Tag: Jimmetta Carpenter

When Hitting a Rock, Just Keep Digging

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I opened my emails yesterday and there was a message from Tyler Perry (sent days prior, just unopened) talking about digging deep until we get to where it is we are going and where we know God wants us to be.  He advised that even if you hit rock, if you know that it’s what’s meant for you, just keep digging.

It got me to thinking about just how long I have been digging this well (meaning my attempt at being a successful freelance writer) and just how long it seems like I have been hitting nothing but rock.  I don’t just mean rock that is movable and pliable with just a few whacks either.  I mean really hard, strong, take ten people to move, kind of rock.

Obviously I know that there are many people who are worse off than me and who might look at me and wonder what I am complaining about, and they may be right where it pertains to them.  But when you are hitting nothing but rock you really feel like it is the worst position you can be in and you feel like there is no way to move through it or past it.

But then I remember that I have faith and I have God and while I may not be able to move a rock that would ordinarily take ten people to be able to move, God is said to be able to move mountains.  In Tyler Perry’s email he spoke about hitting the rock and eventually being able to dig deeper, past that rock, and reaching your well of blessings.

I’m not sure how close I am to that well yet, but I have a feeling that there’s only so much rock left to hit and that my well is right around the corner.  I don’t know how many of you out there feel the same way, like all you’ve been hitting lately is nothing but rock while trying to get to your well, but don’t stop digging because your well may just be right past that rock.  Don’t give up too soon, I know I’m not.

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page https://www.facebook.com/Write2BeMagazine.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

 

Nervous But Ready (I Think)

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It is only the second week of the New Year and already (or should I say once again) I am feeling like I’m having twinges of doubt about being successful.  I am sure it is only because I am literally a week away (6 days to be more exact) from the debut of my new online magazine and I am nervous on many different levels about it.  I am sure that it is just the devil trying to get in my ear and discourage me from actually releasing it because of all of my uncertainty but I have put it off long enough already (in large part due to the devil whispering to my subconscious) and I don’t intend to do that any longer.

When I talked to Ms. L. last night about it I told her that it was far from the perfection that I want it to be and that I wasn’t sure I could get it to be perfect by next Tuesday, she reminded me that it probably won’t be when it’s released and that there may be kinks that still need to be worked out but that I just have to do it and make the adjustments as I continue along.  She reminded me of what I already know and continually have to remind myself which is that shooting for perfection is what tends to keep me from just getting things done.

We all get a little nervous when venturing out into some new territory and even though writing isn’t new to me, having a magazine all my own to manage and having to make sure everyone (or at least the vast majority) will love it is new and it’s fun, but most of all it’s nerve wracking.  I think I would bite my nails off if I had any left to bite off.  I do have a strong feeling that this is the right direction for me and that this is the right time for me to be doing it.

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page https://www.facebook.com/Write2BeMagazine.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Who Knew I Would Like a British Television Show

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I think I am getting back to feeling like myself again (well almost anyway) but I can’t say that the devil has not been busy trying to keep that from happening.  Although I must speak about one good thing that has come from my confinement to my bed this past weekend and sadly to say this has absolutely nothing to do with my writing projects, or my brand, or my magazine.

I discovered the world of British television, well more specifically the world of Downton Abbey.  Long story short, it’s been a long time that I’ve wanted to see it but the time just always interfered with other television shows that I wanted to watch more.  Needless to say, I love the show and just finished watching my DVR’d recording of the season 3 premiere so I am officially completely caught up.

Now I know that this was not necessarily productive towards my own writing projects but it does broaden my artistic horizons a bit because the way British television is written is really different from American television.  I have a whole new appreciation from British shows now.  Hopefully tomorrow I will feel 100% again.

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Circumstances Beyond My Control

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I had this past weekend all planned out.  I had written up a very specific list of things that needed to get done in reference to the magazine to better prepare for its launch (on January 15th) and I held out lots of hope and promise that I was going to get more than half of that list tackled.

What I hadn’t planned on happening this past weekend was me getting sick with a cold that was actually quite debilitating.  So much so that I could barely muster up enough energy to do anything but lay in the bed (I assure you it was not the flu, I’ve had the flu and I know what that feels like).  I mean of course I had to pull myself together at times to do the duties that a mom just can not shrug off but other than that I was in the bed.

Every time I even tried to do anything on the computer it just drained my energy so much and so quickly that it was pointless to even continue trying, I was doing more harm than good.  Even today I can’t say that I am feeling 100% again but I was able to write this blog post which I couldn’t have done yesterday so I suppose that’s saying something.

Well although I did manage to get two or three things on my list accomplished before my being sick got the better of me, I still have a lot of ground to make up for and with school starting back up for me this week it will be challenging to get absolutely everything done.  I am reminded by the unavoidable circumstances of this past weekend that I can not control everything (especially not personal illnesses) and that the show must go on.

