NaJoWriMo

I just finished my National Journal Writing Month (NaJoWriMo) entry for today and here I am on what is oftentimes my public journal. I stumbled on NaJoWriMo  4 days ago and was extremely excited because although I have had a journaling habit for decades, I have been censoring myself heavily when it comes to anything of importance (which defeats the purpose of journaling don't you think?) I thought NaJoWriMo would be a way to journal without being alone with my difficult thoughts. I was wrong. 

About 5 minutes after finding the site, I read these words "This month's NaJoWriMo is focused on the theme of "Unleashing Your Creative Mind Through Journal Writing." That is soooooo NOT me. I thought ok, I will just try NaJoWriMo in January. I am not an artist and these prompts will probably involve drawing, painting, or some other task that will leave me feeling inadequate and frustrated. I was wrong.

Although I had told myself that I would not be participating this month, I still went back to the site every day to read a little bit more. On day 4 I saw a prompt that was absolutely, positively sooooooooo me.

Day 4: Create Personal Door Signs. For today's prompt write and/or draw three signs that you would hang on your home door, work door, or even your forehead to let others know what you allow and don't allow in your life.

After completing my day 4 entry I went back to complete Days 1-3. I plan on completing the entire month. 

Positive impacts of NaJoWriMo thus far:
1. I am blogging again.
2.I learned about 750 words and the Day One journaling app.
3. I am using many of my journaling supplies that I had neglected. I hate being wasteful.
4. I am journaling again.

Yes. I am journaling again. I have been wrestling with concepts of shame, guilt, (lack of) regret, all of which require me to be deeply honest with myself. I can't deal with these issues while censoring what I write. NaJo WriMo has given me back the freedom to write for my eyes only. More accurately, I should write that I reclaimed journaling and my private writing space.

Friendship, Books, Food, and God

I participate in a Friendly Discussion Group, and this past week one of the members shared that he had a leading to develop new friendships. I asked if he felt that friendships were a gift from God, and more specifically if certain F/friends moved him forward in his spiritual practice. He was rather ambivalent in his responses, but the topic and my questions got me thinking about my friendships and the people I call friend. Fast forward four days and friendship is central to several incidents throughout my day. Friendship and books a central theme of the day. 

4:00pm
I was feeling ill at ease and looking for inspiration. I started reading various blogs and found myself reading an old favorite. Last year at this time my author friend, Rena Gregory, wrote a blog post "A Simple Reflection on Friends." I am the "super ninja librarian" mentioned in that post. While she waxes nostalgic about our mutual love for British television, Miranda Hart, and our unhealthy obsession with Brown Sugar, I often recall our reading Carlos Ruiz Zafon's, The Shadow of the Wind together. It was the first book we read together and that was an experience I will remember forever. That post, that phrase (super ninja librarian), and that friend make me smile. Do you know what else makes me smile? Celery.

5:30pm
My dearest, and most complicated, friendship is with someone I haven't seen in over 7 years, but yesterday I thought about him as I was presented with a plate of celery. Yes, celery made me think of my dearest friend. Of course such thoughts prompted me to send him an email about how a plate of celery made me think of him. I received the following message in response,  "I just finished Lexicon by Max Barry and thought of you. I  was making tuna fish salad and I thought of you. I laugh at that as well. I often wonder what you are eating." To sum up our friendship, celery makes me think of him, tuna fish salad makes him think of me, and we both love Max Barry's Lexicon (I am assuming he loved it because it is SO good.)

7:00pm
Immediately after work, I was set to participate in #2jennsbookclub 

"A Virtual Book Club For Teachers, Librarians or Anyone Who Loves YA Lit!" The book under discussion was Hold Tight, Don't Let Go by Laura Rose Wagner. Much of the love for this book is due to the author's obvious love for Haiti shining through on each page. I have recently developed a friendship with an amazing, strong, funny woman, and her spouse. They happen to be Friends with a capital F and we met at The Gathering. Their daughter is Haitian and the book club discussion made me give my first unsolicited book suggestion to the family. Knowing me and how I show people I care about them, I am certain this suggestion will be one of many for the family.

Present Time

Is friendship a gift from God? Yes, friendship is a gift from God.

