August 31, 2012

I Didn't Know I Was Shouting: #FiveMinuteFriday on Change

How it works:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back at LisaJoBaker and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

Lisa Jo finishes her introduction with...

OK, are you ready? Please give us your best five minutes on:

Change…

Its funny how you never know when you wake up in the morning how that day will end: how you will feel, what will happen, when those glorious moments of joy will pop in and when those moments of utter despair may overtake you.

Funny isn’t the right word, but I hope you get what I mean.

Last week I wrote here about my more-than-likely basal cell carcinoma. My dermatology consult is on Wednesday, the fifth. My most common prayer these days is simply “help me” as last week, in Five Minute Friday, I came out about it. I hadn’t done that before then.

I changed from, “No, I have never gone to the doctor because I thought I might have cancer” to “I am now waiting to see the doctor because I am pretty sure I have cancer.”

I was pretty low on Monday but did not expect the next change to happen.

Somehow I got connected with my best friend on the planet via cell phone. I think it was a situation where my friend thought the call was declined, but instead, I was there tucked in the back pocket listening.

I heard conversation I never wanted to hear.

I can still hear the echoes of what was being said and my own voice shouting my friend's name, wanting the words to stop, “If you say it then I know it’s real!” My voice, hoarse. My voice, set on scream mode for at least an hour after that.

My daughter called with a simple question and when I answered she said, “Mommy, you don’t have to shout, I can hear you.”

I didn’t know I was shouting, the pain was so bad and my senses were so off, I couldn’t hear I couldn’t see I couldn’t taste, I couldn’t do anything other than try to catch my breath, lift my chin to God and trust this change that came upon me so suddenly, so harshly, was a finite ache. Like labor pains.

Finite.

I was strong enough to endure and burst forth my gorgeous babies and change from empty, longing arms to welcome the precious babies who are now the people nearly grown… these glorious people the Lord loaned me to Mother for a while.

Even writing these words makes me feel better. The timer went off on “so suddenly.” Please excuse me as I added a few more additional words.

My breath is slower.

This dress IS pretty.

I can face the day.

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

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 -

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 09:43 AM in 5 Minute Friday, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Befriending Fear, Blogging, Friendship | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

August 30, 2012

A Change of Pace: Flash Fiction ~ #BlogFlash2012 Masquerade

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.

Word Count 102

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 08:23 AM in #BlogFlash2012, 30 Day Challenge, Writing Inspiration, Writing Prompt | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Strangest Food I Ever Ate.... Well, I think it is strange, anyway...

When I was pregnant with my first baby, Marlena, I did all sorts of off things that to me shouted COURAGEOUS!

I wanted to give my child the gift of bravery, so I outdid myself in the “non self consciousness” zone. It was actually an excellent time of self growth and discovery.

I was in Scottsdale, Arizona at a sales meeting and I decided, when at a very Old Style Arizona restaurant, that I would try rattlesnake.

Its taste left no recollection at all for me. Some of you might find the fact that I like the taste of pickled cow tongue even more and eat it fairly regularly.

As for my daughter, she was very brave.

She faced death at birth, which turned out to me to be much scarier than eating weird food or doing odd things. Even now, twenty-two years later, I am sad over her death: being able to tell stories like this which include her, believe it or not, still help.

Thank you for reading.

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 07:59 AM in Blog Dare, Blog Hop, Blogging, Courage, Family, Fear, Summer Blog Challenge, Writing Prompt | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

August 27, 2012

History: My Literary Family History Flows with Words & Images

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

Young Portrait of Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Social Reformer & Writer

Ina Coolbrith, First Poet Laureate of California

Portrait of Writer Kate Chopin and four of her Children

Kate Chopin: Novelist, Short Story Writer (with her Children)

WORD COUNT 173

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

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.

