Awakenings, aka Inconsiderate People

Why is it that I get so angry when people are inconsiderate?



Courtesy granitegrok.com

It happened today. Just a while ago. I was waiting for the line of cars to pass so that I could pull out on Maple Street. My chance came when the light changed, stopping traffic. But nooo. Rather than stopping short so I could pull out, some guy stopped in front of me, blocking my exit. FLASH went my temper as a surge of adrenaline and other unhealthy hormones rushed through my system.

Luckily the guy behind him was nicer and allowed me to zigzag out from behind the inconsiderate arse, praying nothing was now coming from the other direction, then pondering the anger as I checked my rearview mirror.

The other day I was in Marshalls when a woman and I, both pushing those tiny carts, arrived at the same small intersection in the clothing department. I let her go first and she proceeded to park right in the middle to browse clothes. Whaaat? Idiota! She never even acknowledged her lack of consideration. Not on your life. Clueless I tell ya, clueless.

Really people? If you’re so damned wrapped up in your own personal kingdom of SELF that you can’t be bothered to give a little common courtesy, STAY HOME!! In fact, stay in bed. Don’t get up in the morning and foist your enormous ego on the rest of the world. Stay swaddled in your own little Self cocoon.

Now, back to my original question. Why is it that I get so angry when people are inconsiderate? Because I can’t be? Because I am and don’t know it? Or is it merely that people ought to know better? To do better? Or maybe it's because I was taught as a young child to be considerate, or because it's second nature for me to look out for others, or that I simply do not understand any other way of being.

Whatever the answer, it's a good reminder for me to be vigilant, to look for opportunities to make life easier for others. Because life is to be found in the little things, not so much in the grand gestures.

Though I sure am glad the Red Baron spared Snoopy. Life wouldn’t be the same without him. Enjoy one of my favorite holiday classics, "Snoopy's Christmas".

 

Merry Early Christmas, Olivia J. Herrell

Ten Things I Learned from NaNoWriMo

The first and foremost thing I learned from my participation in National Novel Writing Month 2014 is that incredible things happen when I am determined.

I learned that, in spite of my misgivings, my past record or history, in spite of having a full-time (and still growing) business, in spite of all the resistance that presents its ugly head in a million different ways, I CAN!

1.      I can write 50,000 words (half a novel or a whole novella) in thirty days; (My last NaNo effort in 2012 netted 19,000 – and I still think that’s a.w.e.s.o.m.e.!)

2.      I can write 10,000 words in two days; (I won’t mention that the last few hours of the second day was agony, oh wait, I just did.)

3.      I can write 5700 words in one day; (Before NaNo my record hung somewhere around 3000, and that, my friend, was a red-letter writing day!)

4.      I can be disciplined when I set my mind to it; (This is enormous for me!)

5.      I can be so focused that the world piles up around me and I don’t really see it, much less care; (I detest a messy house/car/life. I mean, if it’s yours, fine, but I prefer order.)

6.      I can forego running errands for days, even weeks without my world falling apart; (I went ten days with no ink for my work printer. I don’t suggest you do the same.)

7.      I can be not only productive, but super productive, as part of a writing group/community; (Because I’m Stephen King, ya-know and must work alone. Don’t laugh. I’m baring my writer soul here.)

8.      I can be successful at writing for a living when the opportunity comes along; (Which brings us back to that discipline thing again.)

9.      I can write without performing mass edits as I go along; (Another Huge issue for me.)

10.  I can rock NANOWRIMO!!! (And I am soooo proud of myself for it.)

~ Olivia J. Herrell

P.S. Thank you to my family and friends for your kind support and understanding during the month of November.
P.P.S. To all the members of NaNoWriMo2014 - Thank you for your support, encouragement, motivation, laughter and hand-holding. WE DID IT!! Margaret Bail, Andrew Post, Alex Ong, Charlotte Gruber, Anna Davis, Anna Pippin, Janet Riberdy Wrenn, Jessica Harvey, Marissa Campbell, Liv Rancourt, Janice Wilson, Mary Moore, Niki Cluff, Patti Kurtz, Sillysilly Silver and So Schlie.