May Day Brings a Basket of Flowers Delivered By Optimism
Optimism landed on her doorstep alongside a basket of
wildflowers.
Pastel poppies, thistle and scattered sweet pea overflowed
from the lavender basket. She couldn’t see the smiling pixie, hiding behind the
stoic Sequoia of palm trees.
It had been so long since she felt a crashing cymbal of
silence smile slowly be born across her face she almost didn’t recognize
herself.
There was no fear, no anxiety, no worry or paranoia about
who delivered the flowers.
Somehow she knew it was Optimism, even as she remained invisible
to others, she rested under a down filled comforter deep in her heart.
#####
This is my May 1 entry in the StoryADay Challenge. We were prompted to write a "Drabble" - a story containing only 100 words. I took inspiration from a tweet I sent this morning. I am tickled by outcome: both the visual and the words.
Interested in joining the challenge? There is still time! Click on the
Emma just called me during her lunch period in tears.
She heard my voice and the tears and
way-too-fast-to-understand speech started flowing.
This hasn’t happened in a while and my instinct is still to
run to the school, scoop her up, bring her home and let her learn about
negotiating socially later.
Instead, when she needed to get off the phone she quickly
caught her breath, immediately sounded back to her normal self and hopefully is
able to move along without losing any more of her day.
This has the makings of a very long weekend if she isn’t
able to move along.
I may have to warm up the, “Sometimes you have to apologize
for the misunderstanding instead of apologizing for what they want an apology
for that you know you didn’t do” speech. She didn’t hear my “Do you know what
it means to be positional?” speech at all.
I don’t even think she recognized how I slid into my “mental
health” voice, the tones and cadence I used to use when my clients with severe
mental illness were on the edge of escalating.
She is fifteen now and her outbursts have become more rare,
but they are still there.
The absolutes gather steam, the hope balloon deflates and
she is temporarily tossing about in the sea of teen pain and sorrow deeper than
I can recognize right this moment.
None of those standard lines like “Things have a way of
working out” or “It will blow over” or “If you just suck it up and apologize it
will make your life so much easier” will work right now.
I just have to stay reasonably comfortable until 3:15 when I
go fetch her from school and pray that between then and now something –
anything – resolves favorably.
This is my fifteenth post (of 31!) for the October Ultimate Blog Challenge.
Watch here for challenge posts which will include Writing Prompts, Writing
Tips and General Life Tips and Essays.
Julie Jordan Scott
has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator
and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award
winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother
Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam
champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS &
this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this
unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she
finds the passion & the interest.
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This is not a new exercise for me.
With that bold declaration I will add I
am a badge wearing member of the Heraclitus school of “You can never step into the same river; for new waters are always flowing
on to you.” I am never exactly the same
person, the dates are never exactly the same, and when I just allow myself to
take the prompt and write, goodness tends to follow…. as it did today.
Dear 2007 Me,
You think
you will never get over this time: fighting and waiting for Samuel’s
educational situation to level out. It will. You will make it through as will
he AND there will be fights almost continually. I know, you did not sign up to
be an educational advocate, you didn’t necessarily want your time split between
what you most want to do and what you need to do, but you will learn balance.
Cry as much
as you need to cry.
Make a
practice of reading aloud to Samuel. Include Emma and Katherine, too.
Celebrate
each time you are on stage, be it a poetry event or a theater event. You really
don’t know when it’s the last time or next to last time. Remember Kevan.
I know,
fifty seems so far away, but believe me, it isn’t.
Absence is
tearing you up. It will teach you so much. I know you will allow it. You are so
filled with grace and wisdom and when this chapter closes, your grace and
wisdom will astound you. PS – Right around the corner is a horrific situation
with someone you currently think of as a friend.
Go with your
gut.
Keep telling
your stories.
October 19, 2012 JJS
Dear 2017 Me,
Well?
What do you think?
You
finally got up the gumption you had been lacking and it landed you exactly
where you always knew you wanted to be.
You
look great, by the way. Was it just five years ago you were so concerned about
your scars? They become you, actually. It was the beginning of this learning
curve and as usual, you met it face-to-face.
Who
ever knew your oomph would come from there.
I
suppose you did, didn’t you?
I see
the sparkle which has been in your eye since before you were born. You make me
smile, everytime – even when we are crying, we are smiling.
Oh,
before I sign off: good job with your kids. Two more years!!
With
Love,
October 19, 2012 JJS (Wondering to myself if anyone will still call me JJS in 2017?)
Julie Jordan Scott
has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator
and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award
winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother
Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam
champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS &
this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this
unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she
finds the passion & the interest.
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the
Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and
poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
I met Josh, a meth abuser, while walking Walt and Beth, my
two adorable black and white dogs yesterday.
I act like this is an everyday thing. I suppose it could be,
but I was drawn to this “underbelly place” because there is one aspect of it I
especially love: the River that I have watched meander, race, stagnate through
it. The path was lined with more trash than normal and it had a weirder than
usual vibe, though it is always slightly strange there.
