When I write I feel like I am trying to be a Hemingway in a Chute world.My mind wants to be organized I have my ideas it all planned out, and then the distractions start coming on the Time Thieve Express. The first, and only stop: “Anna Need’s To Get Stuff Done Station.” The passengers that exit this ride: fifty-six hours of employment (between two jobs), getting laundry and dishes done, eating, sleeping,and social media.
Due to the fact that life and adulthood happens, I work two jobs. I work two jobs because I have expenses and I am currently trying to go back to school and get a degree without taking out loans this time. I work part-time at Drexelbrook Banquet Hall and Catering Facility and I also work as a nanny two days a week. Both of these jobs have their own set of distractions. For example when I nanny I have to be at their house at 7:45 a.m. in the morning and I don’t leave until 3:30 p.m. if I’m lucky. During that time period on both Wednesday and Thursday, I have to make my number one priority tending to the needs of five kids ranging from ages 3-14. That leaves night time and both those nights I have classes. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays I have the mornings, but during those afternoon/evenings I’m serving tables from 2 p.m. to sometimes 3 a.m. depending on the shift. During the daytime that leaves me getting stuff I need to get done, done while battling the constant desire to go to a sleep. Essentially, Mondays and Tuesdays are my only free days if I am lucky.
My second biggest distraction, hopefully soon to be solved, is the computer. I no longer own a laptop due to the fact I have been out of school and my smartphone does everything I needed up until recently. I have been sharing the family Macbook for now.The Macbook has been a struggle because, I grew up with Dell and Internet Explorer. Removing cookies and getting the wireless internet to work has never been such a issue before.Since, that hasn’t made any more sense. I have been going to either the Delaware County Community College Marple Campus or Darby center and has been using the computer there an interesting feat due to the fact that I have to try to fit that in between working fifty-six hours and other priorities.
The third stop on the train is balancing the necessities and fighting off the wants. The necessities are thing such as sleep,doing laundry, washing dishes,spending time with family, and eating. The harder part is fighting off the wants. For example I would really like to check Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram every ten minutes. Or hey, what is the harm in watching three more episodes of the fourth season of “NCIS?” I can still get my paper done! Oh it would t take one hundred and thirty-five minutes away from the time I could be taking to research and write my paper?
Recognizing my challenges, I know I can become a better writer for two reasons: 1. With age I’ve developed the ability and maturity to put my mind to it, and 2. I’ve been doing my best to put into practice The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale. Every time I get frustrated I think of two sayings by Norman Vincent Peale. One of those quotes is: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but, reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful and happy. The other one that also often comes to mind is, “It’s always too early to quit.”
Hemingway had six steps he followed to better concentrate and produce good writing. I try to use two of his steps and I also have some of my own. The two steps that Hemingway practiced that I try best to do as well are these: 1. I handwrite everything before I type, and 2. I pay attention. Some of the other steps I do before starting assignments are making sure I’ve eaten and I take off my shoes. The next thing I do is find a quiet space on the floor or sit on my bed; never a desk. Lastly, before I open the books I sign out of social media to minimize their distractions. I check in from time to time during the day to live vicariously through other people’s lives, however, due to the fact that most of mine is taken up by work, school,and homework.
It is possible to be Hemingway in a Chute world as long as you keep up the balancing. It’s all about creating that system and sticking to it. A system, and having the discipline to stick to it. I try as hard as I can to put my distractions back on the train before it pulls out of the station.
References
Norman Vincent Peale Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/norman_vincent_peale.html
Didion, J. (1956, December 5). Why I write. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
Baer, D. (2013, September 13). 6 Ways To Be A Hemingway-Level Productive Badass. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
Chute, C. (1999, September 27). How Can You Create Fiction When Reality Comes to Call? Retrieved September 10, 2015.
Due to the fact that life and adulthood happens, I work two jobs. I work two jobs because I have expenses and I am currently trying to go back to school and get a degree without taking out loans this time. I work part-time at Drexelbrook Banquet Hall and Catering Facility and I also work as a nanny two days a week. Both of these jobs have their own set of distractions. For example when I nanny I have to be at their house at 7:45 a.m. in the morning and I don’t leave until 3:30 p.m. if I’m lucky. During that time period on both Wednesday and Thursday, I have to make my number one priority tending to the needs of five kids ranging from ages 3-14. That leaves night time and both those nights I have classes. On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays I have the mornings, but during those afternoon/evenings I’m serving tables from 2 p.m. to sometimes 3 a.m. depending on the shift. During the daytime that leaves me getting stuff I need to get done, done while battling the constant desire to go to a sleep. Essentially, Mondays and Tuesdays are my only free days if I am lucky.
My second biggest distraction, hopefully soon to be solved, is the computer. I no longer own a laptop due to the fact I have been out of school and my smartphone does everything I needed up until recently. I have been sharing the family Macbook for now.The Macbook has been a struggle because, I grew up with Dell and Internet Explorer. Removing cookies and getting the wireless internet to work has never been such a issue before.Since, that hasn’t made any more sense. I have been going to either the Delaware County Community College Marple Campus or Darby center and has been using the computer there an interesting feat due to the fact that I have to try to fit that in between working fifty-six hours and other priorities.
The third stop on the train is balancing the necessities and fighting off the wants. The necessities are thing such as sleep,doing laundry, washing dishes,spending time with family, and eating. The harder part is fighting off the wants. For example I would really like to check Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram every ten minutes. Or hey, what is the harm in watching three more episodes of the fourth season of “NCIS?” I can still get my paper done! Oh it would t take one hundred and thirty-five minutes away from the time I could be taking to research and write my paper?
Recognizing my challenges, I know I can become a better writer for two reasons: 1. With age I’ve developed the ability and maturity to put my mind to it, and 2. I’ve been doing my best to put into practice The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale. Every time I get frustrated I think of two sayings by Norman Vincent Peale. One of those quotes is: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but, reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful and happy. The other one that also often comes to mind is, “It’s always too early to quit.”
Hemingway had six steps he followed to better concentrate and produce good writing. I try to use two of his steps and I also have some of my own. The two steps that Hemingway practiced that I try best to do as well are these: 1. I handwrite everything before I type, and 2. I pay attention. Some of the other steps I do before starting assignments are making sure I’ve eaten and I take off my shoes. The next thing I do is find a quiet space on the floor or sit on my bed; never a desk. Lastly, before I open the books I sign out of social media to minimize their distractions. I check in from time to time during the day to live vicariously through other people’s lives, however, due to the fact that most of mine is taken up by work, school,and homework.
It is possible to be Hemingway in a Chute world as long as you keep up the balancing. It’s all about creating that system and sticking to it. A system, and having the discipline to stick to it. I try as hard as I can to put my distractions back on the train before it pulls out of the station.
References
Norman Vincent Peale Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2015, from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/norman_vincent_peale.html
Didion, J. (1956, December 5). Why I write. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
Baer, D. (2013, September 13). 6 Ways To Be A Hemingway-Level Productive Badass. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
Chute, C. (1999, September 27). How Can You Create Fiction When Reality Comes to Call? Retrieved September 10, 2015.