Keep Trying #2

a list of things to try

I want to say thank you. To all of you. It’s been over six months and I am in love with this little newsletter. I super appreciate you reading it and it you are a paid subscriber; I am truly so honored and thankful. You are supporting my art. I am able to do things that inspire me, and I feel a bit more secure because of you. Thank you. I am trying to take myself more seriously. HA! I am. All of my dead novels are still on hard drives. I want to revive them. I need an agent. All of my poems are for you. I need to start submitting them somewhere. I need to remember that I am creating things that do make you feel good. Or feel something. I know this to be true. Because you tell me. I want to view my writing as important. Worthy. Real. This platform is helping me think like this. It really is. <3

I was thinking about this old post and how it feels like nothing has changed. I think we still need some ““things” to get us through these days/weeks that feel like sticky honey. I feel like I am sludging through time right now. Dragging a lot of weight and worry. I make lists in a small notebook of things that help. Help what? Just being a human right now. That’s it.

I wrote that 6 months ago. We are still here. I am making this a regular column. Keep Trying for as long as we need it. Some “things” and a prompt. For you. Us. <3

1.     Make a gratitude list. I swear it works. It is science, I think. Even when things feel shit, you can count the good. Go count the good. Report back.

2.     Be here now. I know, it sounds so old and tired, but it is true. What have you missed because you were thinking about the past or the future?

3.     Learn to say no. Honor your boundaries. Keep time for you. Make it count.

4.     Write a little. Here’s a prompt for you:

I love to do repetition poems. It is a simple way to ground you in your writing. Our minds wander and often, they wander to the place where we make up lies about ourselves. Where we think we cannot write. That we are not good enough. All of the malarky. Well, starting with the same word or phrase is an excellent way to KEEP moving the piece forward.

Write a 10-line (or more) poem starting with the word GOODBYE.

Say goodbye to stress, people, boring shit, time sucks, restlessness, low-fat foods, thongs, well drinks, subpar love, shopping at big box stores, holding in your pee. lol WHATEVER—just say goodbye to things in a poem. Serious. Sad. Funny. Mad. Just be you. Send them to me? Share them with us.

5.     Join the Disapproving Corgis Facebook group. LOL. I love it. What groups online are so cute that you just have to look at the content on the regular?

6.     Turn off all of your electronics for 30 mins. Also, your computer wants to be turned off sometimes. I never turn off my laptop for 89 days and my colleague reminded me of this.

7.     Please start a sunscreen regime. I mean, be outside more. It is truly everything. But… wear the spf.

8.     Make a list of two big things you want to accomplish or have happen by 12/31/22. Tape it on your bathroom mirror.

9.     Give a book away. People love getting mail and books. Write inside of it, like an old-fashioned inked and signed message to the recipient.

10.  Build your own galaxy.

And remember.

mantra: Everything is going to be ok.

also, this is an excellent text to send everyone you love. Like, rando. Just text it

Please leave something for someone else in the comments. That is an always ask.

ty, bbs.

Love,
Amy