin cover in 2012.) She said it was hard to navigate a “relationship that was at times very unhealthy” while “feeling like my identity was so tied into it.”

Outside of it, she remained a public figure in indie rock, rallying behind women who accused the music publicist Heathcliff Berru of sexual misconduct in 2016 (he apologized for “inappropriate” behavior), and appearing on “The Daily Show” to discuss sexism in the music industry: “I literally was sitting there being like, how did I get here and how did I become the spokesperson for this?” (She took Xanax before the show taped, “which wasn’t smart,” she realizes now.) She later wrote an op-ed about misconduct, revealing that a family member assaulted her when she was a child.

When she wasn’t on tour, destructive patterns awaited. “My self-care at the time was like, oh I just get really [expletive] up and watch Bravo,” she said. (She still watches Bravo, sober, for the record.) She was blacking out often, “mixing a lot of things that shouldn’t have been mixed,” she said, “to the point where I’m like, really lucky that I’m still alive.” On the advice of her best friend since childhood, Cosentino returned to therapy, but kept some things secret. She was abusing her prescriptions. She was burying feelings. “I knew if I said certain things out loud, I would have to address them,” she said.

And for the first time, the prolific songwriter was creatively paralyzed: “I would sit and try to write and nothing would come out.” She ultimately broke down and asked Bruno if he would send over tracks for her to write to, something she’d never requested before.

Bruno, a longhaired, chilled-out musician with omnivorous musical tastes — inspirations for “Always Tomorrow” include Avril Lavigne, Kool & the Gang, White Lion and the Spinanes — said he didn’t fear the worst: “I have the utmost faith and belief in Bethany.” Four of the tracks he sent ended up on the album.

The first one became “Graceless Kids,” a song anchored by a chugging riff with glimmers of ’80s pop-metal. Lyrically, it’s a message to Cosentino’s fans, who need “a hero not a wreck,” and it includes a spoken-word section that both thrilled her and thoroughly freaked her out. “My fear was that it was going to sound like when Taylor Swift does it,” she said. “When I recorded it in the studio, I made everyone leave.”

The music was inching along while Cosentino’s Instagram was filling with images of wine glasses and Coronaritas, but she started to crave change. “I had friends that had quit drinking, and I would look at them and be like, how did you do that?” One of them, Jennifer Clavin from the band Bleached, had likewise manifested her sobriety in song before it happened, and became instrumental in Cosentino’s journey.

“It’s almost like we subconsciously know the lifestyle we’re living is really unhealthy and self-harming and we want to get out, but we aren’t ready to fully accept that that’s what we need to do,” Clavin said in a phone interview, noting how easily the music industry facilitates and glorifies drinking and drug use. “Beth is such a huge inspiration to me,” she added. “She knows what she wants and is willing to go for it.”

Playing older songs on the Paramore tour, Cosentino gained an awareness of the pain in her own music. “I remember listening to my lyrics and thinking to myself like, why are you still doing this if you’re so miserable?” Not long after she returned, she woke up after a friend’s birthday party, hung over and bawling, and says she hasn’t had a drink or taken a drug since.

Bruno recalled that their conversation about it was brief. “She was just like, I’m not going to do any of that stuff anymore,” he said. “I was like, O.K., cool. And that was it.” Writing sober didn’t hold Cosentino back; it helped her break out of a creative lull: “Being awake to everything in such a clear way is so [expletive] crazy.”

The producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Paramore, M83), an early “Always Tomorrow” collaborator, described the duo’s unique working relationship as an “easy coexistence.” “It’s almost like Bethany and Bobb are two halves of one person” in the studio, he said in a phone interview. He explained that the pair’s goals for the new album were to avoid rehashing the past, and to “honor their influences without it ever seeming pastiche or too on the nose.”

Part of Cosentino’s enduring charm is her willingness to reveal her inspirations and gab about pop culture. Her current obsession? The anthemic band White Reaper. Lana Del Rey, who invited Cosentino to share the stage last year? “Literally the nicest person I’ve ever met.”

You can hear dashes of everything Cosentino absorbs on “Always Tomorrow,” an album about looking to the future while stealing enough glances at the past to stay on track. There’s crisp pop-punk (“Different Light”), spacey fuzz rock (“Used to Be”), a song about Snacks (“Rollercoaster”). And yes, Fleetwood Mac is still a touchstone.

While the lyrics lean toward the earnest, Cosentino did allow herself a wink on “Everything Has Changed,” rhyming “lazy crazy baby” as a nod to the doubters who have dismissed her writing as repetitive.

Being anything but brutally honest wasn’t an option. “I realized if I didn’t tell this story, I’d be lying to people,” she said. “I would just be doing exactly what I was doing in the past, which was putting on an act and pretending like I didn’t give a [expletive].” Success looks different to Cosentino now, too. When she bought her new house, she downsized to something “super teeny.” She traded in her Mercedes for a Subaru.

Nearly four hours after her mug odyssey began, she carefully applied a series of dots (her signature), then thrust out her hands. “My tattoos are a perfect example of where I used to be and where I am now,” she said. One finger displays “trust no one.” On her other hand, there’s “let it go” and “surrender.”

“So it’s fully like old me, new me,” she said. “But they still both exist.” And she doesn’t plan to remove any of them.

from WordPress https://mastcomm.com/best-coast-almost-had-no-future-now-everything-has-changed/

#Entertainment

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samuelpboswell · 5 years ago

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5 Old Habits B2B Marketers Should Leave Behind in the 2010s

New decade, who dis? We’ve officially turned the calendar to 201… er, 2020! First the first time in 10 years, we’ll all be writing a different numeral as that third digit. That’s a new habit that’ll take some getting used to. As B2B marketers, perhaps we can take advantage of this opportunity to form a few other new habits. Specifically, I’m talking about making adjustments to the way we approach our craft, so to align ourselves with the evolved marketplace of the 2020s. The New Year is always a fitting time for resolutions and aspirational goal-setting. With this particularly momentous milestone, I’m urging all my B2B marketing peers to think big and commit to some major shifts in mindset for the decade ahead. These five habits ought to be left in the 2010s along with fidget spinners and the Mannequin Challenge.

5 Habits for B2B Marketers to Leave Behind in the 2010s

#1. The Desktop Mentality

Chances are, you spend your days creating content or managing campaigns on a desktop computer or laptop. As such, it’s all too easy to assume your audience will consume it in the same way. But, chances are, they won’t. The explosion of mobile usage has been among the most unmistakable sea changes of the past decade. In 2010, the iPhone was still a relatively new product and mobile accounted for 2.9% of all web site traffic. By 2018, that figure was up to 52.2%. Smartphone ownership rose from 35% in 2011 to 81% in 2019. Mobile overtook desktop in 2016 and there’s been no looking back. Despite this, I still routinely encounter websites, landing pages, and content experiences that look great on desktop and clunky on a smartphone or tablet. Too often, mobile is an afterthought. Instead, it should be our first thought. Bringing a mobile-first mindset into the 2020s will position marketers to be on the same page as the people they’re trying to reach. What To Do: Scrutinize your most critical existing content assets — visuals, responsiveness, usability — on multiple different types of devices to ensure you’re delivering a quality mobile experience. Also, resolve to test all new content on mobile before desktop in 2020.

via GIPHY

#2. Aimless Creation

At the start of the decade, content marketing was in a relatively nascent stage. The primary objective for marketers was simply to produce, as reflected by the first-ever B2B content marketing benchmark report from newly established Content Marketing Institute (CMI) in 2010. In this report, the top-cited challenges were:

Producing engaging content

Producing enough content

Budget to produce content

All that production, so little direction… It’s a problem that hasn’t gone away despite content marketing’s maturation over the course of a decade. In general, there’s still too much focus on the creation and not enough on the strategy. In many programs, promotion and measurement take distant back seats. In the 2020s, let’s start looking at the big picture, and channel the same enthusiasm we show for creation into all the other elements of successful content. A holistic approach to the discipline begins with documenting your content strategy and adhering to its vision, as will a robust list of content promotion tactics to draw from. [bctt tweet="In the 2020s, let’s start looking at the big picture, and channel the same enthusiasm we show for creation into all the other elements of successful content. @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"] What To Do: Create or refine your documented content strategy. Take a gander at our top B2B content marketing trends and predictions for 2020 to ensure you’re fully up to speed.

