Evening Writing

I know some authors have a specific time of day to write, I don't. Perhaps I should put aside a specific time of day to write. Decide on a time to write and work the rest of my day around that. The only problem with that is that it doesn't work. I used to write in the morning and then I got morning job. Now I write in the afternoon and evening, which works all right. The problem is that I have to conduct business during the day.

Maybe I need to take a different approach to writing. Lately the only writing I have gotten done is blog, journal entries and poems. I need to take a different approach to writing time. I'm still worrying too much. I've found myself worrying about almost everything lately. I think one of my problems is that I'm way too stressed.

Nobody wants to hear about my problems. Actually, I really should be using them in a short story or piece of flash fiction. Maybe that would help or maybe it wouldn't. I know this entry doesn't make a lot of sense. I seem to be rambling all over the place and not saying anything. It's been a long day and I'm tired. I also seem to be distracted this afternoon and unable to focus.

I'm writing my poems of a morning about the time I sit aside for prayer and meditation. I pray meditate and then write the poems. I have no problems writing then, I just don't get online because I have to go to work. I wait until after I get off work to get online, the problem with that is that after I get off work, I have other business to conduct.

I'm too stressed lately, this is usually an indication that I need to change something in my life. Now all I have to do is figure out what I have to change. Maybe working on my personal mission statement will help me figure that out. I think I'll end this entry before it gets any longer.

My personal mission statement

I wrote a personal mission statement early in 2007 and then my world fell apart. At least that is the way it appeared to me at the time, any way I am still recovering from the 2007 experience. Earlier this year I made two entries about a personal mission statement. They are Writing a personal mission statement and Time to recharge my spiritual batteries.

I wrote the personal mission state and recently reviewed that statement. After reviewing the statement, I realized that it does not inspire me; therefore, I am rewriting that statement. I am going to start at the beginning and rewrite the entire mission statement from scratch. I think that is the only way I am going to write something that will inspire me.

I have figured out what I did wrong in the first mission statement. I know I did not identify three core values in my life. In addition, I did not identify who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do. There were other mistakes in that mission statement. As I write this, I am starting to suspect that the events of 2007 changed me; change me so much that the mission statement I wrote before "my life fell apart" is no longer inspiring.

It does not matter at present whether the original mission statement was inspiring or whether it no long inspires me because I have change. It is time I wrote a new mission statement that inspires me and reflects both "who I want to be" and "what I want to do".

I am giving myself until Labor Day to complete this new statement. Between now and then, I am going to pray and meditate concerning each ingredient in the mission statement. Once I have completed the questions concerning what I want in the statement, then I will write the statement.

NOTE: I know I was supposed to rewrite the mission statement before March 21, 2008. I can only find the original mission statement, which means either I did not rewrite it or I rewrote it, but did not save it. The third possibility is that I need to reorganize my hard drive and clean it up.

Time to Recharge my Spiritual Batteries

Jamál (Beauty), 1 ‘Alá (Loftiness), 164 B.E. – Sunday, March 2, 2008 about 7:38 AM PST

It is time to recharge my spiritual batteries. Today, March 2, the first day of ‘Alá the nineteen-day Fast begins. It is a time of abstaining from food and drink between sunup and sundown. Fasting is an ancient custom practiced in many religions. The physical fast is symbolic of the spiritual fast, which is to abstain from anything that draws the individual away from God.

Fasting is a time of prayer, meditation and reflection. ‘Alá ends the year, on March 21 a New Year begins. During ‘Alá I will look at the past year and the things, which have drawn me away from God. 164 B.E. was very stressful, so I will look at the reason for this and find ways to make 165 B.E. less stressful. I will look at the things which have drawn me away from God and find ways to make the reconnection.

One thing I am going to do before March 21 is complete rewriting my personal mission statement. This will help me focus on what is necessary for the coming year. Included in my mission statement are spiritual, material and physical goals. The reason for this is that I am a dual natured creature; I have both a spirit and a body so my mission statement must cover every aspect of my life. If the mission statement does not cover these aspects, it is not complete.

Writing a Personal Mission Statement

Istijlal (Majesty), 1 Mulk (Dominion), 164 B.E. - Thursday, February 7, 2008 about 8:03 AM PST

I wrote a personal mission statement early in 2007, but on March 12, 2007 my world fell apart when I took my mother to the Emergency Room. My mother is out of the hospital, recovering, and I have found my priorities have changed. Therefore, I have decided to rewrite my personal mission statement.

It is never too late to be what you might have been. ~~George Eliot

According to I Will Change Your Life.com a personal mission statement does three things. It outlines (1) "what you want to be", (2) "what you want to do", and (3) the values you upon which you are basing this being and wanting. Founded on self-knowledge and decision-making, a personal mission statement can help a person change.

Afraid lest he be caught up in a net of words tripped up, bewildered and so defeated – thrown aside – a man hesitates to write down his innermost convictions. ~~William Carlos Williams

I did not give a lot of thought to my last mission statement, a big mistake because that statement did not help me during the stress last year. This year I am going to give more thought to it. I have set March 21, 208 to complete my mission statement; this is the first day of spring and the day I celebrate as the New Year.

I will write my personal mission statement in phrases that I can repeat several times each day. I will answer three questions

1. What do I want to be?
2. What do I want to do?
3. What do I value?