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 09:11 AM in #BlogFlash2012, 19th Century New England, 30 Day Challenge, A to Z Challenge, Art Begets Art, California Writer, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Education, Family, Lucy Larcom, Motherhood, notebook, Oakland, California, Parenting, Poet, Poet Laureate, Woman Writing, Women in Literary History, Women in Literary History from A to Z, Women Leaders, Writing Challenge | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

August 26, 2012

I Dare You: Come to Know Just One Remarkable Woman a Little Bit Better

Five minutes, stream of consciousness writing for SOC Sunday. No give topic. Just write.

Here I am, another Sunday. I cannot write about what is obsessing me because it upsets me too much so I will purposefully write about something else.

I should say I will not, I refuse not… to write about what is obsessing me. I did that Friday.

I have another obsession? Women in History – especially in the arts.

I researched Berthe Morisot the other day and fell in love with her. Why don’t I know of these women? I still want to read the biography of Elizabeth Vighee-LeBrun – it is free to read online. I need to do it and stop talking about it.

Above: Berthe Morisot - The Cradle

It is so ancient I could even republish it.

Forbes has become a recent friend because they enjoy making lists of the Top 100 this and that and I am waiting for their Top 100 Power Women of 2012 so I may research more of them.

I have discovered some awesome modern day women from these lists.

Two come to mind right away: Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Prime Minister of the Ukraine, now Political Prisoner Yulia Tymoshenko.

I write about them. I reach into their biographies as deeply as I am able with little published in English. I share what I find with people via my blog. These women are doing it. They are bravely leading nations into the future instead of being bewildered by a culture that too often squashes their voices under ridiculous debate of what is legitimate and what is illegitimate.

I have to be careful about “talking” about this because I get too carried away.

Yulia Tymoshenko.

I’ve offered you some names of remarkable women. I dare you to choose one and google it. Learn more for yourself.

At least come to know another remarkable woman a tiny bit better.

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
Link up your post to Jana's Thinking Place
Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 11:40 AM in Activism and the Arts, Art Begets Art, Asking and Living the Questions, Leadership, Leadership Development, SOC Sunday, Stream of Consciousness Sunday, Woman Writing, Womanhood, Women Leaders, Women Painters, Women Politicians | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

The Eyes & Seeing as Translators

"My biography of seeing" is different from any other memoir I have written or will write.

I see so much differently now then I used to see. I am awake. I notice.

Eyes aren’t able to translate what they don’t know. The more intimate we become with what we know, the more clearly we see those we love and cherish everywhere we go.

I did this with Crape Myrtles: I didn’t know to name them so I didn’t notice them.

Tulip Magnolias: both of these are big, vibrant colorful trees I used to drive right past.

Now? Each one, tree as prayer.

WORD COUNT: 102

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 11:11 AM in #BlogFlash2012, Woman Naturalist, Writing Challenge, Writing Inspiration, Writing Prompt | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

August 25, 2012

#BlogFlash2012 - Blue as in Blue Eyes

Maybe it is because my eyes have been complimented more than anything about my physical being: maybe that is why I love looking into the eyes of my blue eyed babies. I know, they aren’t babies anymore, so now I can’t help projecting into my grandbabies eyes.

I sometimes think to tell my children, “If you have a brown eyed husband, make sure one of his parents have blue eyes, just to be safe.”

I know, there are more important concerns like, perhaps, love to consider, but blue eyes.

I just love and am ever grateful for my blue eyes.

WORD COUNT 100

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 12:02 PM in #BlogFlash2012, Writing Challenge, Writing Prompt | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

August 24, 2012

Walking In the Woods at Walden Pond: #BlogFlash2012 Day 24 - In The Woods

Last Fall I got off course while visiting Walden Woods. YES! Those Walden Woods, the place where I am certain Henry David Thoreau never got lost.

I happily walked paths alone, my heart singing a joyful song.

It was like coming to Mecca for me.

