First Friday of 2014 Celebration

2013's last sunset in SW Louisiana

I'll be honest and say that I really wasn't in the mood to celebrate today.  It's been a weird two days, and not in a good way.  This week marks the one year anniversary of one of my patients being accidentally shot by his cousin.  His mother came to the clinic with another child yesterday and cried.  Yesterday a colleague's sister died while giving birth to her first baby.  Flu and RSV are running wild in Southwest Louisiana.  One patient lost a father to flu.  She's only 2 months old and sick herself.  
Not a very bright beginning to 2014. 
Tonight I was just going to visit blogs that I follow to see what folks around the globe were up to and well, a funny thing happened:  I found things to celebrate.  It reminded me of the cool things in life, even if they seem insignificant.  Life is tragedy yes, but it's also victories and celebrations.  We can choose to wallow in sadness or look for the joy even in pain. 
So I have two things I want to celebrate this week:
1. The privilege of being able to share in both the joys and sorrows of so many peoples' lives. 
2.  Bloggers.  It's so amazing how people who don't know each other personally can be such an encouragement.  Thanks to all who share! 

Christmas Eve Prayer from Louisiana

God,
I wanted to say something profound or share a poignant Christmas memory.  But with the growing hate towards each other in America we need more than fancy words in a sappy story.
We need You, God.
You don't just tolerate us.  You love us so much you sent your Son to die for us.
You aren't swayed by social pressures.  There are no double standards.  All humans have sinned and need salvation.  
You are The Way, The Truth, and The Life.  That doesn't change, no matter what we choose to believe.
You give Peace that goes beyond all understanding and defies world thinking. 
Thank You, God.  
Tomorrow, remind us to stop counting the number of presents and focus instead on the eternal gift of salvation through Jesus.  Until we know You, we won't know true love and compassion for others.
For by grace you are saved through faith..it is a gift of God, not of works....Ephesians 2:8-9

Encouraging Writing

“You can always edit a bad page.
You can’t edit a blank page.”

The White Void

- Jodi Picoult


In my post yesterday I wrote about PEZs and that my PEZ came to work with me both to the office and my writing.  I have to admit, I was reading blogs in order to not have to write. When I try to avoid writing I end up finding something that encourages me to write...or maybe guilts me into writing?
I like Mellissa Donovan's website Writing Forward    She always has something to inspire.  Even the name, Writing Forward, implies moving along, not dragging my feet. 
The post on November 28 from guest writer Sylvia Nankivell was what prompted me to post after... how many months?  
In thinking about writing daily, I've actually been crippling my writing by trying to "carve out a certain time" or "establish a habit."  I'm not a make-a-plan kind of girl, no matter how much the writing posts say you have to do this. 


Inspiration or Distraction?

I've found three things to be most helpful in trying to write every day:
       1.  Don't plan on writing every day. 
             If I say I'm going to write at a certain time something happens and I can't get to it.  But, if I don't plan and have pen and paper with me at all times, the opportunity presents itself.
       2.  Hang out with writers. 
             It's like church.  You want to be encouraged?  Hang out with the true believers.  I meet at least once a week---church on Tuesdays. 
       3.  Stop worrying about writing well and just write. 
             I know editing is important, but only if there's something on the paper to edit. 

Practice Writing Every Day didn't tell me anything new and profound, but was a reminder that writing is more than something you play at, not if you're serious.  We whine and complain about not having time to write, but it's like anything else.  If you want to do it, you'll find the time. 

November 29th-Bring on the PEZ!

I look at posts of my family on Facebook doing all these family things on Thanksgiving and, while I love my job, I was wishing I'd picked teaching or some other such job....anything instead of medicine.  Anything that would close on the holidays and the day after. I refused to shop on Thanksgiving.  I feel the pain of having to work so others can "get a good deal." At least in my line of work it's not the kids' fault they got sick. 
It's hard to stay aggravated though, when you not only like what you do and the people you work with, but you also get to bring your PEZ to work!  And share the PEZ with others. 
This year Bring Your PEZ to Work coincided with Celebrate Friday.  What better thing to celebrate but PEZ dispensers and a job to bring them to? 

Not satisfied with going to the office, my PEZ joined me for my writing as well.  Next year, though, Captain Jack Sparrow isn't allowed to come.  He's quite distracting when you're trying to be creative.