Category Archives: Writing

What Eight Words Taught Me

April 19, 2012 – 8:17 pm

This past weekend I decided to tackle the stack of magazines that I had set aside to read later.  My first not-so-hot-off-the-presses selection was the February 2012 issue of O Magazine.  I thumbed through the magazine until the caption “You…In Six Words” caught my attention and made me pause.  As I read on I discovered that writer Larry Smith issued a challenge in which he asked his readers to describe their lives in six words.

The Six-Word Memoir challenge generated a huge reaction, and Oprah shared the responses of some of her readers.  Perusing the article made me think about what my six word memoir would look like.  I wondered how I would describe my life in six words.  I did not have to wonder long.  Six words popped into my mind almost immediately.  “I live my best life everyday.”

Although those six words pretty much described how I saw my life, something still nagged at me.  There was something more.  Something that I missed.  Apparently I needed a few more words to accurately convey how I live my life.  I needed an eight word memoir to be exact.  “I CHOOSE TO live my best life everyday.”

Those words resonated with me and summed up how I live my life.  You see I live my best life everyday, because everyday I wake up and choose to do so.  Not everyday rolls along as smoothly as I wish, but everyday I live the best life possible under the circumstances.

I wish that I could say that I have always lived this way, but I can’t.  There were many years of my life that I passed time by waiting to get to the place or thing that I thought would make me live a better or happier life.

I’m a different person now.  I’ve grown, and those eight little words helped me to see how much my outlook on my life has changed for the better.  Life is too precious for me to spend my time waiting to live my best life.  That’s why I choose to live my best life everyday.

That’s my story, so to speak.  What’s yours?  Share your story.  What does your six or eight word memoir look like?  Why did you select your particular words?

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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A Good Idea

March 22, 2012 – 5:45 pm

“Why didn’t I think of that?”

I often hear people ask this question.  I have even asked it of myself a few times.  Most of us have wished that our ideas were more creative at one point of another.  The truth is that most of us have more creative ideas than we give ourselves credit for.

One of the reasons that we don’t always recognize the value of our ideas is that we are too quick to tell ourselves that our ideas are no good or stupid.  We often dismiss them before they fully form in our minds.  We come up with all sorts of reasons why our ideas are worthless.

“That couldn’t possibly work.”  “That would cost too much.”  “I don’t know how to do that.” 

Do any of these sound familiar?  What do you tell yourself when an idea pops into your head?

Our self talk of why something will not work can be endless if we’re not careful.  But if we can shut down our internal naysayer, we may surprise ourselves with the good ideas that spring forth.  After all everything that exists started with an idea.  The clothes that you are wearing right now started with an idea.  Google, Facebook and Twitter grew out of an idea.  Even this post originated with a single idea.

So let’s free our minds and give ourselves permission to see how many ideas we can come up with.  Remember, just because something has not been done, or does not seem possible at first glance does not mean that it cannot be done.  It is out of the arena of the new that great innovations are born.

Think about it.  What would life be like if the Wright brothers never thought that man could fly?  I cannot imagine how many times Orville and Wilbur Wright must have questioned whether they would really be able to fly, or how many people must have laughed at them when they talked about men flying.  But neither their failures, nor other peoples’ jokes deterred them.  They continued to brainstorm and to tweak their flying machine until it literally took off.

You may still be thinking that you cannot come up with any ideas, but starting your flow of ideas is simpler than you may think.  The best ideas often start with a what if question.  I’m sure that somewhere along the way, the Wright brothers asked, “What if man could fly?”

A few months ago I asked myself a what if question.

“What if I commit to writing regularly instead of just thinking and talking about writing?”

What was the result of my what if question?  I now write more, and writing more led to a more consistent blogging schedule and several good ideas for a couple of other writing projects.

Still think that only other people have good ideas?  Maybe it’s time for you to ask yourself some what if questions.  I challenge you to unleash your creativity and start generating ideas.  Even if none of the ideas are anything that you want to follow through on, you will still benefit, because tapping into your creativity allows you to connect more with who you are.

I would love to hear about how you unlock your creativity and start your flow of ideas.

Happy brainstorming!

“The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.” – Linus Pauling

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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More Than Enough

March 7, 2012 – 7:29 pm

Not too long ago a friend and I discussed some of the concerns and frustrations that he was experiencing on his job at that time.  We brainstormed about what we thought was really going on and some strategies that he could use to deal with the situation, including looking for another job.

Weeks went by and nothing changed at his job.  Still he decided to hang in there and opted not pursue other opportunities.  Why?  There are probably a number of reasons, but when he and I talked about the situation again, it was clear that the overriding reason was that he did not think that he had what he needed to make a change.  He believed that he needed more credentials and experience in certain areas.  The belief that he needed to do and be more paralyzed him.

I pointed out that he had everything that he needed.  Few, if any, of his co-workers had experience that matched his.  His skill set allowed him to step up and find solutions to problems that no one else could solve.  The team members that he supervised loved him and appreciated the guidance and leadership that he provided on projects.  The bottom line is that he did not need to be or have more.  He simply needed to recognize, appreciate and use what he already had.

One of the conversations with my friend replayed in my mind this morning as I sipped my cup of tea.  A light bulb went on in my head.  I realized that I was guilty of what I accused him of doing.  There was a time not too long ago that I was not using what I had.  I stopped blogging and writing for months, because I felt that I always needed to write long blog posts.

For several months I did not post anything.  During my time away from blogging I agonized about what I should write.  I started several posts, but I never finished them. Each time I convinced myself that those posts needed to say more.  The belief that my posts needed to be more shut down my blogging.

Fortunately my desire to write and blog was stronger than my concern about word count. That desire finally made me give myself permission to publish short posts, and freed me to launch “Wise Words”, a recurring post in which I share a quick thought that I find insightful.

One insight that I gained from this experience comes from a saying that states if we do not use what we have, we will not be blessed with more.  It’s not that I have to be or have more to be happy.  I don’t.  But I do believe that I have a responsibility to be a good steward of whatever is given to me, and that includes using the talents, gifts and opportunities that I have at any moment in time.

I may not always have the time to write a long post, but that’s okay.  Not everything that I want to say requires five hundred to a thousand words.  It’s more about the quality of the words that I write rather than the quantity.  Sometimes less is more.  After all, tweets are literally changing our world, and they are doing it in 140 characters or less.

With that in mind, I decided that my posts will be enough regardless of the word count. That decision broke away the shackles that prevented me from moving forward with my writing and helped me to start blogging again.  The bottom line is that I’m committed to using whatever I have wherever I am.

Is there something that you keep putting off until you have more, or think that you are more?  Do not over think it.  Start now.  Start where you are with what you have. Whatever we are and have at any given moment is usually more than enough for us to at least step out and start something.

“Whatever you’re ready for is ready for you.” – Mark Victor Hansen

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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What I’m Reading

August 5, 2011 – 12:41 am

Reading is a big part of my life, and it has been since I was a child.  I read for a number of reasons:  to be informed; to be entertained; to be challenged; and to be inspired.  Here are some of the items that I am currently reading.

BOOKS

The Holy Bible – The Bible has been a staple in my life since I was a child. Sometimes I stick to a reading plan.  Other times I search out Scriptures that address the need that I have at that moment.  Reading the Bible gives me a sense of peace and strength.

When The Soul Listens by Jan Johnson  – This book is about prayer.  Not the “give me this or give me that” kind of prayer, but the be still and hear God kind of prayer.  When The Soul Listens is a short book that is taking me a while to read.  It is a book that makes me think.  I read a little and then I put it down to absorb what I read.  I purchased this book at the urging of a co-worker, and I am glad that I did.

Slow Love by Dominique Browning – This memoir follows Dominique on her journey from the last day of her job as editor-in-chief at House & Garden Magazine to revamping her lifestyle and gaining a sense of self that is no longer defined by her former high profile position.  Her story shows how a few small decisions can yield big changes.  This book received mixed reviews on Amazon.com, but I think that it was worth the money that I spent.

Fearless Confessions by Sue William Silverman – Fearless Confessions is a guidebook for those who want to share their stories.  Last weekend I attended a writing conference, and it re-ignited my desire to write.  After the conference I made a commitment to post more often on my blog and to start some of the writing projects that I have put off for years.  One of those projects is writing a memoir.  I purchased Fearless Confessions a couple of years ago, but I never read it.  My renewed interest in writing motivated me to finally open this book.  I am only on chapter two, but the information and exercises presented so far have been helpful.

BLOGS

Creative Addiction – The name says it all.  This blog is about creativity.  Creative Addiction showcases some of the works and ideas of its author, Kim, and introduces its audience to other talented artists.

Mirth and Motivation – This blog centers on appreciating life and serves up inspiring stories.  The author of Mirth and Motivation, Elizabeth, encourages her readers to look for the joy in life and to laugh.

What My World’s Like – The author’s desire to change her habit of always looking for the negative in something to looking for the positive inspired this blog.  Leandra shares the lessons she learned along her journey to being more positive and confident.

What are you currently reading?  Why do you read?  For information?  Entertainment?  If you check out any of the books or blogs I shared with you, I hope that you enjoy them.

“To read is to fly:  it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” – A C Grayling

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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As Soon As I Finish My “To Do” List

March 9, 2011 – 5:23 pm

Life happened, and I ended up taking an unplanned break from Through Her Eyes Blog for a few weeks.  I spent most of this time working, traveling and preparing to move.  Trying to keep up with everything on my “to do” list left me tired and overwhelmed.  I told myself that I would get back on track with my writing as soon as I finished everything on my “to do” list.

This is the illusion of the “to do” list.  We convince ourselves that we can finish everything by a certain date, and that life will calm down when the last item is crossed off of our list.  Therein lies the deception.  Rarely, if ever, do we complete all of the items on our “to do” list.  New things take the place of the ones that we check off as done.  That is the nature of a “to do” list–to have items on it to do.

The reality is that there will always be people to meet, calls to make and projects to complete.  But regardless of who we are, or what we think we need to do, we have to remember that nothing is as important as our well-being and that of our loved ones.  “To do” lists are a part of life.  They are not life.  I often have to remind myself that my “to do” list is not about getting everything done in the shortest amount of time.

Apparently I forgot this principle when it came to my upcoming move.  I organized my move and everything was on schedule until I found out that there was a possibility for me to move earlier than expected.   The painters and other repairmen working on the house notified me that they thought that they would finish a couple of days earlier than anticipated.

When I heard this news I considered rescheduling the movers and other services to try to take advantage of the earlier date.  I pored over my “to do” list trying to figure out what needed to happen to make the new date work.  The painters, repairmen, cleaning service, and movers would have to be scheduled back-t0-back, and everyone needed to finish on time.  There would be no room for a delay.

After another sleepless night last night I acknowledged what was staring me in the face and keeping me up at night.  The workmen ‘thought’ that they would finish early, but they were not sure.  I finally admitted to myself that it would be lunacy to reschedule everything based on what may happen.  With the return of my common sense I decided to  leave my move on the more reasonable timetable.

I will not complete my “to do” list as soon as I would like, but I will still move.  The difference is that now I will do so in a more relaxed manner that allows me to enjoy other aspects of my life during this time.  Life is not always about the “to do” list.  A big part of living is about the journey and enjoying the steps that we take along the way.

What or who are you putting off until you get everything done?   Are you managing your “to do” list, or is it managing you?  Time is valuable.  Spend it wisely.

“Time is free, but it’s priceless.  You can’t own it, but you can use it.  You can’t keep it, but you can spend it.  Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.”  – Harvey MacKay

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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A Time Of Discovery

January 6, 2011 – 10:01 pm

We said adios to 2010 a few days ago.  We’re now well into the first week of 2011. Looking at my calendar today made me stop and think about how I spent 2010.  Spent is the word that I choose to describe the use of time, because time like money has value.  In my opinion time is more valuable than money.  We can always make more money, but we can’t make more time.

Back to the subject of how I spent 2010.  Most of it was focused on getting back into the flow of life here in the U.S.  If I had to characterize the year I would have to say that 2010 was a year of discovery for me–self discovery to be more precise.  The theme of self-discovery flowed throughout the year for me regardless of what I did or where I was located.

One thing that I discovered about myself is how important it is for me to have a creative outlet.  I started working on an interesting but time intensive legal project during autumn 2010.  I initially thought that I would be able to continue my normal blogging schedule, but about a week into the project reality set in.  There simply were not enough hours in the day to do everything that I wanted to do, so I took a hiatus from THE Blog. What I didn’t realize at the time was that when I suspended my writing, I stopped feeding my creative side.  I enjoy being a lawyer, but that only nourishes my analytical side.  I need that, but I also need to nurture the creative part of me in order to be balanced.  A couple of weeks ago I ended my break and starting writing and blogging again.  I felt more at peace as soon as I hit the publish button for my return post.  I now know that I need to write and create regardless of what else is going on in my life.  I may not post as often, or my posts maybe be shorter than in the past, but I will write.

I discovered my need to create.  What did you learn about yourself in 2010 that you didn’t know or acknowledge before? How can you use this information to live a more joyful and balanced life?

Blessings!

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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Know Thyself

October 16, 2010 – 1:33 pm

Hooray!  Through Her Eyes Blog (THE Blog) is three months old today.

THE Blog grew out of my search for a creative outlet.  I love to write, so a blog seemed like the perfect match.  Deciding to blog was easy.  Knowing how to start one and what to blog about was challenging.

After months of researching, thinking and planning, I decided that my blog intellect was high enough for me to leap into the world of blogging.  But I still had one problem.  I knew how to start a blog, but I had not settled on a subject to blog about.

I thought about the things and activities that I enjoy.  My mind almost immediately zeroed in on one of my great loves, food.  It’s not just about eating for me.  I appreciate the quality of food and technique required to prepare a great meal.  I decided to blog about food.  Dilemma solved.  I started the prep for my blog debut.

Breakfast is the first meal of the day, so I decided to make it the topic of my first post.  I prepared a three egg omelet with oven roasted potatoes and Gruyère cheese.  Chicken apple sausage, an English muffin with strawberry preserves, orange juice, and hot tea rounded out the offering.

I set the table and positioned the food.  Pride welled up inside of me as I surveyed the presentation that stood before me.  It was a scene straight out of one my cooking magazines.  The appearance and aroma drew me in.  I could no longer wait to taste my creation.  I sat down, picked up my fork and placed the first bite of omelet in my mouth.  The texture and flavor exceeded my expectation.  Each bite delighted me more than the previous one.  That is until I realized that I forgot to photograph my masterpiece.  By then almost half of the omelet was gone.  My love of food and hunger had exceeded my desire to memorialize the moment in pictures.  All I could do was to say “oh well” and continue eating.  In my mind there was no reason to disrupt my meal just to take a few snapshots of partially eaten food.

That moment helped me to understand that I probably never will be a good food blogger.  I have the requisite love and respect of food and the pickiness of a foodie, but I don’t have the patience to capture all of the details before I dive into the dish placed in front of me.  The truth is that being a foodie does not necessarily make one a good food blogger.  I’m okay with that fact.  There are plenty of wonderful food blogs out there, and I’m satisfied to read some of them instead of writing my own.

I accepted that food blogging was not my niche, but I still had to figure out what was.  I asked myself a question at that point.

“Who is Wyletter Whaley?”

I figured if I answered this question, I would find my niche.

The answer surprised me a bit.  I’m a storyteller at heart.

I have written in some form or another since fifth grade, but I never considered myself a storyteller until I went to see a career counselor about eight years ago.  She asked me to write a plan for my life and to share it with her.

When I finished reading the narrative detailing the life and career that I envisioned for myself, the counselor said, “You speak in paragraphs.  You tell a story with your words.”

I stopped and thought about what she said.  I had to agree with her.  What can I say?  I love words, and I love to communicate what’s going on around me.  I love to tell stories.  That’s what life is—a series of stories.

I recognized that I loved storytelling then, but I never looked for ways to express this love until I started my search for an online identity.  When I acknowledged the storyteller in me, I realized that I wanted to blog about the stories of everyday life.

This was a learning moment for me.  It emphasized the need to know myself and what I enjoy.  This principle applies outside of the blogging world.  One of the keys to success and happiness is knowing who we are and what we enjoy doing.

Do you know who you are?  Are you living your joy?  If not, it’s time to make one of the most important journeys that we can make–the journey to knowing ourselves and discovering our passion.  If we’re not passionate about who we are and our goals, we will not be inspired to accomplish them.  Passion makes the difference.  Know yourself.  Find your passion.

Blessings.

See.  Live.  Enjoy.

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