I have my first school visit next week as an author--I'm getting nervous. One of my coworkers at USPS teaches at a junior high. He saw me editing my last WotF entry and suggested I come talk to them about revisions. Since I HATED rewriting anything during that time, I can understand. I plan on talking about storytelling and development--using my experience with WotF as bait. Essentially, how hard would you work on a story if it could win $5,000?
It only has to be a 20-30 minute presentation, but--
My anxiety and depression have been overwhelming lately. Hell--for at least a year (not that everyone hasn't been experiencing the same). Buying our house, home repairs, cars dying, car financing-- I'm beginning to understand WHY my mom lived most of her life in bed. She didn't even have the meds I do. My doc thinks we need to up my meds, but I HATE being 'chemically dependent' just to be 'normal.' Increasing the dosage feels like making the situation worse, but it's not exactly a good situation now.
And being mentally ill, I know I can't trust my own logic.
Anyway, I'm sharing all this crap to show that I have some really great things going on--despite feeling insanely panicked on the inside. Some of my friends are struggling through incredible burdens and stresses. It's a crappy time for everybody.
But I want you to know that I think you're awesome. I admire your determination and look up to you because of it. John Wayne said, "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." A lot of times, I 'saddle up' because you do. I hope I do that for you on occasion.
Ride on, Hoss. You got this.