#3. Email Abandonment

It’s been an interesting decade for email marketing. The tactic’s popularity endures – email newsletters were cited as the third-most common type of content for B2B marketers in the latest CMI benchmarking report – but confidence in this channel has evidently waned. According to research by the Data & Marketing Association (DMA), only 55% of marketers believe more than half of what they send out is useful to subscribers, and more concerningly, only 14% of subscribers feel that way. I’m on record as saying email marketing is not dead, it just needs rejuvenation. I think the inbox will be in again in the 2020s, as practitioners get back into touch with the fundamentals that make it such a powerful communication channel to begin with. Through stronger segmentation, audience insight, and relationship-driven strategy, we can get back to capitalizing on a space where the average professional spends 3+ hours of their workday. (Source) What To Do: Subscribe to a few newsletters from leading brands to do some recon, and adopt the subscriber-centric practices you like best.

#4. Influence for the Sake of Influence

I wonder if we’ll all look back at the 2017 Fyre Festival fiasco – and the documentaries it yielded – as a turning point for influencer marketing. In a way, that whole ordeal was damaging, casting a light on the total fraudulence of paid Instagram celebrities hawking products they had no connection to, or understanding of, merely to seem hip and raise awareness. But I view it as more of a positive: That seedy side of “influencer marketing” needed to be exposed, enabling us all to acknowledge it and move past it. Fyre Festival didn’t prove that influencer marketing is ineffective; it proved that prioritizing reach and status above all else is the wrong way to do it. At TopRank Marketing, we have long asserted that relying on popularity metrics alone is a mistake, while aligning influencer type and topic is critical. [bctt tweet="Fyre Festival didn’t prove that influencer marketing is ineffective; it proved that prioritizing reach and status above all else is the wrong way to do it. @NickNelsonMN" username="toprank"] LinkedIn’s* Judy Tian recently shared her views on this essential nuance: “Even though I think reach is part of the equation, and we want to work with influencers who have a substantial amount of reach ... the relevancy and engagement are what’s important. Are the influencers actually experts in the areas you wanna talk about? And are they gonna have credibility with their end users? And then are they going to shed credibility onto your brand as a result?” These are the true objectives of B2B influencer marketing. It’s influence with a purpose. And that mindset should drive our strategies in the years ahead. What To Do: Review influencer lists to make sure expertise and credibility aligns with the audience for your campaigns, and start prioritizing relevance over reach for future initiatives.

#5. Talking About Ourselves

I’ll close with perhaps the single most important shift for B2B marketers in 2020 and beyond: Moving the spotlight from our own products and services to our customers. This is a crucial area where data tells us we’re coming up short. A recent report from Forrester, titled Customer-Centered Messaging Helps Boost B2B Revenues By Motivating Buyer Action, shows that:

88% of B2B marketers admit their homepages talk primarily about their companies, products, and services

13% of B2B marketers use narrative to tell a story, walk buyers through a persuasive argument, or show some empathy with customer concerns

28% of B2B marketers mirror the language that their target audiences and decision makers use when talking about those problems

These are troubling numbers. In the 2020s, we need to take the next step in customer-centricity, going beyond connecting our solutions to the audience by doing so from their point of view. It’s not an easy thing to master – as the Forrester report indicates – but it is a very worthy pursuit. We should all be striving to develop empathy, as it’s defined by Intuit’s Brian Hood: “Having such a strong understanding that it’s hard to tell the line between us and our customers.” And our content should convey it. What To Do: Walk the walk when it comes to being customer-centric. Put customer insight in the driver’s seat for everything you create in 2020. Be cognizant of how often you’re centering the conversation on your brand and its solutions.

Here’s to a Decade of Dazzling Results

The next 10 years are going to be exciting and invigorating. Technology, creativity, and data-driven insight will commingle in new ways to reinvent what is possible for digital customer experiences. We’re excited to venture into this great unknown alongside all of our clients, partners, and peers. From my view, B2B marketers who are best-prepared for what lies ahead will be:

Mobile-first

Thoroughly strategic with creation

Adamant about energizing email engagement

Focused on influencer relevance

Keenly customer-centered in approach

Want to further ready yourself for the year and decade ahead? Check out our robust pieces on 2020 trends and predictions:

10 Top B2B Influencer Marketing Predictions for 2020

Our Top B2B Content Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

13 Top B2B Social Media Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

10 Top B2B SEO Trends & Predictions for 2020

*Disclosure: LinkedIn is a TopRank Marketing client.

The post 5 Old Habits B2B Marketers Should Leave Behind in the 2010s appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

from The SEO Advantages https://www.toprankblog.com/2020/01/b2b-marketing-habits-leave-behind-2010s/

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ralphlayton · 5 years ago

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5 Old Habits B2B Marketers Should Leave Behind in the 2010s

5 Habits for B2B Marketers to Leave Behind in the 2010s

#1. The Desktop Mentality

via GIPHY

#2. Aimless Creation

Producing engaging content

Producing enough content

Budget to produce content

#3. Email Abandonment

#4. Influence for the Sake of Influence

#5. Talking About Ourselves

88% of B2B marketers admit their homepages talk primarily about their companies, products, and services

13% of B2B marketers use narrative to tell a story, walk buyers through a persuasive argument, or show some empathy with customer concerns

28% of B2B marketers mirror the language that their target audiences and decision makers use when talking about those problems

Here’s to a Decade of Dazzling Results

Mobile-first

Thoroughly strategic with creation

Adamant about energizing email engagement

Focused on influencer relevance

Keenly customer-centered in approach

Want to further ready yourself for the year and decade ahead? Check out our robust pieces on 2020 trends and predictions:

10 Top B2B Influencer Marketing Predictions for 2020

Our Top B2B Content Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

13 Top B2B Social Media Marketing Trends & Predictions for 2020

10 Top B2B SEO Trends & Predictions for 2020

*Disclosure: LinkedIn is a TopRank Marketing client.

The post 5 Old Habits B2B Marketers Should Leave Behind in the 2010s appeared first on Online Marketing Blog - TopRank®.

5 Old Habits B2B Marketers Should Leave Behind in the 2010s published first on yhttps://improfitninja.blogspot.com/

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beautyexplore · 6 years ago

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Product Review: Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe

Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe Product Review

I gave a quick review for this mask over on my Instagram last week which was much less of a review and more of my immediate thoughts about the mask after just one use and basically me encouraging my followers to BUY IT AND TRY IT! I still stand behind this post but today I would like to follow up with a full and more in depth review for my blog readers.

Product Review: Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe

Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe

Quick Stats:

Product: Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe

Price: $45 for 2.7 oz / 80 mL

Where to find it: Sephora or GlowRecipe.com

What’s in it: Avocado, Manukau Honey, PHA, Kaolin Clay

Benefits: Moisturizing, Soothing, Toning, Skin Brightening, Firming, and more

Glow Recipe , described by Cult Beauty UK as “Advocating natural, gentle skin care products, Glow Recipe’s goal is to make South Korea’s latest skin care trends accessible to beauty-forward women across the globe.” is the brand made famous for their wonderfully candy scented watermelon overnight exfoliating mask. This season they are back in the Sephora aisles and online with a brand new and equally innovative overnight mask and the reviews are in: it’s a huge hit! But for anyone thinking that this is just another version of their Watermelon Mask, don’t be fooled because Glow Recipe’s Avocado Mask is altogether unique in how it works and delivers it’s own distinct results.

Glow Recipe’s Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask Jar

The Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask is beautifully presented and the packaging is everything you would want from a kbeauty brand. The jar itself is smartly designed and almost a bit too lovely if you ask me. When I use my last drop of product, I will wince as I toss it into the recycling can. This is one attractive jar. It is certainly made for Instagramming even if you’re not a skincare blogger.

