Donna Davenport's Blog

Day 2 of 31 Day Challenge:

There was a time in my life that I was constantly on the go.  I felt driven to do all the activities in which I was involved.  It wasn’t till much later that the stress of it all ran it’s course and I could no longer continue with my chaotic lifestyle.  I wore a variety of hats in my work, home and personal life.  I ran a skincare business and taught at a beauty school that required me to commute 2 1/2 hours each day,  3 – 4 times a week.  When I taught at the beauty school, I would be home too late to attend some of the kids school activities.  As the 4 kids were getting older, the more I had to drive for school and extra activities in which they were involved.  No matter how much I tried to plan ahead, my teenagers would announce last minute activities we were required to attend.  I loved that my kids were active but at times I felt overwhelmed with all that needed to be done.  No matter how busy we were with work and school, we would fill the little free time with activities outside the home.  There was not time for the things I really needed in my life.  I longed to have time for creative activities like art and writing.  Then the time came that I felt it was time to make some hard choices, to change and make a move.

We had outgrown our small home so we started shopping.  We were looking for a larger home to our liking out of town on 5+ acres.  It didn’t take long to find the home I wanted.  It was a spacious red brick home on 7 1/2 acres.  It had a second building that I made my studio.  I made a change in my life living in this new home.  My life got calmer.  I felt contentment being home.  I had the perfect place and time to be creative.  It was so much more than the home and time that gave me the ultimate peace though it was where the home was located. The 7 1/2 acres came with a beautiful yard for my dogs, a long driveway, scenery to walk, and the deer.  I felt calm. These qualities of this place gave me my moments of peace.  My dogs have a large, spacious yard to run and play.  I started walking again which gave me the time to think and evaluate my life. I started putting out food for the birds and deer.  I enjoyed the response from the deer so thoroughly that it became a daily task.  The deer appear to be excited about feeding time.  I feel needed when the deer are around me eating.  Especially when the does started bring their fawns around to eat.  Observing the deer is alway an event that I enjoy.  My life isn’t perfect but I’m finding what matters most.  Making the time for what matter most has given me my moments of peace.

It’s not about Living the “Perfect” Life.  It’s about simplifying real life to make time for what matters most.

 My 500 Words Link:  My 500 Words

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Day 1 of 31 Day Challenge:

I have a passion for creativity and changing myself and helping others with the same passion.  One of the ways I wanted to to express my passion for creativity is by becoming proficient in writing.  I’m enrolled in Writer’s Digest Tutorials, Writer’s Digest Tutorials .  I have been enrolled in the tutorials for nearly two years.  I had planned to do a tutorial a day but I kept procrastinating on this commitment.  I feel I wasted a great deal of time at the beginning of the year not doing the tutorials.  Being nearly the end of the year, I decided this weekend, that I needed to make myself sit down in front of my computer this week and watch a tutorial or two a day.

For several years I’ve been  following and taking a course, tribewriters by Jeff Goins, a writer and blogger.  This is one thing that I feel helps me with my writing and blogging.

http://www.goinswriter.com/

I am painfully aware that there is a big difference in being a follower and being a doer.  I have another obstacle, disciplining myself to write everyday.  I decided this weekend after reading a few of Jeff Goin’s blog posts emails that I would also participate in the My 500 Words.  My 500 Words is a 31 day challenge where you write 500 words per day for 31 days.  My 31 day challenge starts today so I decided to write this blog as my first day.  I forward the following blog emails to my daughter who also has a passion for writing: (I’m hoping she joins me in the commitment.)  I added the main points myself to help me focus on my goal of writing everyday.

Daily Writing by Jeff Goins

Reasons to Start a Daily Writing habit:

“Writing every day doesn’t just make me a better writer.  It makes me a better person.”

• It builds your discipline.
• It makes you smarter.
• It gives you a sense of accomplishment.

“Writing Everyday takes you to places you could never dream of going.  So where will writing every day take me?”

Start Writing Daily by Jeff Goins

“It’s one thing to call myself a writer; it’s quite another to actually write.”

The Three Steps to Start a Daily Writing Habit:

1. Pick a space.  I will write every day on my computer at my desk.
   
2. Set a time.  10:00am
   
3. Choose a goal.  My 500 Words
   

Writing Prompts:

• Write about my surroundings.
• Write about what I did today.
• Write a section of a chapter to that book I’ve been working on.
• Write a letter to my kids… or one to myself.
• Write anything!

Question to ask myself at the end of the day:

“Have I written?” (Check YES/NO)

One of my favorite online articles at oprah.com is about writing everyday, Writing Every Day – Writer’s Rules.  Aimee Bender points out several of the points that Jeff Goin wrote about in his blog, Why the Best Way to Get Creative Is to Make Some Rules ,  and the Writer’s Agreement download,  The contract .  The contract is a way to commit to writing everyday.  Joining the My 500 Words is another way to be held accountable.  It’s joining a support group of writers who are committing to do the same thing.  Jeff Goin will email free updates, writing prompts and other inspiration.

Would you like to join me on this writing challenge?  Ready to get started writing daily?  Sign up for the My 500 Words Writing Challenge and get a prompt every day for a month to help you stay on track. Click here to get started.

 My 500 Words Link:  My 500 Words

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