Gratitude and The Art of Chasing Normal

November 11, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

My latest YA novel

Today I’m talking about NORMAL.

Not that I know what “normal” is, exactly. Except to say, sometimes I lose my way and fixate on the grass around my feet that somehow just doesn’t seem to look as green as the grass on the other side of the pasture. The green I used to have, or was supposed to have. Or thought I had.

I don’t know. All I can say is, trying to write about “normal” this week was confusing. I mean, usually when I sit down to write my blog posts I choose whatever floats to the top of my brain, like say, Hey! I’ve got a brand new book!

Except this week something else kept fighting for top billing. I can’t stop thinking about my actual brain–and the MRI scan I had last week.

Sure, health stuff is important, but this was my third scan in three years (I’ve written a bit about it before here). Each time my neurologist has ordered a scan to “Rule out The Chronic Illness That Shall Not Be Named.” But so far, there’s been nothing conclusive. Except physically, I don’t have the bright shiny green-ness I used to.

Plus, there’s the worry. Because there were these unidentified things, not normal things, or maybe they are normal for me (one can hope). Either way they were confusing to the radiologist and doctor, something that maybe shouldn’t be there. Here’s a little graphic to give you an idea of what shouldn’t really be floating in your gray matter:

This is my brain. I’m sure you’re not at all surprised to see all the dessert.

But the problem with chasing after normal, is I think I’m going after me, but I lose a bit of myself in the process.

So, in order to get my brain off the subject of my brain, I’m focusing on my heart by practicing some gratitude.

Here are this week’s highlights:

I’m grateful for my family–and silly faces.

Cornelia Warmenhoven

I am grateful to have heard Cornelia speak at a Kristallnacht Memorial service yesterday. Cornelia is a rescuer and an inspiration. She worked with the Dutch resistance against the Nazis during World War II. I’m especially grateful for brave rescuers like Cornelia because my husband is a grandchild (and my kids, great-grandchildren) of Holocaust survivors.

I’m grateful for a college visit that took us on a scenic country drive. And for barns. Barns are awesome.

I’m grateful for my parents–and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Yes, I’m thankful to the U.S. Coast Guard for moving my dad and our family every couple of years. I’m serious! Because of this nomadic experience, I’ve been forever fascinated with the idea of living life in one place and falling in love with the boy next door (and road trips, but that’s another Grace and Zac story). Which leads me back around to…

I’m grateful for my new book.

I’m so thankful I get the opportunity to write, especially characters like Grace and Zac. I started this story several years ago, but it wasn’t until 2011 when they came back with more to tell, that I started reworking this one. It’s been so much fun writing about friendship and love and the boy next door. You can find out more about THE ART OF CHASING NORMAL here.

Last, but not least, I’m also grateful for YOU.

Huge thanks and big hugs to you for taking the time to read, or comment, or share. You are what make this part so rewarding. You make me feel a part of a super awesome community when I emerge from my writing cave. Tons of thanks for taking the time to share a part of your lives with me.

Happy Monday.

**If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to receive my new posts straight to your inbox. Just add your email in the space at the top of the right sidebar under my photo.

On Crushes, Rejection, and Daring Greatly

October 14, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

Last week one of my kids asked me how they could get the courage to talk to someone they have a crush on.

Now I only have one high school Crush Story where I exhibited bravery. It was at a high school graduation party and I approached the boy I’d been crushing on for two years and asked him to dance.

He said no.

On the surface, it’s not such a great story.

Except for the part where I actually asked the boy I’d been crushing on to dance.

That was huge. Major bravery. And yeah, while I know all my kid wants right now is for this other kid to like them back, there is value in vulnerability.

Being vulnerable is how we open ourselves to the good stuff.

Okay so the good stuff doesn’t always show up, and risking emotional exposure can be terrifying. It’s not easy to be ALL IN.

But I know that the times I’ve risked rejection, disappointment, and embarrassment, it’s because I’ve been listening to my heart. Being me. And I don’t know, my arms get tired holding up those walls of protection.

Sure, there are days (lots of them) when all I want to do is hide, but eventually what I end up wanting to remember, is that it’s not the win or the loss that counts, but how we listen to our hearts, and allow ourselves the opportunity for joy.

How do you muster courage? Do you have any crush advice?

HAPPY MONDAY. 🙂

The Great Bull Run and a Food Fight: Grab Life by the Horns

August 26, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

Idea adrenaline? I’m all in.

Running while being chased by bulls adrenaline? Not so much.

But when I got the opportunity to see this adrenaline junkie action up close and you-can-smell the-bulls personal, I didn’t hesitate.

Because The Great Bull Run is another historical moment for Virginia. Apparently this was the first bull run in the United States (it’s right up there with the founding of Jamestown and the Civil War).

And because, I was very curious about a bull run (and an engineered food fight).

Some people wore costumes. I was disguised as a Media VIP.

There were lots of cowboys.

The bulls seemed happy to pose for me. Maybe it was my badge.

Runners enter here.

Then open the gate. I think that bull was winking at me.

Run

There was only one way out: Climb the fence.

Then to round off the event, there was a food fight. With 50,000 tomatoes.

Again, gates were opened.

Tomato chaos. Ketchup in the making.

A Tomato Royale mess.

Are you an adrenaline junkie? Have you ever been in a food fight?

Happy Monday! 🙂

If you want to see video from the event, check out my YouTube channel!

**If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to receive my new posts straight to your inbox. Just add your email in the space at the top of the right sidebar under my photo.

Expectations, Success, & the Sun-streaked Possibility of Summer

June 24, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I like the idea of summer. It really does feel like a new beginning. Or at least a chance to catch my breath.

Even though I’m not in school anymore, I’ve been anticipating the shift into this new season.

Yeah there may still be work to do (and troubles to deal with) but I’ve been looking forward to longer days, sunnier days…days that somehow seem open for MORE.

Well, more of the things that seem to allow you the space to breathe.

Our days can be packed with obligation. Too many times I’ve ended a day staring up at the high bar of expectation feeling like I just missed it. Again.

There’s a lot of noise when it comes to the definition of success. Not only with work, but health, relationships, and life in general.

Not enough. Do more.

But there’s something about summer that leaves room for the good kind of more.

More color, more fun, more daylight, more possibility.

More space to be you.

What do you love about summer?

🙂

Check out super cool writer, Emily R. King! Emily lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest–and she’s been shark cage diving!

**If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to receive my new posts straight to your inbox. Just add your email in the space at the top of the right sidebar under my photo.

The Quickening: From Baby to High School Graduate in Sixty Seconds

June 10, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

The quickening.

It’s what the pregnancy books call the moment when a soon-to-be mom is physically aware of the movements of her baby.

I remember a bubbly effervescence, a tiny tapping, a feeling akin to little butterflies launching.

From that first motion on, parenthood became a quickening too. A series of moments accelerating. Too. Fast.

My daughter is moving at warp speed. One minute she’s appearing on an ultrasound screen, a bouncy, blurry greyness that I hardly could believe was real.

The next minute she’s graduating from high school. This week. Now. (Pass me the tissues.)

We tried to slow her down, if only for a minute, capturing memories on our front porch that first day of Kindergarten–and every first day of school since.

Taking her own photo on the porch.

It all seems just a little too soon.

What’s flying by too fast for you? And does anyone have access to a time machine?

Have a SWEET week,

Coleen xo

Habit is What Keeps You Going

May 20, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
~Jim Rohn

A couple of days ago I stood next to the kitchen counter peeling a banana. I dropped the peel–and the stringy banana “hairs”– into our compost container.

Then, without thinking, I broke off the end–a.k.a. the butt of the banana– and added it to the pile.

I have no problem with the banana butt. But my son always has. When he was younger he wouldn’t eat a banana unless I broke off the ends. The ends grossed him out.