Glow Recipe’s Jar Design Photo Flat-lay

Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask Texture

The product comes with a small clear spoon like that in the Watermelon Mask. You only need a little bit of the mask and the product has a creamy texture that feels like a crisp cool cloud. It absorbs quickly compared with other sleeping masks and the fast absorption of the product is probably my favorite part. This isn’t your typical overnight sleeping mask that you’ll be fussing over. The Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask sets into your skin about as normally as your regular nighttime skincare do. It’s somehow a bit heavier than a normal night cream but fluffy at the same time because it gently plumps your skin almost immediately.

Closeup showing creamy Avocado Mask’s Consistency

The overnight results were even better than expected because I woke up to extremely moisturized, bright, and soothed skin. I don’t believe that there was any residue of any kind left over on my pillow in the morning and I wasn’t bothered by the mask one bit while trying to sleep. This alone is a miracle. The Avocado Melt Mask is extremely moisturizing and is perfect for the winter months and I am really glad to have it around for the rest of the winter here in Michigan. Glow Recipe is a hero! I appreciate how gentle it feels on my face as I have especially sensitive skin. The ingredients in this mask are uniquely designed to be gentle on ones skin while producing results.

Unedited selfie from day after first use of Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask (I was testing some under eye masks in this particular photo but still my skin looked better than the day before)

The avocado in the mask provides a natural collagen and provides moisture. Manukau honey gives stressed out skin some extra relief with antioxidants that are especially soothing. The PHAs (Polyhydroxy Acids) are really what make this mask unique in my opinion, and the combination of ingredients is what makes this the perfect winter mask for anyone who struggles with any kind of skin sensitivity or redness. The mask uses a PHA opposed to the more frequently used AHA/BHA chemical exfoliant that you’ll find in many skincare products. PHAs are described best by Refinery29 “Polyhydroxy acids, or PHAs, are being touted as the perfect acid for sensitive skin, especially for those who have tried the more common forms and found them too irritating for even occasional use.”*

Overall I am giving this mask a 10/10 for me personally. The combination of gentle exfoliation that the PHAs provide along with the deep moisture achieved with the other ingredients, it’s the perfect winter weather mask. My skin looks amazing after just a few uses and I can tell that the jar will last a long time despite already shelling out a few scoops to select friends and family members who I had to have try it as well. With their newest product, The Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask, Glow Recipe provides another solid product and proves that they are a brand that deserves respect within the over saturated beauty product market. They continue to deliver exceptional and noteworthy skincare solutions for their customers around the globe. The overall experience of the Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask was satisfying and invigorating from beginning to end. Glow Recipe is an absolute treasure of a brand and they are here to set the bar for everyone else as far as I am concerned.

Avocado Bravocado Glow Recipe!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today and reading this latest review! It’s been a while since I’ve done a decent one and I promise that I will be getting back to doing regular work on this blog beginning next year. I already have a few other product reviews started and I can’t wait to relaunch this site in 2019! And for anyone who may have missed it, this was my Instagram post about the mask from a few days ago.

Prediction: This mask will be making next year’s “best of. . .” lists. My skin looks hydrated, plump, and bright. I used it exactly as instructed on the jar and the results were magic. Reminds me of the first time I used the watermelon sleeping mask. The jar is beautiful too! I know that part isn’t exactly important but it’s fun to mention. But I am going to go ahead and fully recommend this mask. I tend to buy everything but I don’t recommend doing that. Ever. Always be selective and picky about what you buy and how you spend your hard earned money. And with that said, I only do this and try so much so you don’t have to buy this is one you’ll want to add to your bathroom cabinet. ✨🥑✨ The Avocado Sleeping Mask is a total worth it product and as usual Glow Recipe fails to disappoint. The product is a solid 10/10. The reviews are legit. Sometimes new products take time to pick up a reputation but I gotta say, I think this one will quickly be favorited by the masses. I will be doing a full review for my blog in the upcoming weeks. Thanks for stopping by my Instagram, hope you found this write up a bit helpful. 💚💚💚

Photo of Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe on Instagram (beautyexploreonline)

Product Review: Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe Product Review: Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask by Glow Recipe I gave a quick review for this mask over on my…

#Glow Recipe #Kbeauty #Product Review #Sephora #Sleeping Mask Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask

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thebeautyblender · 7 years ago

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Why I Think Therapy Is Important: Interview With Psychologist Dr. Deanie Eichenstein

If you have ever thought about going to therapy or haven’t seen your therapist in a while, here’s an article on why you need to keep going and what benefits seeing a therapist has.