I had seen another odd sight lately, too, when driving in
this favorite odd visiting place of mine: the water of the river was gone.
Dried up. Absent.
I am familiar with dry river beds, but not here. This was my
go-to place for river water here within Bakersfield.
We were walking on the path back to our car when I saw a
bicycle rider.
He was twitchy, nervous and called out to us while we were
still far enough away that I couldn’t see him very well.
“It’s ok, it’s safe, I know what goes on here and I’m not
doing any of it look, see, here’s my stuff…” and he pulled out his as of then
not used drug paraphernalia.
“You’re fine,” I responded. “We’re just out walking.”
When we got closer he started talking about who knows what
but all I wanted to know if he knew how long the water had been gone from this
stretch of river.
He told me about the dam in Isabella and I know all of that.
I also know for the past few years, the dam did not impact
this particular flow. Last
year, for example, was the most full I had ever seen
this stretch of the river.
I nodded respectfully, even knowing his assertion was not
wholly accurate and moved along. I said something innocuous as I left, like
“Well, have a good day.”
I was a few steps past him and through his pressured speech
he told me, “Oh, I am Josh,” by the way.
I turned over my shoulder. “Hi, Josh. I’m Julie. This is
Walt” I shook Walt’s leash, “ and this is Beth.”
He gave that nervous on-edge smile I recognized from meth
addicted forebears I have seen.
Walt, Beth and I walked back to the car skirting around a
big, frightening looking pitbull and his owner and returned home which felt
untouched by the empty river and the sullen trash laced paths leading nowhere.
This is my eighth post (of 31!) for the October Ultimate Blog Challenge.
Watch here for challenge posts which will include Writing Prompts, Writing
Tips and General Life Tips and Essays.
Julie Jordan Scott
has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator
and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award
winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother
Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam
champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS &
this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this
unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she
finds the passion & the interest.
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the
Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and
poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
Today's BlogFest2012 prompt comes from Jenny at SoVeryMe. She asked us to write about Autumn Joy. It turned into an awesome growth moment for me. Thank you, Jenny & BlogFest 2012~
Last Summer I had the divine experience of visiting Zion
National Park in Southern Utah. Oh, how I wanted to return quickly – in Autumn –
to attend a writing and photography workshop. I checked out prices and dates.
Everything seemed to click together until that darned biopsy whispered “Melanoma”.
Just this morning, before I read the Blogfest Prompt, I was
thinking “How about Yosemite in a couple weeks?” There aren’t any writing
courses offered right now, but I could explore on my own, write on my own, and
possibly develop some autumn writing courses for next year.
I wanted to go where Autumn lives not with a quiet
whispering of sounds but with great gusts of color and passion and shouts of “The
season is turning. Enjoy the silence as I change right before your eyes!”
Last year I was able to be in New England in October so I
got my fill. Just last weekend a group of us
ventured to Tehachapi, about 45 minutes away, to pick apples and pumpkins. This was a bit of adventure but again, like a dry creek bed compared to a mighty river of autumn. I appreciated it whole heartedly and gave my "be appreciative of what we DO have" speech as we picked apples in a deserty looking orchard instead of lush, rolling, green hills with tall apple trees.
Bakersfield’s autumn arrives in early December usually and
the show isn’t so great, so I think this has clinched it. I am going to go to
either Yosemite, Kings or Sequoia National Park on my own, private retreat.
I need it, badly, especially with my surgery and the slower
recovery than I expected, probably because I have consistently pushed myself
even in the early stages and because my energy tends toward the “high, full
steam ahead” my friends haven’t slowed me down, either.
I want to smell the scent of firewood, burning, as I walk
outside.
I want to hear the crunch of leaves under my feet as they
are cuddled by cushy socks and sturdy walking shoes.
I want to feel the comfort of several layers, including a scarf
and hat, to protect me from the cool dusk and night, as I collect some autumn
images when the ray of slanted autumnal light hits the Earth, just… like… that.
I want to enjoy silence, allow myself to float into the
sacred connection with the planet and with everyone else here, on it, as we
share this reflective time together. Even if you aren’t with me, I will send
you love and trust you will feel the oranges, reds, crackling ray of gentle light.
Julie Jordan Scott
has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator
and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award
winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother
Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam
champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS &
this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this
unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she
finds the passion & the interest.
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the
Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and
poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
Today's BlogFest2012 is on the topic of Technology and Travel. Today's host, Kate from TravelingForever.com wants to know how technology has impacted our travel experiences.
Here's what I said:
The simplest way technology has helped me is also the most
grassroots way: I belong to a network/website called Couchsurfing. It is sort
of like social networking for travelers who share a similar positive worldview
who offer to welcome travelers into their homes with no expectations whatsoever
(you know, like being paid.)
I both host and travel and there have been many times having
a home to arrive at rather than a hotel is a life-saver.
