Today’s 5 words are about rest.
1. Couch-Nap – I like a good couch-nap. When Mom leaves me alone, the couch is my napping area of choice. Also the floor, my bed, the rocking chair,
and the butterfly rug in the bathroom.
2. Street-Nap – In the summer the asphalt in my neighborhood gets blazing hot. Those are the perfect days for a street-nap. I lie on my belly and my side and sometimes I flip over and squiggle around like a wiggly worm.
Aaahhhh…
3. Laziness – Mom has been kind of lazy lately. She hasn’t been sitting at her computer and talking to herself! That means no writing in a few days. I thought she was a “full-time” writer. This week, she’s been a writer at rest.
Z-z-z-z-z-…
4. Excuses – She makes excuses like, “I have an appointment.” and “I’m swamped. It’s a super-busy day.” and “How can I write if you drink all my coffee?” I can make excuses, too. “You left your cup right where I can reach it.”
and “I couldn’t decide which toy to play with.”
and “I was lonely eating in the kitchen by myself.”
5. Back-on-the-horse – Yesterday, Mom sat at her computer and said she was getting back on the horse. I have never seen a horse. Mom saw one in Manhattan and showed me the picture. It looked like a big dog. A really, really, REALLY big dog. I hope she doesn’t love that big guy more than she loves me.
Woof!
Back in January I decided to go to my local children’s bookshop to see if they had my new book in stock. Maybe I could sign their copies? Luckily I managed to park just a few yards from their door.
But as soon as I got out of the car I was in agony. My knee was a mass of shrieking nerves. I could hardly walk the few steps to the shop door. I had to hold onto the windows of the neighbouring shops and hop (so determined was I to see my book on the shelves that I didn’t consider giving up).
Once in the shop I was in so much pain that the kind staff had to get me a chair, and, once I’d signed their stock and bought a copy for my uncle, the owner insisted on accompanying me back to my car, which I could drive, fortunately, because it was my left knee and it is an automatic car.
Just under four months later, I am recovering from an operation on a badly torn cartilage. I am suffering less pain every day, doing my physiotherapy exercises, and looking forward to being able to walk for more than 15 minutes at a time.
I wouldn’t say it’s been an entirely negative experience though. The enforced rest which comes after surgery or illness is an unusual experience in today’s busy world. It gave me a chance to reflect on my lifestyle, and how little time I spend away from computer or car. As I read, watched Masterchef and Game of Thrones, listened to music, or just snoozed, I found ideas for my current book blossomed in a way that doesn’t happen when I’m actively trying to focus.
Convalescence and illness are at the heart of some of my favourite children’s books. The long road to recovery for Katy after she fell off a swing in What Katy Did. The scary rocks with eyes in Catherine Storr’s Marianne Dreams. Harriet’s wobbly legs which need building up through ice-skating in Noel Streatfeild’s White Boots, Colin's mysterious illness in The Secret Garden. As a writer I get impatient when I have to nurse a character through an illness or injury, because it slows the book down – I can completely understand why Sally Green plumped for self-healing as a magical gift in her debut Half Bad. But as a reader, as a child, I loved these stories of rest and recovery.
Nowadays some of our most successful children's books are about illness, disability, mental illness and accidents requiring intensive care. Books such as John Green's The Fault in Our Stars and R J Palacio's Wonder have won prizes and become best sellers. Am I right to think that today's medical dramas are more dramatic than the tales of slow healing from the past? They are more likely to be about death and prejudice, than fresh air and gentle exercise. Are there modern books about overcoming the tedium of not being able to do very much for a while?
My dodgy knee has made me rethink my plans for a study in my house. I have decided to do without a desk and laptop in the room earmarked for me. I have other places where I can go to write - cafes, tables, other people’s houses. The internet is constantly entertaining and informative, and endlessly distracting. What I need is a room with no screens. A place for reading and listening to music. A space to shut out the busy-ness of work and family, to let ideas and characters develop. Somewhere for dreaming, resting, creative thinking. A place to slow down and think.