I didn’t go to therapy for most of my life. I actually was taught that if you saw a therapist there was something wrong with you. I remember telling my Grandma that I was starting to see a therapist in my early 20′s and she asked me worryingly, “What’s wrong? Are you okay?!” Little did my Grandma know, therapy was the new norm to psychological and emotional health and it was the best thing I had ever done (besides finding my yoga practice!). Yoga and meditation absolutely help me be the best version of myself, have a deeper connection with myself and my feelings, and I truly believe takes it even one step further.

I have seen two therapists in my entire life and I have to say, they were partly responsible for getting me through some major humps and roadblocks in my life. Sometimes we just need to talk to someone with a new perspective and who is fully trained to help give beneficial advice. I love my therapist and today I’m super excited to have my good friend, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Deanie Eichenstein on the blog to share why therapy is so important.

Let’s dive in!

. . .

Danielle: What is therapy? Why should I go?

Dr. Deanie: Like yoga, therapy is a dedicated practice. It is a time and space to regularly check in with how you are doing emotionally. Of course, I think everyone could benefit from therapy. We live our whole lives in our own minds, imagine your potential if you understand your own mind better. Knowing your triggers and patterns is a way to optimize your own functioning and potential.

Danielle: When is it a good time to go to therapy?

Dr. Deanie: Some people come to therapy with specific goals, or in distress. Others feel a pull that there is something they need to be addressed, but aren't sure what it is. There's no right or wrong time to start, but it's something I notice a lot of people put off. I think this is because starting therapy can feel intimidating. I suggest trying to get a few personally recommended referrals and letting yourself shop around until you find someone who gets you. It's kind of like dating.

Danielle: What is the difference between a psychologist/psychotherapist/ psychiatrist/life coach? How do I know if I’m seeing a real trained professional?

Dr. Deanie:

-Psychologist = has a PhD or PsyD (Doctorate), which is a 4-6 year graduate degree in psychology, plus 3000+ hours of hands on training. -Psychotherapist = has a Masters (MFT, MSW, etc.) which is a 2-3 year graduate degree in psychology/counseling or social work, plus 3000 hours + of hands on training. -Psychiatrist= has a MD (medical degree) which is a degree in medicine. Only psychiatrists can prescribe medication in California. -Life coach= There is a lot of variability in life coaching. Some are self-taught, others do trainings or certifications. There is significantly less regulation in who can call themselves a coach.

Danielle: How does therapy compliment a physical/yoga/workout practice?

Dr. Deanie: Therapy and yoga are amazing complements to each other. Yoga is a physical and spiritual practice. Therapy is an emotional and psychological exploration. Paying attention to both our body and mind is an essential way to take care of ourselves. Staying in your head and ignoring your body is not healthy. Same goes for ignoring your mind and tending to your body only. It's only half of the puzzle. Caring for our minds and bodies are both essential to living a balanced life but is way easier said than done.

Danielle: Nicely said! You know I’m all for yoga. :) Why is therapy so expensive for the most part?

Dr. Deanie: The main reason therapy is expensive is because you are working with a highly trained and educated professional who has spent many years learning how to help people. This means that the time you spend together is quite valuable because it is different than spending an hour talking to a friend or family member. A good therapist listens differently than others. They track your thoughts, feelings and experiences and help you make sense of your patterns and see your blind spots. Although you may only get one or two hour a week with them, I personally spend more time outside of session thinking about how to best help my patients and often do confidential consultation with other psychologists who help me see what I may be missing. I'd say for every one hour I give my patients face-to-face, they get at least two hours of my time spent thinking about how best to help them. It is true that therapy is a big expense, but I like to think of therapy as an investment in yourself that you get to keep forever. If seeing someone in private practice is outside of your means, there are sliding scale clinics that offer reduced fees in exchange for seeing a therapist who is still in training, or the option of seeing someone in your insurance network for a copay.

Danielle: What is self care? How can readers practice self-care?

Dr. Deanie: Self care means different things to different people. The obvious definition of self-care is things you can do that restore, invigorate or refresh your hard working mind and body. Ideally, you want some self-care practices that are regularly integrated into your life, rather than waiting to do it until you burn out and crash. Here are 10 examples of self-care:

talking a walk going to therapy stretching working out talking to a friend writing taking a bath (take a milk bath!) doing a quick check in to see how you are feeling speaking to yourself in a kind voice scheduling breaks for yourself in your day

Danielle: How can people reach you if they are interested in starting therapy with you?

Dr. Deanie: If what I said here resonated with you and you're interested in starting therapy with me, give me a call and we can setup a consultation at 310-426-8211. To learn more about me, check out my website drdeanie.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @drdeanie

. . .

Comment below if you love therapy or might be open to giving it a try after this article!

Thanks you guys - Can’t wait to “see” you on TBB blog soon!

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char27martin · 7 years ago

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What’s Your Ideal Writing Life?

Every writer needs support and encouragement. Lynn Dickinson’s advice will support and assist you in creating a powerful and useful writing tool – an effective Vision of your Ideal Writing Life.

You know you should be writing more. Why aren’t you writing more?

You’ve got a great idea.

You could just write it down.

But you don’t.

You’re too busy. It’s not fully formed yet. You’re not sure what format you should use. Your computer is on the fritz. You’re waiting for inspiration. You need to do more research. Your mother-in-law is in town. You might be getting a cold. There’s candy to be crushed.

The dishes get washed. The laundry gets done. The TV gets watched. The oven gets scrubbed. The kids get put to bed. The candy gets crushed. The idea lingers. Not written down.

You tell yourself you will. You will write it down. Just… later. Not now. Later.

But later never comes.

Then one day you wonder, “How can I become a writer who writes?” and you begin to look around for inspiration.

I know the feeling well.

Hello. My name is Lynn, and I’m a recovering nonwriter.

Moving Beyond Writer’s Block

Writer – Know Thyself

Unfortunately, there is no, “one size fits all,” when it comes to writing. Trying-out methods that work well for other writers is a great start, but ultimately it comes down to discovering which practices and strategies and methods and rituals work to get YOU writing – and then doing them.

Too often we hear of a successful writer who always carries a moleskin journal, obsessively making notes about the other riders on the bus; or who only writes on weekday afternoons in a certain cafe. Surely that writer knows what she is doing! So we rush to the nearest coffee house after a quick raid on the moleskin aisle at the local office supply store.

A few days or weeks later, when we realize we’ve stopped producing new work, do we judge the ritual as not appropriate for us? Rarely. More often, we judge ourselves for not having what it takes to be a “real writer.” We berate ourselves, feel badly about ourselves, and indulge in all manner of self-judgment and criticism. No wonder our subconscious mind steers us away from writing in general. The act of avoiding writing becomes a basic act of self-protection.

But when you come to know you, and can wholeheartedly embrace what works for you without apology, that writer within who has been suffering under the weight of your critical judgments all these years can finally be released. It’s a great feeling!

Listen to the new Writer’s Digest Podcast!

A Place for Exploration and Encouragement

In the months to come, this column will help you explore you – and with any luck – will get you writing more than ever before. We’ll take a closer look at topics such as goal setting – how to do it well and how to do it badly, the differences between motivation and inspiration, intention and desire, and what to aim for in the first place. You’ll have a chance to try a few things on for size and see for yourself what works for you. There will be no judgments when something isn’t a great fit, but plenty of celebration and encouragement when something works, and you take yet another step toward living your ideal writing life.

If you know you’re not currently writing enough, that’s great! That means you’re self-aware and you’re ready to move from being a non-writing writer to writing more.

Trust me. You will like it.

Ready to unbind that writer within? Let’s begin!

