Monday’s Pen to Paper: Forget and Move On
I’m running behind today.
It started with both cars refusing to start this morning and continued from there. But now I am at the computer with a cup of hot tea, ready to put in some writing time, and trying not to think of the new master clutch slave cylinder, serpentine engine belt and re-wiring for the jeep and the tow I will need tomorrow for the van.
Yep, I’m going to forget it all and move forward with my day.
WRITING PROMPT- option 1: Write about a time when your car left you stranded. (Feel free to share your experience in the comments).
WRITING PROMPT- option 2: Danica chewed on her lip as she walked to her car. She could not be late to work today so she had given herself some extra time. She hopped into her Jeep, set her brief case on the seat next to her and turned the key. Nothing. Her engine wouldn’t even crank. It didn’t make a noise…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Share
I needed one small duffel for traveling in Africa. No fancy clothes, no make up, no hair dryer, just shorts and shirts. Okay, and a tooth-brush. But my friend and I traveled with two large bags packed to maximum capacity. (which I really didn’t like dragging from place to place.) Clothes, shoes, soccer balls, frisbees, pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, journals, books. What ever we could cram into our luggage that the people, and the schools, in africa might need.
And there was a need.
We spoke with one principle in Zimbabwe that explained that her student’s were required to have a uniform to attend school but that was all. She said that kids walked for miles to come to school, most didn’t have food for lunch and many had no pencil or paper with which to take notes. But over 800 students were there when we arrived. All smiling.
We gave what we could.
The frisbees and soccer balls will give hours of exercise and entertainment. The pencils and paper will help nourish kids minds for a time. But our donations were not a permanent solution. I wish I’d had that. Still, I was so thankful I had dragged along the heavy bags giving the opportunity for a few more kids to learn, enjoy, succeed.
Someday, I would like to go back to Africa. Spend more time with the people. This trip I brought many of my PeaceLoveBasketball shirts and baby onesies and gave them away as well as the school items. In the future, I would love to work with the kids, teach them basketball where they have hoops, soccer where they don’t, read to them, and just help.
Share.
What are different ways you share […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Saving Memories
I love taking pictures.
But I have a real problem that’s arisen these days due to my digital camera. I don’t know what to do with all the images. I have taken so many photos, that my computer will no longer download them because it’s memory is full. (This is not a good thing).
I want the images on my computer, because that is where I have the program to make photo books. (That I’m about 6 years behind on.) Sometimes I wish I could return to a time with no technology. Back before pagers. Back when life was simple. Of course then I wouldn’t get so many great pictures. Pictures when people’s eyes are actually open and pictures when the lighting is just right.
I have put my camera away and vowed to finish some photo albums. And until I can splurge for a new computer, each time I watch TV, I’ll be sorting and deleting and storing, making room for the next set of memories.
How do you save your memories?
WRITING PROMPT: Check out the photo above…now write.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Off The Grid
I was off the grid for two and a half weeks. I loved it.
I suppose it didn’t hurt that I was on an adventure in Africa, but not being connected, allowed me to really enjoy my time there. Be in the moment. Not worry about my emails and phone messages and texts. Just see, hear, smell, taste, feel. Live.
I did miss the opportunity to share what I was experiencing with my family. No texting photos every few seconds. Look, a lion. A hippo. A leopard. A Crocodile. But on my return I snuggled up on the couch with them and shared photos and video clips which was even better.
The time with no electronic connection was peaceful, energizing, inspiring. Had it not been 110 degrees it would have been the perfect environment to write and one I’d like to mimic from time to time, during my everyday life, cultivating an environment to create.
Turn off your electronics, grab a notebook, find a cozy spot and go off the grid. Write or just be.
WRITING PROMPT: Sarah kicked her tire, threw her phone in the dirt and started walking…
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott's memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman's Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women's Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: TEDxSpokane 2014
I feel privileged to be joining an amazing group of speakers at TEDxSpokane this month. There will be oncologists, musicians, authors, entrepreneurs, and educators all in one room talking about ideas worth sharing. I would love to see you at the event!
Event: TEDxSpokane 2014 Connections & Intersections
Date: October 13, 2014
Location: Saint George’s School – Founders Theater 2929 W Waikiki Rd, Spokane, WA 99208
Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Reservation & more information
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Help
Sonya getting out of her hospital bed for physical therapy-1991
I’ve been fighting a bad hamstring for about three months now and I finally gave in and went for help. Fortunately our insurance didn’t make me see a doctor first for a referral, because I hate to pay to have them tell me something I already know, “You should see a physical therapist.”
The cost always discourages me to go initially, and I had good and bad news in that regard. The good: everyone in our family is relatively healthy. The bad: we have a big deductible, so since we’ve been healthy we haven’t used much of the deductible, which means, I’m paying for physical therapy. And it’s not cheap. But if anyone knows how important it is to keep your body […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: My Writing Process Blog Tour
Recently I was asked by fellow blogger Lisa Gouldy, to join her in a Blog Tour. The idea behind a blog tour is to expose readers to new writers and to share information about their writing life. I have done one before and decided to jump right in.
Lisa and I met in a young adult writing class at the Hugo House last spring. When she introduced her book RELIVE, I was hooked. I can’t wait for her book to be published because I love the storyline’s unique twist on classic time travel. In her book, RELIVE, everyone can travel through time to the future, where they can watch recordings of their lives to see how the choices they’re planning to make will turn out. If they don’t like what they see, they can make different choices.
Lisa is an attorney by day and […]
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