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Being Optimistic Is Giving Me More Drive

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The first week of the New Year has actually started off pretty good.  I mean nothing miraculous happened, nothing earth shattering or life altering, but on the up side nothing terribly bad happened (at least nothing that I couldn’t handle).  I’ve actually been rather productive, at least more than normal, and while there are still things on my to-do list for the week that haven’t been completed yet, I would say that I am very proud of what I’ve accomplished so far.

That’s not saying that I don’t have a lot of improvement to do, especially in my time management skills, but I am a work in progress (as we all are) and I have progressed into not beating myself up over the things that didn’t get done.  I just know that I have to be more determined and more persistent in getting my list completed next week.  I do have some major things that I have to tackle over the weekend in the efforts to finish putting the magazine together and that is actually going to be my main focus for the weekend.

I don’t know why I have not mastered the art of time management yet but I really hope that I can shuffle things around a lot better in the coming weeks.  I have been replacing most of my negative thoughts and fears with positive outlooks and all in all (unlike the last few years) I am feeling very optimistic for this year.  Well I hope all of you have had a very productive first week of the New Year and that all of your projects are off and running.

I have the Write 2 Be Productive and Prosperous… What is your Write 2 Be?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Tapping Into the Inner Child In All of Us

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I wrote yesterday about the fears that hold me back and releasing those fears.  Writing it down was quite therapeutic in many ways.  Then I read a blog post this morning from one of the many that I follow that made me think about when I was a child.

When we are children there is rarely anything that we are afraid of.  We are told (well I wasn’t told this but most children were and I believed it was true as well) that anything that you want is possible if you put your mind to it and go after it.  Children don’t really see the negative when it comes to their dreams and the future that they think up for themselves.  They try time and time again and they NEVER give up.

Think of how many times your children have tried to persuade you into getting something that they wanted and were relentless until (most likely) you finally gave in or miraculously made it happen.  My best friend Ms. L. and I are always having the situation where our kids are asking for something that they really want (because everything kids want is a matter of life or death in their mind) and it usually seems impossible for us to get them those things but their faith is unshakable and they hold firm to the fact that they are going to win out in the end.

Meanwhile we are both scratching our heads trying to think of how to make what they want possible.  Needless to say, some miraculous way we manage to be able to give them their hearts desire and all the while they never had any doubt that we would.  In their minds it was always going to work out to their benefit and just the way they wanted it.  Now that’s some kind of faith.  Just imagine if we could all tap back into that childlike faith when it comes to our dreams and our hearts desires.

I go to the skating rink all the time and I watch these kids do all of these tricks and amazing things on skates and it’s not that they are all trained to do them, it’s that they are fearless in trying.  They don’t care if they fall because they’ll just get back up and try it again.  They don’t care if they don’t get it the first, second, or third time around, they will just keep going until they finally do get it.  Meanwhile the adults (myself included) are watching in awe, wishing that we could do just half of the things they are able to do instead of actually just going out and trying it.

If we could all just stop standing by and watching while everyone else is doing the things that we long to be doing then just imagine what we could do in this world, for our lives, for our children’s lives.  We keep limiting the things that we can do but should we be.  I mean obviously we can’t miraculously (by ourselves) make the world the better place that I’m sure we all desire it to be and yeah sure we can’t actually hold the whole world in the palm of our hands but why the hell can’t we at least try.

Perhaps we could try looking at obstacles and struggles from a child’s point of view; with unyielding faith and unstoppable determination.  Think about it this way, children seem to get everything that they want simply because they believe that they will.  So let’s try having a little more faith and a lot less wonder.  They more you keep wondering about whether or not something is going to happen, the more you are actually wondering away from the very thing that you want.  Don’t wonder away from your dreams, just have faith that they ARE going to come true.

I have the Write 2 Be Persistent and Determined… What is your Write 2 Be?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Releasing the Fears That Keep Holding Me Back

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Okay so as a part of my drive to make this year much better then the last couple of years, pertaining to my writing career, I suppose it would be helpful to address the things that hold me back from progressing the way I should be.  I realized that when I blog the things that I need to improve upon and work harder at that it helps me to hold myself more accountable in making sure that I do just that.

So today I was thinking about all of the new avenues of freelancing that I want to get into and the magazines that I want to write for and I started to feel myself, once again, making excuses for why it just wouldn’t be possible for me to do those.  Three thoughts always pop in my mind when I start to feel confident enough to try something different or shoot for something that seems out of reach at the moment.

1)      There are so many writers that are better then me, what if my writing isn’t good enough to compete with them.

2)      What makes me qualified enough to speak about certain aspects of writing if I’ve never done it before.

3)      What if they just don’t like my writing style and they say no.  What if the no’s just keep coming?

Those are the things that scare me about having my own writing business and having to do this thing all on my own.  But those are the things that I also promised myself I would not let stop me this year.  I can’t really stop those thoughts from creeping back into my subconscious from time to time but I can figure out how to combat them with positive thinking and find a way to move past those negative thoughts so that it doesn’t become a bump in the road for me.