I have made some long-time friends via couchsurfing.
It couldn’t exist the way it does without the internet, so
that is how the technology piece fits in.
Also – texting on my cell phone helps so much while
traveling to check in and say where I am and even to find people at airports…. To
tell my hosts where I am so they know when I will arrive, etc. not to mention
GPS and finding my way anywhere.
Once when my children and I were in a tunnel in the
northeast and lost connection my youngest son said, “Well, it looks like we’re
on our own” and the rest of us started screaming. It was hilarious.
Traveling is so different than how it used to be.
I still love it, love it, love it and look forward always to the next time I hit the road!
Julie Jordan Scott
has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator
and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award
winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother
Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam
champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS &
this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this
unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she
finds the passion & the interest.
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the
Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and
poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
My experience with melanoma this September has
lead me to reach into my magic chest for different creative endeavors than the
norm as Autumn stretches her orange, yellow and red carpet at my feet.
My heart shaped scar right on the apple of my cheek is scary
and beautiful. It also pretty much counts me out of stage productions for at least
six months.
Instead of theater, I am going to work on my business,
creative projects and complete long overdue tasks – the biggies that usually
hover over me until they get ignored out of existence.
One of the challenges I signed up to do as a way to stay
inspired in October is ….
I am, by nature, fairly organized. I am, by practice, better
when I have more time and am all set up. This is where I have gotten lost over
and over as an entrepreneurial mom, volunteer, active community member and
artist-about-town. My tendency to “get everything set” has wavered.
I haven’t done the best at training my family to keep everything
set, either, so this October we will focus on exactly that: getting – and
staying – organized in our household and school/work/life work.
This is an invigorating time for me.
It is true what people say about cancer: it definitely
causes one to take a different perspective than the norm. What I am enjoying is
my lack of resentment and newfound relationship with grace.
I would love to share my organizing adventure with you and
alongside you. Are you up for it?
so
that everything has a place when it enters your home
Week 2: Establishing Routines
to
help you stay organized and prepare yourself for the day or week ahead
Week 3: Calendars and To Do Lists
Week 4: Getting Ahead of the Game
menu
planning, grocery planning, after-school charts, and more!
I don't know about you, but I am excited to end this year with a more organized home and business than how I started this year.
Collect strategies, tips and the best Sharon Romney, a Mom of 6, offers along with a supportive community of fellow Boot Camp adventurers. What more could I ask for than this?
When I first saw yesterday’s prompt - Masquerade – I almost
choked.
It was not the world’s most optimistic morning. I suspect
none are when one you love has been found to be masquerading as someone
completely in love with you when a butt dial phone call changes everything. You hear in
a conversation your love telling someone else “I always want sex with you but it’s
only a band-aid.”
My soul left my body in that moment as I shouted his name. Over and over I heard my cries boomerang around
the car where I sat in darkness, cell phone to my ear.
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity
Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since
1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director,
Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the
StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield.
Did
you enjoy this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion
Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost)
every week day. Subscribe here now -
This morning I made a light proclamation to my daughter,
Emma when I said, “Your Great Great Grandpa was Canadian.”
She didn’t find that very funny.
Emma is taking AP World History this year and one of her
first assignments is to research where her family roots began. We’re thinking
nineteenth century here. Most of her classmates have roots in Europe or Central
or South American during that time, but my little Emma’s roots stretch across
the United States in that time.
My family of choice goes beyond blood. My family of choice
flows words and images as blood. My literary Grandma’s and Aunties, My Artist
Cousins and Sisters, these women so many people haven’t heard of yet.
In honor of the spirit of “FLASH” today, I am going to leave
you with images of these women and request you visit the links I will leave
from my “Women in Literary History from A to Z” series from last Spring.
Lucy Larcom, Mill Girl & Writer
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Social Reformer & Writer
Ina Coolbrith, First Poet Laureate of California
Kate Chopin: Novelist, Short Story Writer (with her Children)
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity
Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since
1999. She is
Julie Jordan Scott writing at Ina Coolbrith Park in San Francisco
also an award winning Actor, Director,
Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the
StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield.
Did
you enjoy this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion
Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost)
every week day. Subscribe here now -
My love for cooking is a well kept secret. I would love to
cook more regularly, nothing fancy but simple, healthy and made from scratch
using herbs from my garden, stuff I buy at the farmers market….
It is strange because in the past year I’ve been known by my
daughter’s friends as being quite the fancy cook because she takes different
pasta dishes and when I’m really moved,
homemade cookies, every day. The reason
for the pasta dishes is she won’t eat sandwiches like other kids so I had to
get creative!
Would you gain benefit in applying any of these principals or
just make your life or your writing more fulfilling? Call for a complimentary coaching
session now - 661.444.2735.
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity
Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since
1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director,
Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the
StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield.
Did
you enjoy this essay? Receive emails directly to your
inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion
Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost)
every week day. Subscribe here now -
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