The place that is the heart of transcendentalism, Concord, Massachusetts – and this, the legendary place Thoreau went, in his words, to “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

Lost, found, on a path, on the path, on my path, none of it mattered. I was here, now, in Walden Woods. I heard the train whistle. Felt like home.

WORD COUNT: 141

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 07:29 AM in #BlogFlash2012, 19th Century New England, Astonishment, Autumn, Books, Wilderness, Woman Writing, Womanhood, Writing Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Join: The Membership Line to This Club is Long. #FiveMinuteFriday

This is crazy. I wrote my 5 Minute Friday post and it disappeared.

It evaporated. I really don’t want to join this club nor do I want to share about joining this club because I am admittedly really frightened about it.

Last Friday morning I missed 5 Minute Friday. I was at my doctor, finally getting,, would I call it a mole? A splotch on my skin? A pink angel’s kiss right between my laugh lines? checked out.

She took one look and said, “Ohhhh, yes… suspicious.”

They shot me up with Tetanus just because I happened to be there, took photos and wrote up a referral.

“Any family history with skin cancer?” she asked.

“Well, I know my uncle had it because he has a scar almost in exactly the same spot on his face.”

“Just your uncle?” she asked. I reassured her that as far as I knew, it was just my uncle, and my other uncle, both brothers of my mother. She told me it might be two weeks for the referral, but she would send the photos they took to dermatology that day and to call if in two weeks they hadn’t called me.

I was shaken when I left her office. Shaken and sad and scared, but relieved I had taken the initiative.

My daughter had her 15^th Birthday tea the next day, so I held it together. I didn’t want to call my eighty-year-old mother and fall apart until after Emma’s party.

I bet you know what happened.

When I called her to ask “Has anyone in the family other than Uncle Bob had skin cancer” praying for an “Oh, no, ofcourse not” instead I heard, “Oh, sure. I had it, Granny had it… your sister Sue might have had it.”

I probed deeper to find Mom had basal cell carcinoma six times.

I asked, “What do you mean, Sue might have had it?”

“She might have had it and I just forgot. But I think she might.”

The Jordan family is still in deep denial of joining the Cancer Club.

I sent Sue a facebook message, “Random, but have you ever had basal cell carcinoma?”

“Yep, I have. Two or three times.”

And Mom forgot? And she talked about it so lightly. “Yeah, they just burned it off.”

I was so shocked I didn’t ask for more details.

I searched online for more information and filled my mind with needless terror from faces with the newest surgery technique who had long scars down their cheeks.

How can this be nothing? I know it’s the most common cancer, I know it doesn’t metastasize very often… but…

I emailed my doctor with the additional information. Every woman member in my direct family line has had basal cell carcinoma.

My referral came through that day. I half way expected them to email me a membership card. On September 5, I will get a biopsy and a full body inspection. I nervously scan myself and have found a couple more curious patches.

The numbers 6 and 2 or 3 with “no big deal” ping pong around my head.

I have a poetry performance tonight. I don’t want to go.

I would rather stay invisible, inside, in denial.

This is a club I didn’t ever want to join.

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 06:38 AM in 5 Minute Friday, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Womanhood, Writing, Writing Challenge, Writing Inspiration, Writing Prompt | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

August 23, 2012

#BlogFlash Day 23: Cooking

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!

Truth is, I love the compliments. Don’t we all?

Word Count = 100

Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot

Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)

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.

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Posted at 11:04 AM in #BlogFlash2012, 30 Day Challenge, Family, Life Writing, Parenting, Parenting a Child on the Autism Spectrum, Parenting Teens | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Giving You Permission to Be Purely You, Unerased, Raw, Absolutely Right.....

Creative Fun!

My Other Accounts

Recent Posts

Become a Fan

Twitter Updates

Ways to Ignite Your Passion

Twitter Updates

Tip Jar

Recent Comments

Twitter Updates

August 31, 2012

Change…

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 30, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 27, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 26, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 25, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 24, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator

August 23, 2012

Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator