Spidey’s Serene Sunday | But I Smile Anyway...

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 207

03 Feb 2019 25 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Colin Powell, Dreams, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. “
Colin Powell

Thanks for that Spidey.

I’ve been doing a lot of dreaming over the last few years.

There are the dreams of a bigger, more organised house, the dreams of being able to jet off to wherever we fancy for holidays, the dreams of being able to see my nephews without the need for a flight, the dreams of becoming a writer…

Some dreams can come true just by time passing, some need a little effort, some need some initiative.

So, the holiday one… well, one day we’ll be able to have saved up enough that we can just swan off whenever…

The house one, Marie Kondo is helping me organise, and we are in the throes of deciding… extension or move?

Seeing my nephews… well, they are in a different country. It’s never going to be easy, but at least I can feel happy at the fact that we will see them in May, and I can finally cuddle my newest baby nephew, who will be two months off being a year old by then!

But the writer dream… well, that’s the one that is mine, and one that only I can push for.

So I have tried my hardest. That first book is written, it has been read by two, and is being read by a couple of others too. And I have entered it into a literary competition, and sent off my first agent submission… eek!

I’m not totally oblivious to the fact that there is a high chance that I shan’t get signed after just one submission, so I shall submit to more… but in case there is still nothing, I have been gathering quotes for professional edits and critiques… so if it happens, I am ready for the Indie adventure.

It’s not easy though. Going Indie can cost you a lot, so my next aim is to slowly fill my writer’s pot with any spare money I have, and I have even requested to Hubby Dearest that instead of presents for me, a donation to the pot would be the best gift!

And to improve my craft, I have started a writers course, to develop my art…

See. I am working on my dreams!

So… tell me, what is your biggest dream, right now, and what are you doing to try and make it come true?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 206

27 Jan 2019 54 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays, Thoughts Opinions & Memories Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, KonMarie, Marie Kondo, Spark Joy, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Spark joy.” Marie Kondo

You got the bug too Spidey?

Unless you have been under a rock the last few months, you would have heard of the KonMarie method of tidying up that has hit the world.

A diminutive Japanese woman has found her obsession with tidying up houses has become a huge ‘thing’ around the world.

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In its essence, her method is to surround yourself with the things that spark joy in your life. In her words, “If you hold it and you feel ‘Ting!’ that is the joy.”

If what you are holding on to has memories attached, but the item could be excess, she encourages you to remember the memories. They will be with you in your heart and mind, thank the object, then let it go.

Sounds easy?

No!

First of all, I think I’d need a month off work to go through things.

Secondly, I think I’d find it really tough to be so brutal with my ‘things’ A lot make me feel ‘Ting!’!

But, I do get where she is coming from.

I look around a lot of our house and the clutter is all stuff I think we should keep or have, but it hasn’t been moved for months, or years even.

Really, I think if it went, I would feel so much less cluttered in my brain too.

I made a start on shoes and coats. I did my undies and socks. I’ve gone through jeans and leggings.

I have about three bags full of things I have said thank you and goodbye too.

There is so much more.

The rest of the wardrobe. Hubby Dearest’s wardrobe. The Kids wardrobes…

The attic is stuffed with suitcases full of my older Indian outfits and the kids baby clothes.

Do I really need to keep them?

I’m never going to wear them again. The only thing I really want is a couple of the kids early outfits, first shoes etc, and our wedding outfits.

That’s it.

I have boxes of paperwork, from my own old school work to uni work, to miscellaneous stuff that is just there.

Needs to go.

The kitchen. Oh, the kitchen.

Packed with gadgets and spices I have never used, dishes that just sit in a cupboard and need washing if I ever want to use them, enough saucepans to cater for an army – thanks mum, but I don’t think I’ll ever cook that much!

And the special crockery for visitors… never used!

The bathroom. Well, that just needs a gutting out!

And the linen closet. It needs a sort out, a tidy up and a rejig.

But the one thing I really can’t agree on is her premise that less than 30 books are ideal.

She’s not got a clue, has she? Or she didn’t finish her sentence. It should have been “Ideally keep it to less than 30 books-helves!”

But then again, my books spark joy. I feel that ‘Ting!’ when I hold so many of the books I have. Three bookshelves so far, and I could easily fill a fourth with the books piled around my room…

So yeah, I’d love to jump on the #KonMarie bandwagon… if someone wants to give me the time, and a huge skip to throw my accumulated junk into!

So tell me, are you a hoarder like me or a minimalist? Will you be giving the KonMarie method a try?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 205

20 Jan 2019 44 Comments

by Ritu in Sonu Singh, Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Birthday, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Cat, Sonu Singh, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud

Today a cat quote to honour the very special feline in our lives.

Sonu Singh.

It’s his birthday today. He’s five!

Here, when we got him

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And now

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He’s a true king in our house, and the family wouldn’t be the same without him.

I still feel honoured when he decides to come and sit with me on the sofa or bed, because you can’t force him.

He’s a cat with his own mind… is there any other kind?

Today will be filled with cat treats and lots of scritching for our favourite feline!

So…do you celebrate your pet’s birthdays?

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 204

13 Jan 2019 48 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Blogging, Motivation, Spiderman, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday

” All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

Thanks Spidey for this.

Did you know I am around 3 chapters away from finishing my big reread/edit/tweak?

I have been religiously trying to get chunks looked at each night, determinded to get this manuscript to a stage where I feel I want someone to look at it again.

My next decision is then to see whether I do go down the pursuing an agent route, or go indie and start with the professional edits…

I’m still thinking of investing in a critique no matter what I do…

But, somehow, this dream of mine will be fulfilled!

So… tell me, what steps you have taken to fulfill your dreams so far this year?

And remember, if you need a little motivation to help you achieve your goals, you can come and join my FaceBook Online accountability group, the Kick Ass Kreators!

Click here to ask to join. I can promise you words of encouragement and a kick to get you going if you flounder!

Spidey’s Serene Sunday – Part 203 – Ring In The New…

06 Jan 2019 46 Comments

by Ritu in Spidey's Serene Sundays Tags: 2019, Blog, Blog Post, Blogger, Intentions, One Word, Spidey, Spidey's Serene Sunday, T. S. Elliott

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice.” T.S.Elliott

Thank you Spidey for a thoughtful quote to start the year with!

A new year is always a great time to start a new chapter of your life, with fresh, new intentions and hopes for the following 365 days, and further.

I have seen this a lot over the last few years, people choosing a word for the year. Focussing on this word to help then create a better life for themselves and those around them, like Purpose, or Change, or Fearless, that kind of thing.

Instead of a resolution, it is the intention to make a lasting change, that seems to have really helped many out there, so I embraced this concept this year and my word for the year is…

SELF

I don’t mean to say that I will be just thinking about myself, being selfish or anything like that, but I have discovered that you can spend your life and energy trying hard to make life perfect for everyone else around you, and that is not a bad thing to do, but you forget that you are just as important as the others, you can’t make that difference.

You end up functioning on a depleted battery, in danger of shutting off at key moments.

So, my word, self, is about making sure I take time out to look after myself too, be it a nail appointment, to watching a film that I want to, a weekly bubble bath (that NEVER happens) or a cup of tea with just my thoughts for company. It’s me making a choice to do the things that mean a lot to me, not sacrificing my loves for everyone else all the time.

I am cutting back on blogging a little for myself too. The added pressure of posting regularly, was not conducive to a productive me on the writing front, so I have removed that pressure and as a result, am steadily doing my first reread and tweak of the year, with the hope that I should have this manuscript ready to either send to agents, or even publish, indie style before the end of the year!