I am feeling mad sleepy today and my jaw keeps aching on and off, which I figure is either a result of pesky wisdom teeth or too much coffee, but I could be wrong. My brain is also going into some kind of meltdown from stuffing the principle of sufficient reason and Schopenhauer's transcendence of suffering through aesthetic awareness into it. So much philosophical and abstract thought has rendered my brain defunct for everything else, resulting in a very confused and conflicted pantry-stare over what to eat for dinner. My brain is doing the non-verbal equivalent of blaaaaaaaaah right now. But I shall soldier on. As long as I still retain some semblance of brain function I may be able to cram some more knowledge in. If the conscious level fails, there is always the possibility that I may absorb something through some sort of subconscious mental osmosis.
Anyways, it is about time for my weekly update on the "Yes" challenge. Nothing life-altering to report but I did say "Yes" or do a few things I might not normally have and that was the point. Besides, my Yay-saying will continue and I'm sure there will be bigger and better "Yeses" to come!
So in the last week I have:
1. Said "Yes" to buying "Working Class Hero" by Green Day on iTunes, the funds of which go toward helping Amnesty International in the Darfur Crisis.
2. Said "Yes" to my mind when it told me to finally graffiti something inspirational to the back of a door and contribute to the conversation running there. Yeah, yeah, I said yes to an act of vandalism. But it was meaningful vandalism and something I have never done.
3. Said "Yes" to entering an online poetry competition at Poetry.com and submitted a poem. Then I accidentally submitted a second poem through a different site that still went to Poetry.com and hereby have two poems on the site. Only one will be considered. I'm betting on the first. It was better.
4. I said "Yes" to finally registering a new email account. Something more positive than one that means "Poetic Tragedy". I am now a Yes Girl after all!
5. I have continually being saying "Yes" to my ability to write. I feel so much more confident. Quieting the "Nay-saying" in my mind is very important.
And lastly, but definitely not least, the "Yes" that I am most excited about that came to me by way of Linda...
I have said "Yes" to taking part in National Novel Writing Month in November, the aim of which is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days! I am super excited. This is exactly what I need to break out the novel writing skills. I already have a project in mind and I can't wait to get writing. It seems insane to want to write a novel at such a hectic pace, but it is doable. Just 1666.6666.... words per day. People have written novels in a lot less time. It doesn't have to be perfect. The point is just to do it while at the same time uniting in mutual struggle with fellow NaNoWriMo writers. To take the pressure of perfection off myself somewhat, I'm going to view my novel as a rough draft for something that I intend to get published, after what may or may not be rigorous editing and rewriting depending on what I come out with at the end of November. This is definitely the best "Yes" that has happened to me this week. Thank you so much Linda for bringing it to my attention and I look forward to our mutual passion and suffering. I'm also looking forward to what the website anticipates at the end, which may include "the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children." Awesome.Labels: competition, meme, philosophy, study, writing |
YES!
A powerful word indeed. I'm glad I found something that you were excited about saying yes to.