At the moment this room is full of boxes, and needs redecorating thanks to a leaking roof. But when it’s complete, I promise to report back and tell you if it works for me as I hope.
by LuAnn Schindler
In the midst of winter, it's sometimes difficult to take a break from the computer screen and head outside for physical activity. But writers need to make time to step back and give their minds and bodies a rest from the office chair and the written page.
When I'm in the middle of a long stretch of writing or editing, I work for an hour to 90 minutes, and then I take a break. Then, I strike a pose - a yoga pose - and clear my mind and stretch my body. The Sphinx pose restores the curve in the lower spine. When you're sitting in the office chair for extended periods, it flattens. Sphinx also gives a boost of energy to the chest by giving the heart and lungs more space to operate.
How does the position affect your disposition? An open chest encourages an open heart, preventing depression from setting in. It also gives an individual a feeling of support.
It's easy. Lie on the floor on your stomach. Feet should be shoulder width apart. Rest the tops of the feet on the floor. Prop your torso up on your forearms, keeping your elbows underneath the shoulders. Forearms and fingers point forward. Lift up your heard and keep the chin level to the floor, eyes gazing ahead. Pull shoulder blades toward each other. Stay in the position for at least five deep breaths or up to two minutes. To come out of the pose, lower your torso and head to the floor. Move the arms next to your sides and turn head one direction. Rest for several moments before resting in child's pose.
Balancing work and rest helps creativity. Take a few minutes for yourself throughout the work day. You'll be amazed at how your productivity increases!
Author: Clark Taylor
Illustrator: Jan Thompson Dicks
Published: 1992 Chronicle Books (on JOMB)
ISBN: 0811801233 Chapters.ca Amazon.com
Dark and disturbing yet surprisingly digestible, this thought-provoking twist on the classic rhyme is an arresting introduction to drug-induced despair — and a call to choose to act to end it.
Tags:
addiction,
childrens book,
Clark Taylor,
crack,
drugs,
Jan Thompson,
Podcast,
recovery,
review,
The House That Crack Builtaddiction,
childrens book,
Clark Taylor,
crack,
drugs,
Jan Thompson,
Podcast,
recovery,
review,
The House That Crack Built
.jpg?picon=1806)
.jpeg?picon=3304)
.jpeg?picon=893)
.jpg?picon=380)
OMD Cupcake, you sure move in that first video and you pick up your dinner bowl full of food. Youz so clever and super funny Bawahwhahhahahaaa xxxoxxx
Mollie and Alfie
So funny, Cupcake! Zip zip zip to and fro! Can I have some of your energy? ;)
hahaha Cupcake it was a pleasure to watch your videos! I bet now your mom has many good ideas for new stories and her winged horse will gallop like the wind. Hi-yo Silver! have a wonderful friday and please be careful while taking a nap on the street.
WOL! Street naps are pawesome! WOoooooowooooooo!
So cute, cupcake. I love how you carry your bowl around <3
Ha, this is the second post on my reader about napping. I think you guys are sending me a sign for how to recover from my trip. Time to hit the couch with my dog-pillow, Eko. Hope we can reach your expert level napping skills.
Heheh, those look like some pretty cool places to sleep Cupcake! Whee pigs love to find comfy, warm places and whee reckon you have the art pretty well wrapped up.
The Pigs xx
Your videos made me chuckle. Plus-cute!!
I can’t believe mom was not writing! Get out of the city!!! You need to get on board and keep her in line. If that means no coffee for you and more for her, so be it! Sacrifice if you must, for love of mom. (Hmmmmm)
Anyway, horses. They are an awesome sight and you’d probably poo your drawers if you stood up next to one but they are cool. Not as cool as dogs though. I heard just yesterday that long ago when firetrucks were pulled by horses, dalmatians used to run alongside of them to keep them moving because the fires used to scare the horses. Now. Who is more brave? The horse or the dog? Think about it. ;-)
Hugs and more hugs…
Cupcake is too adorable for words. Good luck with the writing, Genevieve! I’ve been having a slow week too. Ugh! :(
HEY! Be real careful around those HUGE DOGS…horses have really wicked swings and kicks with those big hooves….I found out the hard way,
Boomer
♥ღLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com