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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

LET'S GO WITH ALIEN ABDUCTION

http://imikimi.com/main/view_kimi/29Us-1wS


I disappeared for most of the summer and I feel really bad because I also disappeared on a blogfest I signed up for. For that I am SO SORRY.
I'd claim alien abduction but only a few of you would believe me. ;)

But in a way I was abducted. My brain was abducted and held captive by worry and stress. The life I thought I was going to lead was abducted and re-deposited into this new alien life.
So, yea, let's just go with alien abduction.
I think it works.
http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Abducted-By-Aliens

As I'm sure all of you know, life derails us from time to time.
Sometimes we see it coming.
 Other times we're cruising along, enjoying the view and next thing we know we're plunging head first into a canyon because we didn't see the bridge out signs.
 Lucky for me I've been derailed before (doesn't that sound super lucky?) so I learned to always watch for the bridge out and/or detour signs.
But even though I saw it coming I still felt trepidation when I saw the detour loom ahead and the path I expected to take completely washed out. And as I made the turn onto this alien path, road, track (whatever analogy I'm working with. Lol!) I mourned the path I thought would be my future, looked differently upon the path behind me and feared the unknown path ahead of me.
Because for some ridiculous reason we think that our lives will take this straight path. When a pothole or detour stands in our way we're surprised. And it's ludicrous! (I love it when I get to use that word. Hehe!) I mean if we've lived any significant amount of time we should have learned that life is NEVER a straight path!
 When I look back at the path I've taken so far I see it wasn't by any means a smooth, straight road through a shady meadow.
 No, it more closely resembled a rollercoaster rather than a path.
 And that's just fine!
Because a straight, peaceful path is boring.
 A rollercoaster is exciting!
http://www.lolpix.com/pictures/13/Funny_Pictures_254.htm
As a parent this disturbs me greatly but she is the perfect example of embracing the bumps in the road. ;)

When you're writing or reading you don't want to experience the life of a character who has a normal, cookie-cutter, straight-laced life. You rather she have no idea of what's about happen. Just when she thinks she has everything figured out you want the rug ripped out from underneath her. You want twists, turns, excitement, joy, fear, sadness, hatred and love.
Because that's what makes a great story
and
what makes a great life.

So when life sends you on a detour don't let it define you as the person who was abducted by aliens and re-deposited on some scary, alien path to be forever lost. Just dust yourself off, take out the probe (had to) and whip out your machete so you can forge ahead. ;)
And if you don't believe me here are some of the many of things that's been guiding me since being abducted.


Good old Robert Frost.
"Two roads diverged in the woods and I--I took the road less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."


"...Drench yourself with words unspoken.
Live your life with arms wide open.
Today is where your book begins.
The rest is still unwritten..."

No judging! This is an awesome song! Lol!

"...The struggles I'm facing
the chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking.

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
just gotta keep going.

And I, I got to be strong
just keep pushing on..."

One of my friends had this posted on Facebook:

"Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving in a pretty and well preserved body but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up and exclaiming loudly...
"WOW!!! WHAT A RIDE!!"

This just makes me giggle.

So there you have it.
Sometimes life throws us a major suck-fest but that doesn't mean YOUR LIFE has to suck.
YOUR LIFE is what YOU make of it.
Go ahead and tend to your wounds
then dust yourself off,
pick yourself up,
pop your neck,
crack those knuckles
and say
"I GOT THIS."

What about you?
Do any of you have something that gets you through when the road gets bumpy or detours you?

18 comments:

  1. Glad yor back on track.
    My life has been a very bumpy path indeed and I love it! Everything life throws at you teaches you a lesson,even if that lesson was how stupid you have been, you learn from your mistakes and get back in the carriage.
    Insperational post.

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  2. Awesome post, a good reminder to keep going, keep our forward momentum even when something is trying to pull us back. And I love that Puss pic and The Climb by Miley Cyrus.

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  3. Welcome to the campaign! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

    I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I've been abducted by the stress too. Glad you've found your way back on track!

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  4. Welcome back and to the campaign. I know how you feel and thanks for the inspiration. I like that, though, being abducted by aliens. Maybe I can use that on my kids when I need quiet time.
    Good to have you back.

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  5. Great quotes! Thanks for the inspirational post.

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  6. ...a most excellent post, Amanda, and I'm quite sure that you're forgiven for your absence ;)

    EL

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  7. Hey gorgeous girl, welcome back. I've missed you :( Glad you're climbing out of that pit, sending you lots of hugs to help with the rest of the journey.

    Hugs,

    Rach

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  8. Yes, I've done a lot of detouring and unplanned journeying this summer. Sometimes it leads to good places. Glad to "meet" you, fellow campaigner!

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  9. Good to see you again! I've had plenty of detours this past summer/spring. Getting myself back on track now. Sometimes it's not that easy.

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  10. Yep. Sometimes you just pick yourself back up, dust yourself off, get back on the dragon and ride. Cause the alternative is no good and I can only be lazy and self-indulgent for so long. If chocolate is involved I can make it last longer, but eventually I gotta steer the dragon down the sideroad and figure out what comes next. Life writes us into corners and it's up to us to figure the way out. Luckily, we're good at it.

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  11. You were abducted and replaced by Puss In Boots? Naaaaaaw. :P

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  12. Good that you are back on track. I love your attitude!

    When I get derailed, I kind of flow with the skid for a bit instead of trying to slam on futile breaks if you know what I mean. Once I have my bearings, I focus on 3 three things. No more, no less. So maybe it's family, writing 3 pages a day, job, or whatever is most important to me at the time. Then I let everything else go: emails, participation in writing groups, other obligations, until I'm ready to deal with it all again.

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  13. My brain has often been taken over by aliens, making me forget that it's short day and I have to pick up children from school, I promised my sister I'd watch her kids, the list goes on and on. Glad your aliens are back in outer space. How did you get them to leave?

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  14. Thanks you guys! While I don't wish for anyone's life to derail it is comforting to know that a lot of you seem to know exactly what I mean. :)
    You're all awesome. Here's to blazing new trails!

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  15. I got detoured when I was born, baby -Rod Danger... Greetings, earthling!! Shouldn’t be long, gottawanna run back to Heaven; however, in the meantime, take anything and everything you wanna from our wonderfull, plethora of thot to write the next, great masterpeace _IF!_ I can but kiss your gorgeous, adorable feets and/or cuddle withe greatest, ex-mortal-girly-ever to arrive in Seventh Heaven (God made only you, k? the BEST-in-the-WEST? God threw-away-the-rest, miss gorgeous). Think about it. Do it. Get back to me Upstairs. God bless you …thewarningsecondcoming.com

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  16. Fortunately still be sipped bitter . At least we can measure it as what it's sweet .

    Obat Gondok anak

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