IWSG - A Marathon of Non-Writing...

Aloha,

 “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;”

                                                             – William Shakespeare (Henry The Fifth)

 

Yes, it is time, once more, to figure out if it’s IWSG or ISWG, but what the heck, I’m surely glad that A-Cav came up with this wonderful idea of the Insecure Writers Support Group.

For me, it’s pretty simple this month.

This Sunday, I’m running my tenth and final (yuh, right) marathon. My first (in 2001) should have been the Honolulu Marathon, (but I pulled out after a training injury) so it’s only fitting to finish where I was supposed to start.

The problem is I’m not prepared. I haven’t ran an inch in preparation, so it may take me a while to finish.

However, I don’t care what my time is, but finish I will.

So, if I am so committed to dragging my butt through 26.2 miles of a tropical climate-infused “race,” why am I struggling to write while sitting my butt in a cool, air-conditioned room?

If I know I won’t quit the marathon unless the medics take me down, why am I scared to write?
Why?

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Legal notice: This IWSG post sponsored, in part, by Whiners Helping Individuals Notify Everyone, Inc.

"Have you drank your pitifully half-empty glass of whine today?" (c) 2013 WHINE Inc.

(All rights reserved... because, well we said so, and it's really mean and not nice of you at all to take our words - and I worked really hard at writing it and my hang nail hurt a lot every time I hit the "Z" key, and well why would you take our words and not tell us. Seriously, that's not nice. I'll tell my mom.)

 

 

50 States of Pray - Linky List is open :)

Aloha,
About two months ago, I had a random thought.
Normally, these get me into trouble, but this one sounded like a great idea:
Why not set aside a moment to reflect on the year that was and share some hopes for the next year?

I’m calling it the 50 States of Pray event and I’d love to find at least one person (but the more the merrier) from each U.S. state to participate.

But wait... as they say on TV... This is absolutely open to anyone, anywhere. Imagine if we got one person from 50 independent states (countries), too. That would be amazing!

All that’s required is to take a moment and about 100 words. Then, on Dec. 24, 2013, please share a prayer, a thought, a memory, a hope and even a regret about the past and/or a wish for the future.

If you can’t post on the day... it’s Christmas Eve, Mark... (I know, I know :) feel free to schedule your post to go live on the 24^th.
I'm *NOT* expecting people to comment - my only hope is that people can stop by to read, relax and reflect for as much time as they can spare :)

Simple rules:

A.    When clicking the Linky List "You are next... Click here to enter" button, you'll first be asked for the link title (your name) or blog title. Please add a hyphen and the two-letter state abbreviation AFTER your name/blog, so I can track which state you'll be “representing.”
(e.g. Mark Koopmans – HI)

A1.     If you’re representing a foreign state or country, please add the 2- or 3-letter Country Code, so I can track which country you’ll be representing (e.g. Harold Pottear – ENG)

(As a courtesy, I've added the names and states/countries of those who've previously responded - but if I've misspelt a name or added the wrong state, just let me know!)

B. I appreciate everyone’s help so far, and would so love some more extra help promoting 50 States of Pray.

        B1. On Twitter, please promote the event by tweeting this post and/or using #50StatesOfPray hashtag.

        B2. Any help with sharing this post via Facebook would also be much appreciated.

The response from the Blogging Community (and beyond) has been wonderful and I’m looking forward to reading and sharing with you all.

In closing, here’s my simple goal behind 50 States of Pray:

Is there not a better time to help make the world a better place than Christmastime?

Deep down in my heart, I truly believe someone, somewhere will absolutely benefit from your words.

Merry Christmas, thanks for helping spread the word, and I hope to read you soon :)

And that’s it.
The Linky List below is now officially open!

Reasons to be Thankful...

Aloha,

It’s always interesting when I meet new people for the first time.

They hear my Oirish accent, subdued, but always there, and I’m often asked if I’m from ____ and then it’s normally, “Like, dude… why did you come here?”

That story is shared elsewhere, but I always finish the above with a feeling of gratitude.

It’s not so much how I got here, but that I am here – and I am so deeply thankful to God and his many mercies that brought me here in January 1996.

It’s fair to assume that I’ve celebrated every one of the seventeen Thanksgiving holidays since I arrived, but my first AHA! Thanksgiving was actually my fifth. (Details here.)  

Now I find myself calling home or friends overseas to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and they’re all like, “Dude, it’s just Thursday.”

But, it’s not, is it?

Thanksgiving is – now that I get it – a time to (hopefully) catch up with family, break some bread, and maybe some heads… depending on how the annual arguments develop!

I’d like to share some reasons why I’m thankful:

 

 

·         Father “Al Diaz” Dragon (I think it’s simply delicious that Al’s name is now his nickname) put a huge amount of effort into his latest post and offered up a tribute to many of his Blogger friends.

I was honored to be included in the Dragon Hall of Fame, especially as I’ve lately spiraled out of writing control. To receive this boost of confidence from Al is something I can – and will – really hold on and grab with both hands.

·         I’m also thankful for the smaller things in life. For example, today I played with my three boys in the silly little plastic swimming pool we have sitting in our backyard.

Three sons, one sun - this past Sunday

 

·         As I hosed the pool down, I realized it’s the end of November and many families have battened down the hatches for winter. We are so blessed to live here in Hawaii.

·         I’m thankful for the men and women, including my wife, who serve our country and allow me and so many others the freedom to blog as we want.

·         And, I’m thankful to you, my blogging buddies, because no matter what happens in the future, I know I am a better writer, and more importantly, a better husband, father and friend because of the relationships that have grown through knowing many of you.

Dragon-related pictures courtesy of Father Dragon :)

Happy Thanksgiving, if you’re celebrating, and if not, Happy “It’s Just Thursday.”

50 States of Pray event update - thanks to all :)

Aloha,

It's been three weeks since I announced the 50 States of Pray event and I wanted to share an update.

I've had a ton of positive interest, several (cleared) misunderstandings and no negative feedback.

With less than two weeks to go before the Linky List opens, there are already twenty people pledged to represent their state and one person representing a foreign state.

Full details about the 50 States of Pray event are here, but the basic goal is that I'd love to find at least one person (but the more the merrier) from each U.S. state to participate.

But wait! (as they say on TV:) This is absolutely open to anyone, anywhere. Imagine if we got one person from 50 independent states (countries), too. That would be amazing!

If interested, please join the Linky List Monday, Dec. 2, 2013 and then on Christmas Eve, take a moment, (and in about 100 words), share a prayer, a thought, a memory, a hope, a regret about the past and/or a wish for the future.

Posts can obviously be scheduled ahead of time (at least on Blogger) and I'm not expecting people to comment on a lot of blogs - it's Christmas Eve! - but I believe these posts will have the ability to bring some comfort and/or peace to the right reader at the right time.

Thanks for all those who've pledged their support and I would ask that folks continue to help me spread the word through Blog mentions, Button grabs, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.

Hopes. Dreams. Heart.