Music

It's definitely easier for me to write with music. I didn't think this was possible, since I would never claim to be a musical person by any stretch of the imagination. I can't sing, I'm kinda tone deaf, and unless I hear a song many times, I'll not remember the title/singer. (And, trying to describe the song to someone in the hopes that they will be able to figure out the title/singer just leads to further displays of embarrassment and then eventually frustration because I need to find the song. Thankfully, I'm used to laughing at myself, and that I have a persistent need to find the answers to everyday questions like that, so my curiosity will eventually be satisfied.)

But, I think this non-musicality (I'm a writer, so I get to make up words) of mine helps me out because the music ends up being more like white noise so that my subconscious can seep out and influence my writing. Or so that's my current theory. (I also get to change my theories as I see fit.)

My standby station is still Dashboard Confessional, but I have been enjoying other stations like Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours", or Disturbed station for my current project. A side effect of listening to different genres/moods, is that they evoke different feelings, memories, passions, and often what were musings over coffee end up having a more vibrant, living story. I didn't think it was possible; at least, I was never conscious of the effect music had/has on me. For example, my "I'm Yours" station (which features Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, and Israel Kamakiwiwo'ole prominently) gave me a story that I've just called "Surf Girl" for now (I'm superstitious like that. I don't want to name something until I know it's whole. Consequently, the main character for that "Surf Girl" story is just named "she" and referred to in feminine pronouns. Not the best situation, but I'm not ready to think about that story now anyway, since I have another project in mind.)

All this is part of my daily habits that I'm being more conscious about, so that I can reflect and know what works for me, so that I can repeat that and tweak it and master it and be better day by day building on those good foundational behaviors. I am walking in the direction of my dreams, not necessarily looking for an end destination at which to arrive, but an opportunity to learn from the process. The "destination" is really about how I can improve my "today" self so that my "tomorrow" self is better than I am today, just as I am better today than I was yesterday.

The questions that I am learning to ask myself each day are:
1. Is what I'm doing now helping me reach my goals?
2. Is there something else I'd rather be doing? Why?
3. What's stopping me from reaching my goals?

These questions don't just pertain to my writing life, but in everything, from health and fitness to my current job and finances. Actually, I've been forced to rank my priorities, because trying to balance all aspects at the same time ended with me not making progress anywhere. I'd decided that my health and fitness had to come first, because the discipline that I needed in other areas I knew I can cultivate with a discipline around my health (when to go to the gym, the exercises I'd do, the food I would buy and eat). Now, it's my writing life's turn. In this way, the discipline that I've developed from my physical training will translate and layer in with the writing. From there, on to the next goals.