Writing At the Seams of Life

Last updated on: September 5, 2023 at 9:56 pm by Sherry Antonetti

0 Comments

Writing At the Seams of Life 2023-09-05T21:56:19-04:00 Sherry Antonetti

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

These days, my ugly list never seems to shrink. For those unfamiliar with this term, I always have an ugly list. I update it monthly. It includes all those things that no one wants to do, but need doing. Since as a writer, one must show, not tell, here’s my show and tell:

I’m currently trying to teach two unwilling teens to drive so they can move beyond the learners’ permit. We also are filling out two passport applications that will take twelve weeks to process. My printer may have a nervous breakdown because every time I mess up, I have to start over. Fifty-seven years of life, two degrees, and countless opportunties to fill out applications of every which way and kind, still are insufficient to help me wade through govermenteese. All of this, piles on top of bills, FASFA’s, back to school stuff for high school and middle, and my own work for teaching 9th grade and drama. I did get a flu shot, but need to get them for five others in our family. I also need to schedule a follow up appointment for myself with my general practitioner, and for our new puppy with our vet. Swamped doesn’t begin to cover it.

There’s a running gag, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” This is a trope propegated by someone who wants to pawn off an ugly task from the ugly list to someone else they see slogging through their things that have to be done but don’t have an inherrient internal reward attached. The ugly list I have includes almost exclusively tedious tasks that are the emotional equivalent of soggy towels in the laundry, dinner dishes in the morning, and forms that need to be faxed somewhere. They are also things that in most cases, need to be managed and overseen or they won’t happen.

As a result, something needed to give.

My writing took it on the chin. I can’t say I had no time because I binge watched Strange New World and Lower Deck. My brain wanted an escape and found it in Star Trek until this earworm got into my brain.

I’d love to say I identify with Nurse Chapel in this number.

But I’m not ready ready, and it’s time for me to “work so hard for this,” so success can be overnight, but not really.

I need to edit my book and occasionally submit an article somewhere in hopes someone takes it because I wrote something they found interesting. I’d look at writing and you could hear my brain flatlining.
BEEEEEEEEEEEP. And I’d run from the blank page. I needed to stop avoiding what I need to be doing.

So this blog is my attempt to force myself back into the writing fray of five hundred words a day, no excuses, no matter what. I will see if I can go 30 days, writing every day. Wish me luck. Day 1. Nuts, still have fifty plus words to go. I know that all good habits –steps, prayer, writing, reading, cooking, parenting, everything, begins with being willing to do the work, to do the hard parts first. I know, if I make myself do it, it will start getting done.

I looked at the ugly list. It is twenty items long. I worked with my daughter on her common app. I called my son about the Fasfa. The list still felt twenty items long. I came to one inescapable conclusion.

I need ice cream….after I edit three pages of my book.

Image by fotografierende from Pixabay

Uncategorized

Better habits through Star Trek

goal setting

writing

Previous Post

August 23, 2023

What is My Life's Theme?

Next Post

September 6, 2023 Five Hundred Degrees Outside, Five Hundred Words Here

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Being a parent is the greatest blessing. As a Father of seven, I know that ..."

Catholic Dad

Blessed Then and Now

"I love your post! A lot of us focus on making it to the mountain ..."

Catholic Dad

Easter Monday, Now What

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Answered Prayers Blessed Mother Confirmation Devotion of the Sacred Heart Doctors of the Church Easter Family Humor family life Good Friday Growing up Healing Holy Spirit taps Lent Love in the little things Mary Undoer of Knots Not an Apologist Parenting Sacred Heart of Jesus Saint Therese of Lisieux Sin Small Success Saturday Teaching others and myself Uncategorized Waiting Writing Year of Saint Joseph

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz