Somewhere to Go

One of the hardest feelings I think most of us wrestle with involves feeling stuck, It could be a living situation, job, relationship or something else -- but whatever it is, being stuck means you can't figure out how to get rid of it.

Sometimes it just feels like you're swimming upstream, and it knocks out all your creativity and joy. Sometimes it even knocks out your ability to be creative altogether (at least, it does for me).

When I'm feeling this way, I try to remember what I heard once when I was in line at a theater, trying to get tickets for a play I hoped would not be sold out. Someone was talking to a friend ahead of me who remarked on being stuck in this line. The response he received has stayed with me:

"You're only stuck if you have somewhere to go."

Something clicked for me as soon as I heard it.

Because if you have somewhere to go, you at least have the possibility of getting there. If you have nowhere to go, life would be pretty awful.

If you're feeling stuck, or your kids say they're feeling stuck, you might want to remind them (and yourself) of this.

If you're trying to get somewhere, there is more than one way to do it. And you don't have to do it all at once, either.

It could mean you have to plan something out and it may take months, or years. It could mean working more than you want to right now or gathering the courage to leave a job and go out on your own. It also means you will need the strength of will to get there and that's not easy--I know.

Being stuck may drive you crazy. But at least it means there is somewhere you want to go, and once you know that, you can start mapping out a couple of ways to get there. Another thing I do when I feel stuck is ask friends what they would do. And a lot of times, their perspectives help me turn things around.

That doesn't mean every problem has an answer. Sometimes you really are stuck, but I don't believe that means forever. It just may be for longer than you'd like.

For advice on getting unstuck (as parents and kids) I found some articles:

Helping Your Kids Get Learn How to Less Stressed and Unstuck

Helping Your Kids Get "Unstuck"

4 Tips to Get Unstuck from Parenting Struggles

Trap photo: royalty free

Guest Post from Author Chris Minich! Changed like a Leaf on a Tree

I'm pleased and jump-up-and-down excited to introduce my friend & fellow author Chris Minich, whose new book for middle-graders (ages 8 - 12) formally launches today. I've also fallen in love with the illustrations by Chris's wife Janelle Minich - and I'm sure you will too. This novel is the second volume in a series about a crarfty cockapoo named Sydney. You can find the book, called Misadventures of Princess Sydney, on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and itunes. I'm pleased to share Chris's blog post today:

          Can you feel it? The temperature is changing. A chill is in the air. Sunshine has made way for cloudy skies. Barbeques have headed indoors. Hot dogs and cheeseburgers replaced with soup and casseroles. In the great state of Washington where I live these events, signal a change in the season. In this case, summer has finally given way to fall. Sprinklers are nestled back in storage as leaves decorate the street in varying shades of orange and brown. Jackets will emerge from their slumber in the closet and the shorts I have on will suddenly draw awkward stares when I’m at the store. “Doesn’t he know it’s getting cold out?” Yes, I do. I like to wear shorts. 

Other than my obsession of wearing shorts to the bitter end, or cold, fall for me is about a few very specific things; pumpkin and football. However, this year has grown to include graham crackers. With that in mind, I present Chris’s favorite fun ways to embrace fall.

·        Procure pumpkin

o   I find it’s important to branch out. This year, for the first time ever, I made pumpkin bread (recipe below). Not to toot my own horn but it was awesome. But wait, there’s much more. Pumpkin waffles, bread pudding, ice cream, macaroons, scones and even pumpkin brittle. Drawing the line somewhere, I left the brittle behind but not much else.

·        Stay caffeinated

o   When energy levels get low, time for a trip to the local Starbucks. New this year is the Toasted Graham Latte. Do you like milk and cookies? This new found addiction is like drinking a cookie. A sweet cream taste and some steamed milk, yes, I checked the ingredients online to confirm, along with a dash of graham cracker rounds out this cafeinated delight. Oh, it includes expresso as well – go figure.

·       

     Fall isn’t complete without some pigskin. Football! Down; chips and salsa – check. Set; butt planted firmly in the recliner chair – check. Hike; kickoff of another football season - check. By my side is the biggest Hawk fan and best friend I know, my wife. I took her to her first NFL game a few years ago. Not to be outdone, our cheerleader dogs also get in on the action. Our dog Sydney, the princess, has a pink jersey she wears during the games. Meanwhile, our other dog Buddy had his own jersey. The pair are known for “cheering” when the home team scores. Okay, they bark but they do love to contribute. Go Hawks!

·        Last but never least, Family. I’m thankful for family and friends who will gather to yell and scream at the television on Sunday afternoons. More important than football, yes, there are many things; I am thankful for those friends and family in my life. Much love to you all!

Fall, coffee, football and family, nothing in the world quite like it. Put together just right, it’s a special mixture of memories, energy, fellowship and love. It keeps me coming back for more year after year. Mixture, that reminds me of one last thing to add for fall 2015, pumpkin bread. The delicious recipe below comes to us via my extremely amazing and talented book manager, Maureen Wallace. Enjoy!

4 cups all-purpose flour

3 cups sugar

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground allspice

½ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp ground ginger

4 large eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin

2/3 cup water

1 cup chopped pecans

Beat first 14 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in pecans. Spoon evenly into 2 greased and floured 9 x 5 inch loaf pans

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Yield: 2 loaves.