Putting them out there, writing them down so that they become more visible and not just a voice inside my head accentuating all of the negative, actually really does help.  It helps me realize that these are fears I can deal with.  I may not be the best writer in the world (I’m not really sure who could claim that title) but I am a good writer and all I can do is work on making myself better and keep on knocking on those doors until people do say yes.  That’s what I’m going to do.  So for anyone out there is tired of hearing no from people and who may be feeling a little defeated, just keep knocking on those doors.  Someone will say yes, but only if you keep on knocking.

I have the Write 2 Be Courageous and Bold… What is your Write 2 Be?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

 Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Out With the Old and In With the New

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That’s the saying that people use when they decide to give up old practices and old ways that weren’t working and vow to shift their efforts in a new direction.  Well this year has just begun and that is exactly what it is time for.  Sometimes that saying can also apply to the people that you choose to keep in your life as well.

A part of forging a path that leads to being successful is making sure that you have the right attitude (a positive one), you have a heavy amount of faith, a drive to get to where you want to end up, and the right support system surrounding you.  If one aspect of your path is not right for you it throws everything else around it off, even if that one aspect is the people that are around you.

I realized yesterday (with some advice from my best friend Ms. L.) that sometimes there are just people that you have in your life that you outgrow and while there is nothing wrong with them per say, they just simply are not a good fit for the journey that you are trying to take.  It may just be that their direction and yours is shifting away from each other and your objectives are just too different from one another.

On the first day of this year, as you shift towards whatever direction you are heading in, or even if the path you were already on is working and you’re just continuing on, make sure that you reevaluate the people that are on your journey with you.  Make sure that they are not going to hinder the journey that you are on with their own objectives that are not aligned with yours.  Make sure that they are really for you and not working against you.  Make sure that they truly want to see you succeed instead of standing by rooting for you to fail.  Don’t keep the wrong people around you simply because they have always been there.  They have always been there for all of the wrong reasons.  Happy New Year and may this year be everything that we all dream for it to be.

I have the Write 2 Be Innovative… What is your Write 2 Be?

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Ready for the New Year!

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I wish I could explain my absence from the blog saying that I was in just such a writing frenzy that I couldn’t tear myself away from my novel, or my articles, or my work for various clients in order to blog.  Unfortunately I can not say any of that.  I had intended on getting a lot of work done last week but intentions do not necessarily mean action and I hate to say that I did not put action into those intentions.

I had time away from having to do homework for school and my daughter was even gone for a few days with her father but the time just disappeared into thin air.  I did some reading and I did some planning in my head but as for them making them to the actual physical form of being on paper (or on the computer screen), it just didn’t happen.  I’m not going to make excuses because there aren’t any.

If I waste time dwelling in what I didn’t do that was supposed to get done by now then nothing still gets done.  I promised that in this coming year that I was going to direct my focus on the things that I can control in my life and not continue harping on what I couldn’t.  I can’t go back in time and change things to be the way that I want them to be so I will live in the present and just do better.

I’ve already made my lists of the accomplishments that I WILL get done in 2013 and I am already in the mindset to accept that things must change and that all of my efforts will be directed towards making the changes that need to be made in order to get back on track.  Hopefully all of you are geared up and ready for the New Year and have your plans of action ready to be put in motion.  Happy New Year everyone and let’s make this the year it is meant to be!

I have the Write 2 Be Empowered… What is your Write 2 Be?

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310

Write 2 Be Magazine will be debuting on January 15th, 2013 so please go join the magazine on twitter before it debuts on https://twitter.com/write2bemag and join the email listing for the magazine at Write2bemagazine@yahoo.com.  Also please feel free to go and friend me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310 and like my Write 2 Be Magazine fan page.  Please help support my endeavor and my new journey and help me spread the word about Write 2 Be and its meaning.

Dedicated To the Families in Newtown Connecticut

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A Week ago today in Newtown, Connecticut the lives of 26 people’s families changed forever (28 if you count the families of the shooter and his mother).  An act of horrendous violence was committed and it was senseless.  I still can’t wrap my head around something like that and every time I see the faces of those little children and those selfless hero teachers who died in an effort to protect the children of that school it becomes even more heartbreaking to me.

As Christmas nears for these families there will be less smiles and less laughter because they won’t have their babies but when I heard this poem on the Dr. Phil show the other day it seemed as if maybe there was something that could provide those families comfort.  Knowing that their sweet little angels will never have to experience any pain or suffering ever again because they are in God’s hands now and that they will be watching over them.  I shared this poem on facebook last night but I think that this day, only a week after the tragedy, it should be shared once more.  I hope all of you will share it with someone you know who has lost a loved one and perhaps it will give them some comfort as well.

Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“this is heaven.” declared a small boy. “we’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, 
        one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.  and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“may this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“come now my children, let me show you around.”
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

 

Jimmetta Carpenter

Writer/Editor

The Diary: Succession of Lies (Now Available)

Writing as “Jaycee Durant”

https://write-2-be.com/

http://unpleasantlyplump.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmetta-Carpenter/1069480310