Imagine Your Ideal Writing Life:

If you don’t know what you’re aiming for, it’s hard to know when you’ve hit the target. The most invigorating and least threatening place to begin is by envisioning your Ideal Writing Life. Envisioning the ideal is a practice that, if done right, is clarifying, energizing and inspiring – all of which are important ingredients in the cultivation of a successful, long-term writing practice.

So let’s get started.

Close your eyes and imagine your perfect writing life. What does it look like for you? Do you see yourself writing every day, first thing in the morning, and churning out a novel a month? Or maybe just writing two months a year in a secluded, lakeside cabin? Perhaps you would enjoy the occasional, well-attended writers retreat? Imagine yourself successfully writing in as much detail as you can.

Then open your eyes and create your Ideal Writing Life Vision on the page. Use the following tips to ensure this exercise is an uplifting, energizing, non-threatening, and effective step toward your ideal writing life.

The Secret to Finding Time to Write

Guidelines For Creating Your Powerful, Ideal Writing Life Vision:

Make your vision a heartfelt one – not a list of, “shoulds.” You’ll know you’ve nailed it when just thinking about your Ideal Writing Life Vision inspires you, and puts a smile on your face.

Keep it at around fifty percent believable. You’ll want to stretch, but not so much that you feel your ideal writing life is impossible.

Create it in the first person, present tense. If you write in future tense, that’s where your ideal writing life will always stay… in the future. Recently, a student of mine submitted an Ideal Writing Life Vision that began with this great present tense example: “I wake up bright and early every morning, filled with exciting new story ideas. I feel rested, refreshed, and eager to get started on my current work in progress.”

Phrase your statements using positive language. Your subconscious mind will appreciate that. “I enjoy writing in peaceful solitude for an hour each day,” is a more psychologically-effective phrase than, “I don’t get interrupted when I’m writing.”

Include detail on all sensory levels. Energize your Ideal Writing Life Vision with sounds, smells, sights, and tastes to make it feel vivid and real.

Include aspects that touch on the Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual aspects of your writing practice. For example, within your Ideal Writing Life Vision:

Where are you physically when you write? A modern, high-rise office? A busy neighborhood coffee shop? A secluded cabin in the woods?

How do you stimulate yourself mentally? Reading yesterday’s work beforehand? Using three new vocabulary words per day in your writing? Reviewing your Ideal Writing Life Vision document when you wake up each day?

How do you feel emotionally when you are writing? How about when you are done for the day?

What does your writing practice do for your heart? Your spirit? Your peace of mind? Your degree of attunement to your inner world? Your flow of creativity? Your connection to others around you?

No Judgments! Make your Ideal Writing Life Vision as energized and positive as you can. Avoid letting that well-practiced, critical voice inside talk smack about you or your dreams during the course of this exercise.

Post it! Keep your Ideal Writing Life Vision someplace where you can see it regularly and re-read it often. Treat it as an important and special document. Give it the reverence you will ideally, soon be bringing to your writing practice itself.

Keep it alive! Allow your Ideal Writing Life Vision to become a dynamic, living document, one you can add to and modify at any time.

You CAN Do This!

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve read hundreds of heartfelt living visions written by people from all walks of life, and they always uplift and inspire me.

So go ahead and write your own Ideal Writing Life Vision. Have fun with it. Do it well and sink into it deeply. And when you are complete, you will have written something powerful.

Then share. What does your ideal writing practice look like?

In the comments below, I invite you to share one small element from your own personal Ideal Writing Life Vision. Just give us a taste of your perfect writing life. We can all use the inspiration!

Uh oh! Wait! Did you just notice that voice inside of you say you’re too scared? Too busy? Someone might laugh at you? You’ll do it later?

That’s okay. No judgments here. Be brave.

And do it anyway. Do it now. (Because later never comes, remember?)

This is you taking step one toward your Ideal Writing Life. And I applaud you!

I look forward to being inspired by your Ideal Writing Life Vision.

P.S. If you have a few minutes, please fill out this short survey to help me create better content for you. Thanks!

Get help finding writing time with Writer’s Digest University’s online course: Fitting Writing Into Your Life

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