Hello all! I know it's been awhile but I am back and I am here to list out my 2022 goals. Sort of. I decided to take some much needed time off for the holidays. While last week I intended to come back in full force, I got sick and was completely down for a couple of days. Luckily, aside from a cough, I am back to normal now.
I am not doing resolutions, and not doing grand things to complete by the end of the year. But rather smaller, more bite sized quarterly goals for both myself personally and for my brand. I think year-long, big picture goals make it too easy to procrastinate or feel overwhelmed by the size of the goal. While my health and fitness goal as well as my writing goal I did base on a time increment of a year. I still broke these down into my first-quarter goals. Things I want to have completed by March 31st. First Quarter Goals: Finish Shadows of Dawn first draft Finish my Skirt Bring back podcast & blog Finish first edits of short story series episode one I have a health and fitness goal, but I'm keeping that as well as a few logistical brand goals private. I will be back in April to report on how this has been going and what my second quarter goals are. Thanks to Author Brittany Wang (YouTube and Instagram) for the quarterly goals idea.
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My Thoughts from Nanowrimo 2021
By Jessica Marie In the past I have competed in and even successfully completed all 50,000 words within the 30-day time frame of November that is nanowrimo. This was all part of my learning curve in becoming a better writer. Having done it, I know exactly how much time, energy, and daily dedication it takes to reach that mark. What other things must be sacrificed to make that goal. With my desire to make writing a joyful habit and not a chore I elected to not push myself too hard during nanowrimo. I started nano with nearly 70k words already written in my first book in The Shadows of Dawn duology that I started writing in April of this year. 50k words would have completed the book, but I have a different personal agenda. I have taken the rabbits pace in the past, sprinting hard and fast. Completing much in short periods of time, working when I have inspiration or energy and then going fallow for long periods of time. I also know how burnt out I can personally feel after trying to achieve so much in a short period of time. So, I opted to take things at my own pace, while pushing myself as hard as I reasonably can. Normally I can write around 15k words a month, upon finishing nano I had 18k words written. Which is three thousand more than usual, but still far short from the fifty thousand word mark. I don’t write every day; I usually only write 4-5 days a week. But I see myself as a person first, a person with dreams and desires. I need to put my rest, my mental, physical, and spiritual health before any activity I do. It has taken me 29 years to come to this realization and then begin to put that realization into practice. I have hustled and worked to the point of burn out. I have also taken things too easy and gotten no closer to any dream or goal I have. I have come to learn my middle ground. I have learned how to work with myself. How to have my finger in several pies and still make progress. I don’t write one project at a time, I work on several projects concurrently. I am writing my novel and a novelette, which is the first work in what I am calling my short story series Agency. I also write this blog, read, as well as work. Some people would say “that’s too much, you should focus on one thing and make more progress”. For them, that advice might be right, but not for me. I like having multiple things going, having options for my mind to work on and through. My pace might not be as fast as some people. But I’m not them. I am me. The more I compare the less I listen to myself. There is a fine line between gaining information, perspectives, and advice from others and trying to be someone else. Only you know where that line it. What it feels like. I have found mine. A pace I can keep and a method that makes progress I am content with. I may not have ‘won’ nanowrimo by having failed to write 50k words in November. But to me, I am a winner. I kept going. I watched and encouraged other writers to make their goals. Every day I progress even a little is a win, I had a net of more than zero words, that counts as a win in my book. Much Love, Jessica Marie I know it's been about a month since I've written a blog post, and closer to two months since I have written consistently. But, I wanted to hop on and give some updates about what I've been up to and why I've been a little MIA.
