December 12: Flowers. I Remember Fields of Flowers, Soft Beneath My Heels

It's Christmas time! I hope y'all are cozied up in your warm pajamas and decorative socks. It's been a few days since I've blogged because I came home on December 7th. I've been seeing family, cleaning, catching up with neighbors, going to church. I'm booked. Haha, not really. I'm just enjoying my time off. It's given me more time to write. I finished chapter three of the third draft of my manuscript. I'd been stuck on it for a few months because of finals and finishing up school. I started drafting chapter four, and it was a wholesome scene that was very much needed. I started my second draft chapters into a folder on Google Drive and wrote out what happens in each draft since I have both the second and third to comb through. I can't wait for my creative writing class in the spring. One of my neighbors made a good point when I told her that I was having trouble writing in the fall semester. Starting the blog helped me focus on it, but it was difficult.

Freewriting felt more like a chore than something that I wanted to do. I'm learning that it's something to take my mind off of the mundane repetitiveness of the days. Just to spice it up, I'm currently sitting on my kitchen counter, typing this out, listening to 'Runaway' by Bon Jovi, while my dad is baking homemade pizza. Sitting by the Christmas tree to writing scenes has boosted my motivation like up twelve levels.

Some highlights from my week have been going back to work at the daycare I left four months ago when I went away to college. I subbed in a classroom with four and five-year-olds. They were mesmerized by the idea of a new person to say the wackiest things.

I also babysat some neighbor's kids with my sister to make some cash. We made arts and crafts ornaments for the parents' trees.

While we crafted, we listened to Frozen and the new Imagine Dragons album: Mercy--Act 1. I was introduced to it and was pleased to hear that it focused on mental health. I've followed Imagine Dragons forever, and it's so comforting to listen to the familiar voice and absorb new lyrics.

They made personal pizzas and did sugar cookie decorating. The three-year-old made it her job to pour as many sprinkles as possible onto her cookies. It reminded me of seeing the world through the eyes of a child and how life is so much more worthwhile if we allow ourselves to have fun.

My friends from high school surprised me when they came to the potluck we had last night. We sang show tunes and played pool. We laughed, and we were high on life.

Allow yourself to be silly. Allow yourself to laugh completely unhinged and loud.

It's the holiday season. Take advantage of it.

Remember, you're loved and valuable. Have a merry one if I don't make another post before Christmas and the holidays!