My kids are teenagers now, still under my care, but it’s different. For the most part, there’s less micro-managing (I say for the most part, because somehow I can still hear my echo of have you emptied the dishwasher yet?)

But it’s not uncommon to see me filling their glasses half full at the dinner table, a nod to the days when my kids were too old for sippee cups, but not so old that they weren’t prone to spilling.

Leftover habits, lingering. Happily. Because every time I catch myself in one of these random mommy flashbacks, I smile.

It’s definitely the kind of habit that can keep me going.

Kind of like a dangling banana butt.

What are your happy habits?

Have an awesome week,

Up for fun posts and cool pictures? Check out author, Patricia aka Jansen Schmidt. You may learn what a Xebec is, if you don’t already know. 🙂

**If you enjoyed this post, you can subscribe to receive my new posts straight to your inbox. Just add your email in the space at the top of the right sidebar under my photo.

Playing Hooky: The Beach is not a Place to Work

May 13, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

I was NOT on vacation this week.

But I did go to the beach. I drove two hours to spend a few days with family to celebrate my sister’s graduation from nursing school.

She lives only ten minutes from the actual beach, so…I mean, I couldn’t NOT go.

So in terms of meeting my typical work quota last week. Didn’t happen.

I skimmed emails and stuff via my phone, but mostly I felt like I was out of the country.

And I’m so okay with that.

🙂

There was too much good stuff happening anyway. Experiences I am happy to fall a little behind at work for…

The Pinning Ceremony.

I couldn’t miss the only time my sister would wear white tights with white shoes.

My heart at the beach.

So I got a little behind at work. Totally worth it. Now, it’s like I’m sailing back on a salty sea air breeze.

Okay, so my mind may be a teensy bit too clear, but I’m going to take a cue from my four-year-old nephew, who one night, spent a really long time deconstructing and constructing a plain old brown box.

Creativity, you really can start anywhere.

Task number one—today I’m over at Kourtney Heintz’s blog, author of The Six Train to Wisconsin, talking a bit about my journey as an Indie author. I hope you can stop by! Bring cheese fries if you have ’em.

What people, places, or things are worth getting a little behind at work for to you?

Have a GREAT week!

Coleen xo

Book Marketing or Winking at a Boy in the Dark

April 15, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

The one thing I know for sure about book promotion is that there’s no shortage of information.

I’ve been reading and bookmarking how-to articles for the last couple of years, but when it comes to promoting my writing (and probably flirting), I think I probably resort to that winking in the dark stuff.

But then my very first print copy of my YA book, Come Back to Me, arrived in the mail.

Having a copy of my book made being published feel more real.

Made me feel like I wanted to do a little book flirting.

Which is a good thing, because if you want your book read, then you need to get your book OUT THERE.

Right?

I can’t just sit in my office and wink out of the window while holding my shiny, new book.

Gotta do some book marketing.

An endorsement from Adam Levine? You never know, he could like my “voice.”

Speaking of promotion, my book is now officially available in paperback at Amazon (all other formats can be found here). Plus, my book will be experience it’s very first blitzing in May (a promo blitz is kind of like the opposite of winking in the dark). 🙂

Do you have marketing advice to share? Are you any good at flirting? If so, do you know any celebrities?

Have a spectacular kind of week!

Coleen xo

What’s Your Starbucks Name?

April 8, 2013 | Coleen Patrick

On a recent trip to Starbucks with my daughter, I learned she has a Starbucks pseudonym.

She tells them her name is Mary.

It makes sense. She has an uncommon name. One that is typically difficult to pronounce, especially when you factor in the coffee shop chatter and the hiss of steam from the machines.

So, she says Mary to avoid playing several rounds of WHAT?? with the barista.

I totally get her predicament. You probably do too. Saturday Night Live recently did a Starbucks skit that had a Marsha getting a latte that read, Shar Shar.

Seeing what ends up on my own Starbucks cup has turned out to be kind of entertaining.

I kind of get a tiny zing of anticipation as the barista poises the Sharpie marker over the cup. What will they write?