Do You “Shake it” Like Nobody’s Watching?

Today in Zumba class, I was bumbling along in my usual mediocre way (I'm a newbie) when our instructor, obviously trying to motivate us more intimated students hovering in the back of the room to put some more OOMPH into our salsa booty shakes, pauses from her routine and shouts:

“Just do it! Shake it! SHAKE it! Like nobody’s watching!”

A light goes off in my head: of course. Who cares?

Never mind the gawkers looking at us from the big window.

Never mind the feeling of awkwardness coursing through my body from the threat of mastering something new--feeling as if I'm a gangly twelve year old again with two left feet who can barely keep up with the twenty something teacher effortlessly shimming her hard-body in the front of the classroom.

And, so, for the rest of the class I block out all negativity and self-doubt and instead, focus on the beat, go with my own rhythm.

Later that day I realize this instructor inadvertently just spoke the story of my life. How many times have I quit or refused to take up projects for fear of looking stupid? Those drafts of stories I’ve never polished and completed because I was afraid of someone looking at them. Wasn't afraid of critique necessarily. I knew the drafts needed work, but my fear of opening up, being vulnerable and looking well, foolish.

Whatever it is in life, maybe we should shake this insecurity of being judged and just go FOR IT and give it everything we've got.

And, who really cares if you look dumb?

Because, in the end, it’s only you after all, alone there on the dance floor, dancing to your own beat.

How Many Books Did you Read This Year (2008)?

In 2007 the Washington Post ran an article claiming that one out of four Americans read NO books that year.

I was feeling pretty good regarding my own book reading quota for last year--after all, when I began tallying up all the books I'd read, I got up to 30 and gave up (I figure I read anywhere from 30 to 40 books in 2008).

But then, one of my Facebook writing buddies posts this on her wall yesterday: One book critic from the LA Times claims she read 462 books last year. Oy! That's more than ONE book per day people.

And, apparently George Bush has me beat. According to Karl Rove in his recent Wall Street Journal op piece, he maintains that his buddy Bush read 95 books last year. Naturally, the article met a lot of skepticism.


So, how many books have you read this past year? And, do you hope to match or exceed that number this year?


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A Room with a (VERY) Limited View

Our family room is my favorite room in the house; there is a huge picture window that takes up the entire span of the wall and through this window, when the view isn't obscured by the valley haze that often clings to the mountains, I can spot a tiny peak of the Santa Cruz mountains. Sure, it ain't much of a view--just a glimpse--but heck, I'll take it. (By the way, I cropped out our front yard because it looks pathetic).

In this small room sits a desk which I sit at for a few hours each morning and read and write.

What is your favorite room for writing, reading or your favorite place to just kick back? I'm sure you have a much more amazing view than this!

This is Why I Still Love Santa Clara Valley (Silicon Valley)

Even though our county has evolved from a land of mostly orchards and ranches into a valley of high tech businesses, mega shopping malls and high density housing, I love that only 5 miles away from my home stands this beautiful preserved park, Fremont Older, located in the hills of Saratoga, CA. Hiking up this trail and scanning this stunning view always takes my breath away.

Gives you an idea of what it used to look like, pre-high tech.

A few months ago I actually spotted a bob cat. Can you believe it? In the Silicon Valley?

I just wish I could convince my family to go here with me more often.

New Year's Resolution: I Need to Set Goals

I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions. Why make resolutions that I'll probably never follow through with?

But now as I'm getting older, I realize the clock is ticking and if don't actually begin planning, setting goals for myself, both short and long term, I will never fulfill my dreams and I'll be stuck with unfulfilled fantasies.

So, this year I plan to:

1) Learn and read everything I can about flash fiction and hone a story to submit for publication.

2) Keep up on my daily writing--at least 200 words a day. (I do this anyway, at minimum, but just want to ensure I don't fall off the wagon.)

3) Outline my novel in progress. Currently I have around 10,000k words of just junk, brainstorming stuff.

4) Flesh out my main character more. I need to breath more life into her, make her come alive.

5) I also want to begin writing a personal memoir/essay?--just for myself really and the feelings I hold toward my estranged bio father.

6) To lose ten pounds and make healthy eating and challenging workouts a priority. No more trudging on the elliptical at a lame pace and immediately jumping off after I've clocked in my twenty minutes.

7) Finally, (and this is going to be TOUGH) whittle down my Twitter time. I swear Twitter has been my downfall lately. so I vow: Twitter whore, no more, no more!!! I actually bought one of those clunky timers and have it right here at my desk (when one of the kids aren't wandering away with it). I only allow myself fifteen minute chunks throughout the day. I know. I'm weird. But at least I'm admitting I have a problem.

That's the first step, right lol?

What about you? What projects/goals do you have looming that you need to finish or start? Let me know your blog post and I will comment back on it.

Let's help each other us move forward to a more productive 2009!