My Dad having his morning coffee in Surfside.
We had an excellent time in Surfside this past weekend
with both my family and Donna’s family.
04 November 2007

I’ve been listening to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People while on the elliptical at the gym.  Did you get that picture in your mind?  Here, let me paint it again.  I have finished doing the weights (or “resistance training” for the physically-inclined out there), and I have moved onto my cardio workout on the elliptical — the elliptical being like a new and improved treadmill.  I have my iPod on with its little lime green earbuds in my ears, and I’m listening to The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

If you saw me at the gym, I would seem like the caricature that is portrayed in movies of the win-at-any-cost businessman.

And yet, the thing is, I’m not that at all.  Our house is a mess.  I’m in my housecoat as I write this.  I just happen to work out, and that book is quite good.  I’m enjoying it immensely.  Stephen Covey hasn’t started talking about habits yet; I’m on the bit where he is discussing a paradigm shift.

Anyways, if you took a snapshot in time of me on the elliptical listening to that book, you would have entirely the wrong image of me.  Interesting, huh?

If I had to pick a snapshot to define myself, I would probably pick this one:

The Woodings Family
Christmas 2006

There is still so much of me that is not in that picture, but it shows what brings me joy daily. That’s Damian in my belly, so he’s in the picture too. 😉

The baby and I snuggled together
on a chilly October morning.
31 October 2007

Since English seems to be the new… well… English, I’ve been experimenting with accents.  Here is a sample (you have to click the play button twice):

I keep writing snippets of non-existent novels and playing with voices.

Now, here’s the bizarre thing: I realize that I will be dead in an extremely short time in the grand scheme of things.  The memory of my existence and all I did will become nothing within the enormity of time and space.  And yet, even with this knowledge, I am still hesitant to create anything.  I am still filled with fear that I will seem ridiculous… you know, as one deserving ridicule.

One of my favorite sayings comes from Virgil, the wise chicken in Mighty Max.  Max learns that Norman, his protector, is afraid of spiders, and is completely surprised because Norman has never shown fear of anything.  Max says to Virgil, “I always thought Norman was so brave.”  And Virgil replies, “Bravery is not lack of fear; it is acting in spite of fear.”

Creativity is not lack of fear; it is creating in spite of fear.