November/December 2021 Update

Festival of Lights @ Powell Gardens

How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself? – Epictetus

My last update was in late October, so I am getting back in the routine of monthly updates. I’m glad you are joining me again before the new year.

​I spent the month of November working on NaNaWriMo and all the relevant activities throughout the month, which included working toward the end of the first draft of book 2. Late October and all of November were consumed with writing as often as possible.

Highlights for November and early December:

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow continues. While I did not finish the first draft of Book 2 as I had hoped, I did make great strides. I missed the mark of 50,000 words in November’s NaNoWriMo, but the nearly 20,000 words I wrote helped further flesh out the draft. I continued largely with a new character that I know you’ll enjoy. She is struggling with the path she took as a young adult. She took on a role she believed would lead to further glory and power, yet her choices have caused her to question everything she thought worthwhile.

• Throughout November, I served as a Municipal Liaison (ML) for this region, USA :: Missouri :: Elsewhere.
  • Simply put, the path of a ML is fun. I held numerous virtual write-ins throughout the month to help other writers reach their own goals, whether it was 50,000 words or even half that amount. I am astounded at the amount of writing which occurred over the month. I am already looking forward to November 2022, so that I can further enhance my efforts to assist authors in my area.

Inspirations:
Stoicism has become a fascinating point of study for me throughout this entire year. I had studied it nearly twenty years ago while working on a minor in philosophy. Even in those classes, we spent very little time on it, and what I had learned was relatively vague.

A “stoic” person is generally seen as someone who shows very few emotions. A stoic is almost an aloof automaton in the general understanding. In reality, though, a practitioner of stoicism is someone who strives toward a path of tranquility. The quote at the top from Epictetus also illustrates an important facet of Stoicism: within that tranquility, strive to be the best you can be. That requires constant study of the outside world and oneself: how can I best use my knowledge to become a better person? Emotions can cloud even the most stoic person’s mind, yet it is up to that stoic to continue the path of tranquility no matter how difficult the situation. Through self-mastery, the stoic can better themself, and then, by extension, the world/humanity.

To say the least, Stoicism is fascinating. The study has changed my life in a positive and effective way. If you are at all interested in learning more about it, then check out this cool site for more information.

I offer you a challenge for the next month:
What progress are you going to make on a project - big or small - in 2021? 

I'd love to hear from you. 

An upcoming inspiration will cover my thoughts on martial arts. Image © Yuliya Kalashnykova