LITL by LITL

January 4, 2023

Spoiler alert: I have not cracked all the secrets of the universe, but I’m back all the same.

I’ve been unplugging for an hour every day this week, and it’s become something I look forward to. There’s been minimal staring out the window. I find myself finding lots of things to keep busy with in the absence of other distractions, and some of these activities are even productive. I’ve been keeping track of all my wild adventures on index cards.

Thinking I might eventually extend this to two hours a day, but to build a habit, you have to start small.

Speaking of habits, I got some words written for LITL today. Not sure if they’re words that’ll make it into the book, but they’re words all the same. Yesterday, I wrote a Julianne and Kris scene during my unplugged time (on index cards) that might even make it into the book in some form or another.

LITL by LITL we’ll get there.

(Sorry, couldn’t help myself 😆).

In other news, there’s a new episode of Willow available that I’m very much looking forward to watching tonight. K and I are really loving this show so far, and Disney better not cancel it. Please, TV gods, I can’t take any more cancellations.

Also excited that NCIS: Hawai’i finally returns from break soon. Not sure how hyped I am for this three-way crossover event, seeing as I haven’t really enjoyed any of the crossovers so far, and I don’t even watch the LA version, but it’ll be nice seeing my favorite characters back on my screen (Lucy, I miss you).

Over on his newsletter, Austin Kleon shared a list of prompts for reflecting on the New Year, which is worth checking out for anyone looking for some self-awareness and clarity in 2023. I’m not great at reflecting on the past in any kind of organized manner. It feels like one of those things that I should do more than a thing that I want to do, but I enjoy reading other people’s year-end lists.

And now it’s time to sort out dinner. I have an odd craving for avocado.

litl, writing

Of Life & Randomness

Your quest has failed. Try again?

January 2, 2023

Day 01 of my quest for boredom failed spectacularly. I had every intention of unplugging for an hour after I finished my blog post yesterday, but life had other plans in the form of family. And then it was dinner time. And then it got too late to unplug because I had to check my World of Warcraft auctions and feed my Hay Day animals. You understand.

Today, though. Today we’re unplugging.

Worked on Love in the Light a bit earlier. I’m still trying to figure out what this book wants to be because I honestly have no idea. It’s a kind of murky blob with words attached to it at the moment.

I mean, should you know what you’re writing before you start writing? I think I’d rather be surprised. It could be the sequel to TBSOL or it could be something else entirely. A coffee machine manual. A very bad cookbook. A very long, detailed guide on how to not take care of succulents.

The possibilities are endless.

Okay, now that I’ve written nothing of value here, I’m going to go unplug for an hour and let the creativity flow. Will report back once I’ve cracked all the secrets of the universe.

Of Life & Randomness

Happy New Year 2023

January 1, 2023

I thought I’d kick things off by doing the thing I said I was going to do months ago but never actually did: start blogging again. I’m very rusty at this rambling in public thing, so please bear with me while I find my footing. Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you.

First things first: Happy first day of the brand sparkling new year to the one or two spam bots still reading this blog, and also to you, lovely person who is not a spam bot, and who maybe wandered here by accident. Whatever brings you here: welcome, and may the incoming year bring you many fruitful blessings. And chocolatey blessings. Ooh, and pizza blessings.

May it bring you a bounty of your favorite edible and non-edible blessings.

The year 2023 is upon us and I still don’t have a flying car, nor a robot maid, nor a handy teleportation device in the house. Bit of a letdown, if I’m honest. I’m not sure how I feel about heading into this new year, but the nice thing about time is that it doesn’t really care about my thoughts and feelings. So, I’ve decided not to waste any more time than necessary attempting to project my thoughts across time and space. (That reminds me, I also don’t have a time machine).

My resolution for the year: remain present.

Big ask for someone who’s perpetually mired in anxiety. But that’s it. That’s my focus. The here and the now. No more. No less.

And while I remain present, I also intend to focus on the pursuit of productive boredom. I’ve come to realize that one of the biggest detriments to my creativity is the fact that I’m never, ever bored. There’s too many games to play, and things to watch, and things to read, and streams to scroll. I can’t remember the last time I checked in with myself, or took more than a couple of minutes to sit with my thoughts. So yes, I definitely need more boredom in my life. Mindful boredom. Intentional boredom. Boredom that yields creative output.

To that end, I’m planning to spend at least one hour a day away from anything technological. No phone, no e-reader, no PC, no tablet, no TV. Just me, and the grass growing outside my window. Maybe I’ll finally get around to meditating. Or learning to knit. Or bake those cookies I promised K I’d make her a year and a half ago.

That reminds me, we need to buy flour.

Siri, please remind me to buy flour. Oh, and chocolate chips.

Where were we? Ah yes. Abandoning technology. I’ll let you know how that goes.