And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
Ecclesiastes 4: 12 New Revised Standard Version

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 
John 15: 15 New Revised Standard Version

Do my friendships move me forward in my spiritual practice? Yes.

My friendships impact my spiritual practice in vastly different ways, but they all move me forward. Some friendships are based solely on spiritual practice. I have prayer partners and pen pals. I pray with and for these F/friends. We study the Bible together. We hold each other accountable for the way we live out our faith on a daily basis, but we do not socialize or share our lives in other ways. 

Other friendships are more social, intimate, and personal. These offer more of a challenge for me as a person who doesn't do feelings very well. These friendships push me to be open and vulnerable. That means that the friendships push me to pray, study, listen, and read...

Your turn. Please share in the comments if you have books you share with friends or books that remind you of special friendships.

End of Event Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? I can't choose a single hour that was most difficult, but the hour I nodded off in the tub reading my book and dropped it was not the easiest.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?A few high interest books that I think could keep a Reader engaged next Read-a-thon are  Bone Gap by Laura Ruby, Saga, the entire series by Brian Vaughan and Fiona Staples, An Untamed State by Roxane Gay...
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?I have no suggestions for improvement. It was great as always. Thank you for adding the readalong component. I like the idea of a common read, but The Yellow Wallpaper was creepy as expletive. 
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? I really liked the readalong. I had to take an extensive break from reading and so I felt less of the read-a-thon vibe, but when I read The Yellow Wallpaper and went to Twitter I felt a part of my Dewey reading community again. 
5. How many books did you read? I read 1 graphic novel, 1 short story, and 1.5 books. I will finish the second book after the read-a-thon is officially over, but count the pages for my donation to charity.
6. What were the names of the books you read? Saga by Brian K Vaughan (Writer) and Fiona Staples (Artist), Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina, The Yellow Wallpaper, and I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (incomplete)
7. Which book did you enjoy most? I enjoyed Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina the most.
8. Which did you enjoy least? N/A
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? I was not a cheerleader, but my Cheerleaders were caps lock AWESOME. Thank you #TeamMrPopper 
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I am highly likely to participate in the Read-a-thon again. I will be a Reader next time and I am thinking about hosting a challenge.

Mini - Challenge: Shelfie

Dewey's Read-a-Thon: Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?
I am reading the Michael L. Printz Award winner,  I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

2. How many books have you read so far?
I have read 2 books so far. 

Saga, Volume. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan (Writer) and Fiona Staples (Artist)

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?
I am most looking forward to Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?
I have had only one interruption, but it was an 8 hour interruption celebrating my sister's upcoming nuptials. After everyone was settled and socializing, I went in the house and read for about 45 minutes before resuming my role of Maid of Honor.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?
I am surprised that I only read at the bridal shower for about an hour. 

Mini-Challenge Classic Words of Wisdom

My first mini-challenge of the day is brought to you by A Literary Odyssey. 

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." 

These words come to you from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Literary critics will talk to you about the theme of marriage and how every marriage requires many elements to be successful. However, this quote is a reminder to me that just as we are unique as individuals, we are also unique as family units. My family is not your family, so I need not look to your family for answers to my family's happiness.

Dewey's Read-a-Thon April 2015

 It is time for Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon. 

Introductory Meme

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today?
Denver, CO, USA

2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? I have three books that I am really looking forward to reading. I will just list them in alphabetical order by author: 

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

I am also really looking forward to the Dewey Read-a-Thon Readalong. I have never read The Yellow Wallpaper, so this should be fun.

3) Which snack are you most looking forward to?
My sister is getting married in June and today happens to be her bridal shower. During this extended reading break, I look forward to snacking on carrot cake cupcakes and fruit infused water.

4) Tell us a little something about yourself! I am a former classroom teacher and am now a public librarian. I read for business and for pleasure. I have an affinity for both children's and young adult literature, cozy mysteries and African-American authors. 

 5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to?  This is my sixth read-a-thon. There are quite a few things different about today's read-a-thon: I am reading books assigned for a course I am taking. I will need to take breaks between books to write annotations for each book. I will be missing at least 8 hours of the read-a-thon because I will be celebrating with my sister.