I officially started the Wayfaring Jessica brand early this year and it has gone through a lot of growth and changes, just as I have. I have meandered my way through and around different ideas trying to find the most fitting pieces of myself for this brand. I also was severely overworking myself, and after 7 months of hardcore work I was extremely burnt out. Hence the blogging drop off. I have a history or working too hard on something until I am burned out, instead of taking things at a slower albeit more sustainable pace for myself. I also tend to think I have to 'do it all' or else I'm failing. I took some time away and am now sifting through every action I take and making sure it fills me up just as much as I hope it does to those I am serving. This is probably one of my biggest lessons from this past year. Not looking at everyone else and what they are doing, how they are doing it, but instead following my own energy. I've gone around the sun 29 times and I am coming more fully into my own. Knowing more of what does and does not work for me. Making lists and following my energy of when I can get them done. But I also need to remember to focus on what is most important. My mental and physical health, my writing and creativity, my rest, and my adventurous spirit. With this in mind I will be bringing my blog back at a pace that I can keep up with. With me keeping my priorities straight and not letting them become unbalanced. I will be making time for rest, giving myself grace on busy days when what I wanted to get done simply couldn't, and putting my creativity at the forefront of my responsibilities. I am hoping to finish the first draft of my current novel by the end of the year. I also would like to finish the first draft of my short story (the first of many in that series) by the end of the year. I am also making sure to give myself space and time to hike and explore the nature that surrounds me. I thank you for your patience and I hope you take this as a sign to follow your energy. To put yourself and your own dreams above the ones that others expect you to have. To follow the flow of your life and honor your unique life path. Much Love, Jessica Marie Starting Our Homestead
By Jessica Marie I realized that I have given updates on our little homestead for the past several months. But I never gave it any formal introduction. What we have, what we do, why, and where we plan to go. So, this is to give some context for our fresh little homestead so that the updates I give every month in the Monthly Catch-Up blog posts make a little bit more sense. Where We live on 80 acres in central Maine. We currently have 30 hens and one rooster plus 2 Guineas. One has been missing for awhile, we aren’t sure if she is sitting on a nest of eggs or if something nefarious has befallen her. We also have 3 farm dogs that are mostly guard dogs for the family. They are not livestock protection dogs, as they have amply demonstrated for us, but we know their limits and capabilities and have adjusted accordingly. Chickens I grew up with chickens, at least half of my life has been lived with chickens in some form or another. Last year we started with 6 hens and brought them with us when we moved from Colorado to Maine. In March of this year we got 24 new hens as day old chicks. We suspect a few are laying their first eggs as we have found a small egg here and there. The first eggs are often smaller than usual. We got a year-old Rooster from a local farmer who had too many roosters. Guinea Fowl Disclaimer on guineas. If you, like me, have seen and heard of these unique albeit bizarre birds and are considering getting them, I have some information that doesn’t seem very common. Now, I hadn’t done extensive research, but I had done some research on Guinea Fowl before we purchased them. I had heard they were good at protecting or at least alerting your fowl to intruders, and would attack small rodents and snakes. But their biggest complaint from homesteaders was their loudness. Which is true, guineas are loud. However, we have plenty of land so it doesn’t bother anyone. But what seems to get left out is that guineas are also bullies. They will chase, peck, and otherwise harass your chicken flock no matter what you do. Our entire flock is completely free range, no fences, lots of waterers and feeders. I know how animals get angry and territorial when there is lack of food, water, or shelter. That is not an issue here. Know they are bullies, know they will be aggressive with your flock. Garden We have a garden that is about 80x40 feet with corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, garlic, onions, peas, beans, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, lettuce, broccoli, brussel sprouts, carrots, and one sunflower. This is our second year planting in a large garden. In years past we had a small, micro garden in a rolling bed that could be rolled in the garage in bad weather and rolled into the driveway in good weather. Last year we had primarily tomatoes, peppers, and carrots in raised garden beds. We learned a lot from that previous garden. We learned we must harden off seedlings, we lost most of our seedlings last year due to lack of hardening off. We also learned the importance of weeding regularly, and to pay attention to sun and shade loving plants. This year, we built a great fence that has done wonderfully in keeping critters out of the garden. We built fence posts from trees from our own land, we have 8 foot tall fencing to keep deer out. We use wind chimes and ribbons to keep birds away, and these have been working wonderfully. In the adjacent field we have no ribbons or wind chimes and crows have eaten nearly an entire field of corn seeds. We didn’t have enough mulch to properly mulch the garden, however, and so our biggest enemies are the weeds. This year we intend to collect more mulch that we can use on our garden next year in hopes of diminishing that issue. The Wild We also are incorporating what is wild or already present on the property into our homestead. There are pear, apple, cherry, and peach trees on the property that are all beginning to fruit nicely. There are wild raspberries all over the edges of the forest. We have collected thousands of raspberries and cherries and made them into jams, raspberry lemonade, and frozen for smoothies and pie filling. We also are avid hunters and fishers and will be trying to fill in our needs from hunting and fishing. I intend to begin learning archery within the next year for both hobby and hunting. What’s Next? What’s next? We haven’t decided yet. We are looking into sheep, goats, cattle, rabbits, and swine at the moment. I haven’t worked much with livestock so I am in the research phase on all options. We are deciding what our goals are and which animals will be most helpful in meeting those goals. I also want to fully understand the needs of each animal so that I can ensure what we have available will best suit the livestock we do get. I personally lean towards sheep but some others on the homestead prefer goats, so I am learning about them all to see what will best benefit both our needs and the needs of the livestock. I want these creatures to live their best possible lives no matter if we use them for dairy or meat. I want them happy and healthy, they deserve nothing less. We intend at harvest to do canning, so far we have canned beans and jams. We know our garden isn’t big enough to support us for an entire year, which is a goal. But we know it will take years and practice to get to that point. To learn the best set up and the correct ratio of plants that we can eat during the summer and can for the winter. Come winter we intend to learn to make our own soaps. Both bar soap and laundry soap. I already make our deodorant and have for two years now. Much Love, Jessica Marie Monthly Catch Up: August 2021
By Jessica Marie Hello and welcome to another personal journal style update from me. July was a very creative month for me. After family and friends had come to visit and we took a little staycation with them, I came back to my writing with a renewed sense of vigor and excitement. This carried over into everything, which was a fun burst of energy to move through the summer. Personal Update I have been putting a lot of thought and intentionality behind my actions. This not only stems from slow living being a newly adopted method of living for me, but also from juggling so many factors. I have my life, my brand which consists of a blog and a podcast, plus work, writing, and the homestead. None of them take too much time on their own, but they must all be attended to each day, little by little. I have been trying to go to bed just an hour or so earlier so that I can get up that much earlier. This is so that I can have a slower and more relaxed morning instead of feeling behind all day. To come to my writing after a nourishing breakfast and feel calm and prepared when I sit down to be creative. It has taken some discipline but it is getting better and I am really happy with the flow I have been able to create. Brand Update I am happily maintaining my brand. I am prepared with content as far out as I can. I am not too overwhelmed and am able to flow in this process as well. It is still growing and changing ever so slightly, but it is simply maturing into what it is supposed to be. I am enjoying this process more and more. I have completely let go of expectations and am simply doing what makes me happy. Those who enjoy it and resonate with my brand will be my people and that is good enough for me. Writing update For the short story competition, I heard back that they will not be making final decisions until September 30th. So, come fall I will let you know how that went. For the last little while I have focused solely on writing and have not needed to go back and work on backstory. However, this first draft, when it is complete, will really only be ¾ of a draft. As I have realized I need to add a few more characters’ POV’s to fully understand the story. While the characters I am writing from right now are the main characters, they are who I am using to discover and write the story. Once I have that down, then I will go back and fill in with the other characters POV’s. Right now, I have 3 separate POV’s I am working from, and I will add at least two more. I am still working on my eWorkbooks. I have been trying to find a writing schedule to work on more than one project a day without getting burnt out. I have decided that writing two projects every day on top of everything else is too much. So, I am going to be working on the secondary projects (like workbooks and short stories) on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s. I am going to look into other writing competitions that I could write for/enter into. I had a great time creating and writing for the last one. It is also a great opportunity to come up with new stories and flex my writing muscles without having to undertake such a large project (like a novel, etc.). Homestead Update We have one female Guinea Hen and she has decided she is going to brood. I am very excited about this prospect! I would love nothing more than to see the mama guinea brood, hatch, and raise a bunch of baby Guinea’s. We will probably keep a couple, and if there are more than we need, we will sell the rest. During the visit of company, we had wonderful rains that watered the garden for us. However, we also fell behind on weeding. And now the garden is a bit overgrown. We plan to head out soon to all work on pulling those weeds and take stock of what is growing, how well it is or isn’t growing, and if we can begin to harvest anything yet. We have wild raspberries on the property! While out felling trees the other day we found hundreds of wild raspberry bushes that will be blooming here soon. Be prepared for hearing about raspberries here! The property also has cherry, apple, and peach trees. The little fruits are growing nicely, we will have a great harvest of these fruits come fall. Today we are trying our hand at making yogurt. Books I read in July reviews: The Dark Tide By: Dennis L. McKiernan: This was a short little book that is a typical fantasy story. In the introduction the author admits it is inspired by and a bit of an homage to LOTR. Which, after reading the first book in the series, he is not wrong. It does feel very much like a LOTR style story. From the writing, the characters, the races, and the plot. I preferred the LOTR movies to the books. I listened to LOTR on tape as reading it was difficult and not my personal style. However, this Iron Tower series I purchased in a trilogy set from a library book sale. And since each book is a quick read, I plan to finish out the stories that I have. I have recently started the next book in the series, and I am more invested now than I was in the first book. Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep By: Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius: This is exactly what it sounds like. A step-by-step guide for raising sheep. Storey has great information for the beginner, and these books are fantastic references to keep for future. We don’t have sheep, nor have we decided to get them, but I wanted to know more about them. Their rearing and the type of care they require, so that we can make a more educated decision on which livestock to get (if any) for our homestead. I highly recommend Storey’s books for anything you may be looking into for homesteading. Nourishing Traditions By: Sally Fallon: This is more of a cookbook with important health information within it. The first hundred pages or so are about how inaccurate modern nutritional information is. This is compared with documented traditional diets and how so many of our health issues come from poor diet. Then it is broken into sauces, starters, dinners, and many other recipes. To help break dependence from unhealthy box-stores and how to create your own nutritious foods. Note: All books I purchased myself. I read and reviewed of my own accord. I was not paid, prompted, or promoted to read or review these works in any way. I do not receive any money or other stipends from these reviews. Books I am Currently Reading: The Iron Tower: Shadows of Doom by Dennis L. McKiernan High Tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver Podcasts I am Binging Right Now: My Favorite Murder The Rebel Author Podcast Cheap Wine & Screaming I hope you have been having a beautiful summer, full of adventures and time taken just to look at the stars. Go with the flow, don’t be afraid to change and grow, every moment is a chance to discover something new. Much Love, Jessica Marie Monthly Catch Up: July 2021
By Jessica Marie Hello and welcome to another personal journal style update from me. June was a really busy month, but July is shaping up to be a good month for getting out and about. Things are opening up here in Maine and events are happening again. My parents happened upon a horse race the other day, people are having more yard and estate sales, and things are slowly returning to normal. It took me a long time to accept and adjust to the shut downs from the pandemic but I am happily bouncing back to some of the normalcy we had pre-pandemic. If not appreciating the more home-body nature I have adopted. Personal Update I have realized some of my mental thought processes and issues come from anxiety. Which are just untrue thoughts. So, when I find them popping up I immediately try to combat them with something completely opposite and more truthful. I’m not perfect at it, but I am trying and willing to try and lessen my anxiety any way I can (that is healthy). I have really been leaning into slow living. Which, after research is exactly that, living slowly, in the present, with intention. Putting aside thoughts and “shoulds” in favor of being present, peaceful and happy in the moment. Spending time just sitting outside in the sun with my pup (he *loves* to lay in the sun no matter how hot it is), simply watching the hens and guineas walk and scratch around the property, enjoying the bloom of a flower. It helps me to see and enjoy the beauty that is all around me. To put aside the hustle of modern life and live just a little more simply. Brand Update I have found a good routine for my brand. How much I can get done in a week, what is a reasonable amount of work that I can keep up with and not get burnt out. I have, for now, decided to come back to social media. I am still taking a ‘if it brings me joy’ approach to my posting. But I have found a schedule and posting idea that brings me joy. I am also working on something big with my family that we will be debuting soon. It is something I have wanted to do for awhile now, but everyone is on board so we are going to give it a shot. Stay tuned for the big news! Writing update The beginning of June I spent most of my time focusing on my short story for the competition. I didn’t work on my novel or other projects as much except for when I was waiting for feedback. I had five beta-readers for my short story and they were so incredibly wonderful! They had such great feedback and insights to help me make the story that much better. I am feeling very confident about this short story and my chances in the competition. I will let you know how it goes as soon as I find out the results. I have found a pretty steady routine in my novel writing. Write some of the story, then go back to back story. I move from one to the next every couple of weeks. I have also come to accept that I do not write every day. I have a lot on my plate with this brand, my work, and running our small but ever-expanding homestead. I used to beat myself up mentally about this fact. With thoughts like “a writer who doesn’t write isn’t a writer” or “you’ll never be a real writer with a schedule like this”. But I have been working on it, and seeing posts from published authors saying, ‘those voices are a lie, you can be a writer no matter how you write, just do what you can’ has been very encouraging. My stories are in my mind constantly and I do write 4-5 days a week. But I also take days off to rest and recuperate so that I can come back refreshed and ready to tackle the story. I do not want to become burnt out on writing. I would rather work at a slightly slower pace but retain excitement about the process, than overburden myself and lose my joy for writing. I am also working on writing another eBook workbook. It is going to be the second of a two part workbook and I want to release both at the same time. The first one is complete, once I finish the second one I will begin to edit both workbooks. Homestead Update I have decided that homesteading, having always been a dream of mine, is a part of my life now and so I am going to update on it. We are a very small wholistic homestead at this time. But that is how all homesteads start. Or at least it is the best way to start, slow and steady. For now, we have 30 hens. 25 Rhode Island Red, 3 Partridge Cochin, and 2 Blue Wyandotte. Plus, the Rhode Island Red rooster named Richard Roo. We also have 4 guinea fowl. One was attacked by something, we aren’t sure what. We have quarantined him to give him a chance to rest and get better without being picked on by the others. Or be attacked again as an easy target. No major injuries luckily, just a lot of pulled feathers. We completed the garden in June. We built the garden close to the trees, which we found drop slugs in the summer. So, every day we go on ‘slug runs’ to catch them before they can eat the plants. We also ordered drip line hoses which is really helping us save water and keep the weeds down by only watering what we want to grow. We laid straw down over the rows to help keep weeds down and keep moisture in the soil. We have mulched the walkways. We are not using chemicals in the garden so we are doing everything naturally. Books I read in June reviews: The Lost Years of Merlin by T.A. Barron: This was a fun book! If you have ever read Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising this book had a similar feel. I am a sucker for Arthurian legend stories and this was a good read for that genre. There is something about the older fantasy stories that don’t have all the fluff of modern books but are full of heart, with prose that feels old but is still easily understandable. I loved the adventure of this story, how everything tied together in the end. The authors note was a great touch as well. I had to take a few days off after finishing it as I knew I would be missing the story and wasn’t yet ready to start another. This book followed the very early years of Merlin, from birth to about 12 years old. How he gained the name Merlin and learned to use his magic. If you are looking for a fun, short read and love Merlin as Arthurian legend this book will not disappoint. Earth and Other Ethics: The Case for Moral Pluralism by Christopher Stone: This was a difficult read but overall, a good one. He speaks at a very high-level and educated tone, which I think is required for the topic he is covering. But to get the idea to the masses and general public this book would fail. It is not a quick read and takes concentration, but if this is a topic of interest you will not be disappointed. He begins with our current legal system and how it would and does attempt to incorporate Earth and its other non-human inhabitants. But our current system is overall ill-equipped for such issues. He then guides the reader through philosophy and how that can guide us to a different moral stance and thus a legal system that could be better equipped to deal with non-human interests, rights, and morality. A truly fascinating read and I do recommend. One I will need to read more than once, but I would like to think on and try to incorporate more of this into my thought processes. American Melancholy by Joyce Carol Oates: If you follow politics and science this is a good read. She delves into historical moments and explores them in poetry. I particularly loved her segments on old psychology experiments like Little Albert and the monkeys with wire mothers. She considers the humanity of these tests, what wasn’t published but what else we may have learned about humans and the mind by the very fact that we conducted these experiments. Overall, it is a rather dark and melancholic series of poems, but a well written reflection on American values. Note: All books I purchased myself. I read and reviewed of my own accord. I was not paid, prompted, or promoted to read or review these works in any way. I do not receive any money or other stipends from these reviews. Books I am Currently Reading: The Iron Tower: The Dark Tide by Dennis L. McKiernan High Tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver Podcasts I am Binging Right Now: Be There in Five with Kate Kennedy The Definitely Not Simple Life with Angela, Renee, and Mandi I hope your summer is treating you well, that you can stay cool and hydrated. Read a good book, relax but still work toward your goals, be present, and enjoy the little things. In the end, it is the little things that make up the whole of our lives. Much Love, Jessica Marie By: Jessica Marie
Happy June my lovely readers, I hope 2021 has been treating you well. I cannot believe it is June already. Time is passing so quickly and it is truly astounding. How much life has changed for all of us and the many ways various events have allowed us to grow and adapt. I never imagined my life would be where it is, how it is, and the way it has all came to be. But in so many ways I have found the most joy and peace I have ever felt. Personal Update That joy and peace is something I am taking to heart right now. I am not sure if it comes from external factors, or due to my willingness to see everything as a blessing. Perhaps both. But I have dramatically changed my mindset over the past year or so to see the silver lining versus the dark lining. Most of my life I looked for the negatives, and while I still have my days that I cannot let those negatives go. On the whole, I intentionally seek out the positives. Another new thing for me is I am feeling a pull towards slow living. I don’t even have a definition of this at the moment, as I haven’t looked into it yet. But it keeps coming into my mind when I go for walks, I am looking forward to learning more about this and reporting back on it next month. Brand Update Last month, I came to terms with my social media presence. The fact that I am putting all of my effort into my blog, podcast, and my writing (outside of work) so I am letting social media go. I am taking the Marie Kondo method to my social media presence, if it brings me joy (to post) then I will do so. Outside of that, I am going to release the pressure to be present there and constantly posting. I am not going to let the ‘shoulds’ decide this area at this time. I am open to change, but I am learning boundaries for myself and my work, and this is how I am enforcing them. Writing update I am currently at chapter 8 or 9 of my novel. I have taken a step back from writing the actual story content as I feel I need more backstory work. I had several pages of various aspects of backstory before I ever began writing. But in the process of writing, I have found I need more. I want to really dive deep into the world. The many aspects and technicalities of it. How the government works, the major religions, the history of everything, and how all of these elements intertwine. I had the bare bones but now I am adding the tendons and muscles to these elements and many more. So, while I don’t foresee my word, page, or chapter count increasing much in June I am ok with that. I am having a wonderful time getting to know these characters and the planet on which they reside in this backstory format. I have two Districts in the political system that are particularly interesting that I could write a short story on their formation one day. When the little voice that tries to speak of word counts pokes its head into the room, I remind it the word count will be utterly useless without this history. A rich world doesn’t happen on accident. It comes from how much I know. And even if what I write backstories that never come out, it can still be felt in the final product. I have also been writing a short story for a writing competition. The competition deadline is June 30th. I started this project mid-May and I have a first draft completed. Now, I am working on revisions and edits. No matter how the competition goes, I am having fun with these characters and the story. It is completely unrelated to my novel or my other short story series. It is a world all on its own. But I’m loving it. Books I read in May reviews: Staff of Nightfall by Selina R. Gonzalez: This was a great book! It was an absolute adventure to read. Full of plot twists and turns I never saw coming. The characters stayed true to who they were from the first book (Prince of Shadow and Ash) and they flowed together seamlessly. Her heroes are relate-able, flawed, and human. Her villains are horrible (in the best way) and gosh darn did I sit on the edge of my seat for a lot of this book. Well-paced, I never got bored, and I read it quickly (for me). It can often take me a month or more to read a book, this one I finished in about 2 weeks (and it is not a small book). If you like medieval settings, YA genre, magic, believable characters, and realistic reactions to trauma, you’ll want to check this out. Discover Your Dharma by Sahara Rose: This was a wonderful and enlightening book. I am not one for re-reading books, even self-help type books, but I can see myself re-reading this book once a year. So much knowledge and wisdom in this book, exactly when we need it most. I think I'm on my dharmic path right now, but as life shifts and evolves, Sahara has so many great tips and ideas for helping you to keep moving forward. To keep progressing, to keep evolving in your dharma. So grateful for this book. I bought a second copy and gave it to a friend for her birthday. Note: All books I purchased myself. I read and reviewed of my own accord. I was not paid, prompted, or promoted to read or review these works in any way. I do not receive any money or other stipends from these reviews. Books I am Currently Reading: The Lost Years of Merlin by T. A. Barron Earth and Other Ethics: The Case for Moral Pluralism by Christopher Stone Thank you for reading this June 2021 Monthly Catch-Up. An overview of what is happening for me personally and with the Wayfaring Jessica brand. As well as updates on how my writing projects are faring, books I have read and am currently reading. I hope you have a wonderful June, and I look forward to seeing you next Monday for my next blog post on: Much Love, Jessica Marie Hello readers, happy Monday. I am going to be changing up my blog posts a little bit. I’ll tell you a little backstory and then get into how things are going here for the Wayfaring Jessica brand and blog. I first started working on blog posts, Instagram posts, and all the things that I wanted to shape this brand into back in February. One of the biggest things I wanted from my brand was to be a genuine conversation between you and I. To have someone going through life with you, giving advice from my experiences and those just like me, encouraging you to follow your dreams and live your best life. I planned to have my brand launch on April 1st. Well, the Divine played an April Fools Day prank on me. The night before, on March 31st, I realized I had drifted from this goal. I had spent 6 weeks making content with the goal of appeasing the algorithms instead of being true to my goals and desires for this brand. The 3 posts I made before my brand went live felt more aligned than most of the posts I had planned to go live after the brand launch. So, I changed everything.
Well, not everything, but a lot of things. I realized in February that I wanted to write again. I have always loved writing. Honest to goodness, I have been reading books and writing stories since I was single digits in age. I have taken many, many courses, classes, group sessions, every writing and editing course I could find for over a decade. But a few years ago, I just sort of stopped writing. I don’t know why. I tried to go a few other directions in my life, but every way I went I had doors slammed in my face. For 3 years I floundered, trying to figure out what I wanted, what I liked, what direction I could go that I wouldn’t make me fall flat on my face yet again. When the 2020 pandemic hit, I was truly forced to reevaluate everything. I floundered some more, trying to fit myself into little boxes of who I thought I should be, instead of embracing who I really am. Finally, in the fall and winter of 2020 I just stopped searching. I started doing what came naturally to me, the things I always enjoyed doing. Reading, art, and writing. That is what I am good at and what I truly love, writing first and foremost and art in the form of collage, abstract art, crochet, etc. I started to lean into those things. I realized I felt more comfortable, confident, and was less uptight than I had been in years. This is what I needed to pursue, I needed more of this in my life. The trajectory I was on was leading me directions I did not want to go. Once my family and I moved to Maine all distractions were stripped away. I had a chance to completely start from the ground up. I have taken this time to completely focus on what I am actually good at, not trying to fit into a version of myself I think I should be. In the past, I had lost all contact with my creativity, but now I am flowing with ideas for art and writing. This is my passion. I am working on a novel again. Like I said, in the past I have taken many courses and joined writer’s groups with prestigious writers that were sorely disappointed when I quit. They saw the potential in me that I failed to see. I know I am not the only one out there who has gone through this. I want to encourage people to find these pieces of themselves that light them up. To find these pieces of themselves that are in their core and tap back into it. Creativity doesn’t only come in the form of art and writing. Math, science, business, these are creative endeavors too, they just look a little different. I want to spark a light in people to follow their creativity. This is what I want to bring back. This was the goal I had from the start, but I got caught up in trying to cater to what I thought people would want to hear, in what would appease the algorithms, instead of being my truest self. Here is my new format that I hope will help you. Because I want everyone to tap into their creative spark and bring their beauty to the world. The world needs more beauty and you can bring it in a way that only you can shine. Once a month I will do an update, like this, things I am working on, ideas I am having, lessons I learned from the Divine. Ways that you can get to know me and resonate with me personally. I’ll keep you updated on my projects such as my novel, poetry, art, and short stories. What stage I am on, what I am learning, and what you may need to know if you are wanting to follow the path to being a writer as well. I am also having an interview with a guest once a month. I have some really exciting guests lined up with so much that you can learn. Look for those blog posts with my guest interviews. Upcoming guest topics are activism, art, and a published author! I am in no way bashing on the blog posts that came out before this one. I love every one of those pieces, they all came from personal experience and I stand behind every word. I will still be writing general life tips posts once a month. Travel tips and reviews, sustainability tips, how to’s, and more. But they will be one of many, not the only blog content I put out. Finally, I am an aspiring author. I have a novel in the works and some short stories. But I am also dipping my toes into poetry. Once a month I’ll post some of my favorite pieces of poetry for you to read. That is my May update, how things are going, how I plan to keep things going, how I want to help you, and be open and honest with you. I have always cherished people who are honest and genuine. I want to be open with you about my journey, what I learn, and where this life takes me. I hope this excites you and makes you want to stick around for more. If not, that’s ok, we all have different interests and goals, I wish you the best! For those who are interested, I’m glad you are here and I can’t wait to see you next week in my next blog post. Until next Monday, Much Love, Jessica Marie Well, here we are. It’s the first day of 2020. With the passing of 2019 we also begin a new decade. I’m not going to do a highlights and lowlights list. Life isn’t a competition of you versus everyone else, I’m not going to say if/how much things have changed because that simply drives the competition angle that often comes from social media. Every life is different. Every life is unique. My path is not your path and visa versa. So, as this year comes to an end and we prepare for a new year and a new decade I want to help end the social comparisons, to stop feeling bad for where you are in comparison to someone else. Yes, we can and should change and grow constantly, but it should be an inner organic desire, not an outside pressure pushing down on you making you feel inadequate and small. That being said, I’ll list a few things that felt completely organic to me and gave me joy. My organic goals for myself for the next year, and some ideas to achieve them.
My favorite moments of 2019 were: Going to Mexico with my human best friend, adopting my furry best friend Holmes, and reading over 15 books this year! My Organic Goals for 2020 I really want to be healthy. I know that is absolutely everyone’s first item on their list, but this past year I yo-yoed a lot and got to see first-hand and feel the difference between when I was truly eating and exercising intuitively and when I was out of control. Not only my weight, but my energy, my sleep patterns, and feeling sick. Lately I’ve felt sick more often, gotten sick in relation to foods consumed, and just felt tired, heavy, and generally unhealthy. This is not a societal pressure, this is a personal desire. I want to feel healthy, home, and capable in my body. I also want to focus more on what I eat, where it comes from, and how it was prepared. I want to eat more all-natural and organic foods as often as I can. Eat more alternatives or buy from local small farms and/or family farms. More whole simple foods like seeds, nuts, berries, vegetables, and unprocessed meats. I do not like diet culture. I find it to be repressing, depressing, and creates shame and guilt around food. This is not healthy mentally or physically. I want to re-develop a healthier relationship to food where it is seen as nourishing or not, pleasurable or not. Not as an enemy or as a substance of avoidance. To listen to my body when it is hungry, nourish it, and not over-compensate. My goal for the year is to lose 50 pounds. This will fit in with a healthy shift in action and not cause stress around the goal. I also do not want to be limited in what I can do because of an unhealthy body, one can lose weight and still be unhealthy. It’s important to move every day. Rachel Hollis lists this as one of her musts for creating your best self, and she’s absolutely right. To be in tune with our bodies intuitively for eating carries over into being in tune with it physically. I already do martial arts 2 days a week. I will add Yoga 2 days a week, walking/running 2 days a week, and stretch on Sundays. I will also go to the chiropractor once a month to keep my body in alignment. Meditation and prayer. I have also noticed a difference in not engaging in a prayer/meditation session at least once a week. Research has shown that religion or spiritual beliefs and experiences create a positive outcome for those who participate. Just taking a few minutes a day or each week to disconnect, get outside of ourselves, and find peace in the divine is as helpful and positive as physical activity. Of course, it only is positive if you are having positive experiences with the people involved, the religion or activities being engaged in, and there is genuine belief. Issues in any of these areas completely negate or make impossible the benefits. So, it is important to follow what truly resonates with you, whether you were raised in it or only recently adopted it. If it calls to you in a positive way then it is an extremely powerful and positive force in the human experience. Whether you believe you are talking to God, the universe, or simply taking a moment to sit in peace, releasing stress and other burdens is good for the soul. This is not an inherently feminine practice either, people of every identity can and should seek peace. On this note, let’s not judge what other people believe. Hatred and anger will not build peace in our hearts and world. Two habits I started last year that I want to carry into the next are reading every day as well as practicing my Spanish lessons. I also have added more low impact and sustainable lifestyle practices like creating a compost bin, switching to shower supplies that are recycled, plant based, and cruelty free, using only reusable k-cups, eating a plant-based butter alternative, using toilet paper and tissues made from recycled paper, and buying my own bamboo straw so I don’t need plastic ones anymore. Every year I add a little more so as to create less of an impact on this precious planet. Next year we are switching to a local dairy, this will cut down on Co2 emissions from shipping milk to a supermarket, as well as being delivered in reusable glass bottles versus toxic plastic bottles. I know I’ll add more, but we’ll have to see what they end up being. These are my goals and the logic behind them for 2020. Do you have any personal or professional goals that are organic to you and come from an inside desire and not an outside pressure? I would love to hear about them below! Let’s make next year, next decade, a time when we are driven not pushed. Much love, Jess I am willing to bet the first question you're asking is, "Weren't you trying to be a cop?" The answer is, "Yes I was". I had internships, years of volunteer experience, cops I rode with liked me, I have a degree and a lot of civilian experience, I've even known the people in charge of hiring. No luck. I tried for well over a year and applied to multiple departments and everything was a no-go. When every department receives hundreds of applications for 1-3 available positions and you are competing against already POST certified, lateral transfers, and those with military experience, PD's don't always care what sort of civilian qualifications you have. Sure there are smaller departments I could apply to, though not all can afford to pay for POST so I can get ruled out there. Or I could try a backdoor way of getting hired by joining a Sheriff's Department and work as a Corrections Officer for a few years. However, I have no desire to work in a jail. My plan was to travel with any vacation time I was going to accumulate over my career, so when I kept getting dropped from processes with no explanation as to why, I decided to just put everything on the back burner.
I love to travel, and I am going to blame my parents for that. They have been taking me camping since before I can remember, and don't forget that we traveled the United States in an RV for 14 months when I was 14/15. I have gone on multiple trips around the US with Melanie over the past several years, the problem is I am never satisfied with visiting a place for a day or a week. I always wonder what it's like to live in a place, to become immersed in daily life and the culture (I mean, I do have a Bachelors degree in Cultural Anthropology), and if you asked me where in the world I want to go most, I don't have an answer other than, "anywhere". I also have the hardest part of my qualifications to become an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, the bachelors degree, already completed. So why not go? What is required to be an ESL teacher? Most countries require a bachelors degree, it doesn't matter if it's a BA or a BS (or higher) and some form of ESL certification. The level of teaching experience required depends on several factors. My next blog post will be all about ESL, so I'll have more information about it there. In short, all I need is a TEFL certification and I'll be ready to go! What's my plan? My TEFL course starts 1/14/19 and I graduate 3/29/19, upon completion I will try to teach English online. This will help me gain more experience so I will be more marketable, as well as help me feel more comfortable teaching. I feel this will help to alleviate at least one stress laid on me when I move to another country. Where am I going? I do not have any countries set in stone, however, I feel I will most likely begin in China as they are the largest job market for ESL teachers hiring several thousand ESL teachers every year. Typically, teaching contracts are for one year. I will teach for 1 year and then reevaluate at the end of the year, I'll decide if I A) like it or B) hate it. If I feel A, then I may stay for another year or may transfer to another country. If it's B, then I can quit and return to the US. The latter is clearly the worst case scenario, however, even in this case I will still have, a job, housing, sufficient income, and will still be gaining invaluable life experiences. In reality, there is no downside to this plan, at least not to me. Do people think I'm crazy for uprooting my entire life and changing every plan by changing career paths and moving to a county that I don't even speak the language? Sure. Do I care? Nah. I love a challenge, I love to see and experience new things, even when the worst is happening I try to see how it is shaping me as a person. Honestly, I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, but I'm doing it now and that's all that matters. Is this going to be crazy? Hell yes. Am I going to have hard days? I know I will. Am I going to miss everyone and everything? Yep. Will I learn, grow, see, and experience so much that it will be worth it? Damn straight. So, raise a glass to the first step in a new direction, to new experiences and a path that may take me anywhere! Follow along to see this through from start to finish, whatever "finish" may be. To quote Bilbo Baggins, "I'm going on an adventure!" Much love, Jess |
AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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