Poetry is My Every Way
Webs of dew in the damp grass
shadows shorter than us printed on
grass covered in sensitive weed
orange leaves sprinkled amongst the green
yellow buds opening
one by one
picking out the calls of distant bird
sighting a kookaburra on a branch
green finds its way back onto the broken trees
hearing Copper singing to the wild
sometimes a step behind with the camera
other times a step beside to chat
all too soon
the morning walk is over.
(c) June Perkins
There is so much going on in my creativity plans that I have to learn to FOCUS. As if fate was taking a hand in this epiphany a friend posted a novel writing template today and encouraged people to finish their projects with it or any other PLAN. I feel this is the perfect time for me to do something well beyond the scope of my weekly blogs, guest blogs or a set creative project commissioned or voluntary for others. I still want to make films and develop my photography, and I do need to do commissions for the cash, but one thing I can do regardless of money and equipment is get on with writing stories I am really passionate about and intrigued by – who knows one might even be a brilliant film idea and I will just know it when that happens and be passionate to devote even more time to it.
So with my friend’s template in hand I am embarking on a quest to finish my projects! The hardest thing in getting started is dipping into the pool of creativity and working out which half finished project to go back to, or whether to totally start from scratch. Should it be:
1- Nanowrimo fantasy novel from 2009 and planned in a workshop.
2- Memoir pieces which I have been sporadically writing, and several which can be drawn from my blog.
3- Blogs of Cyclone Yasi (this one has been drafted so many times, its more editing and working out the best structure).
4- Historical fiction novel idea after a few days of brainstorming and looking for my story.
5- Children’s poetry book (not a novel but in need of a polish for my ever patient illustrator).
6- A series of songs or poetry novel.
7- Historical fiction series for young readers I want to co-write with my hubby.
8- Several short stories – are they actually novel ideas????
9- Writing and creating short films, but with more of a script.
10- A Brilliant idea for a play I have had for 9 years and it is still itching in my head.
Which of the projects above in my list would you work on the most?
See told you my head was bursting with ideas – that’s not my problem, but focus! Hmmm………..
My old primary school teacher said – ‘you have enough for many years of projects’ and this is my challenge for the next two days – Work out which one is the most urgent, timely and one that I feel passionate enough about to stick it through the hard days and not feel I am on the wrong track. No time for abandoning whatever I set out to do this time, it is the time to COMPLETE.
It occurs to me that a couple of projects are almost complete, maybe I could do those at the same time and have this primary project being driven along firmly by the template. All it takes will be some serious work ethics and a don’t give up attitude. Will this make me lose focus, or will completing those almost complete projects drive my determined project along even faster. I could see what a month teaches me and take it from there.
For relaxation – I will be doing photography, reading , and make short poetry films- which might find ways of driving my writing. I will eat well and exercise (especially running!) to give myself energy to write. Whatever happens in my life I want to keep on with my goal, so if I get a day job to help the family out or commissions I will still set time aside for this great propelling project.
What will I cut down on? Probably spending so much time on social networking, other than to touch base with sources that will encourage my writing project . This is really neccessary as every second counts, and I need to find a daily rhythm. Watching useless television to relax – replace with walking, reading, quality time with the kids and hubby, and good quality films. As for blogging: a reflection on how I am going and a photograph here and there will be the way to go. This is part of learning to FOCUS.
What else can I make more time for? Research trips to library and life to help me with the novel. At least telephone chats or a coffee with close friends now and then and then back into the world of finishing a writing project.
So here we go, let Project Focus begin. Thanks to all my friends who have been reading my sporadic writing efforts and the nanowrimo novel draft, as well as to Traditional Evolution.
I am going to FOCUS now.
(c) June Perkins
I set the alarm for 5 to 6, knowing that this morning was the time Sally Pearson was going to run in the 100m hurdles final. I woke up at 4 am without the alarm and watched the semis. Sally was looking so focused. Nothing, not rain, not other people running fast times, nor expectation from the Australian public and wider athletics community was going to stop her from winning that race. I was hoping for a good lane draw as some of those other athletes as one commentator put it ‘were messy’ one lady was almost running in the next lane.
I have a particular interest in hurdles as this was one of the things I used to do well at when attending Little Athletics; I can vividly remember the importance of the timing, and technique as well as the actual speed of the race being so important. I could jump each hurdle in my mind with her from memory. Her technique is brilliant, so smooth, although after winning gold she said it wasn’t quite perfect in her two earlier runs, but it was in the final.
It is that level of critique and committment that has meant every set back and success has been a learning experience that has made her rise in her abilities as an athlete. I love that her coach from when she was a little girl was there and still cheering her on and developing her skills, and that Sally stopped and showed excitement for every Australian it seemed she saw in the crowd. I love that she is so cool, calm and collected and retains her focus at all times. I cannot imagine her being distracted by facebook, blogs, publicity, and media. She goes into a zone! I was so happy to see her just calmly push away the media after her semi as she put it politely and moving away quickly without engaging ‘I have to prepare.’
I also loved the excitement of the athlets who came second and third, who did their personal bests, and congratulated her. I loved how Sally thanked all parents of all the athletes at the games!
Me on facebook at 4am
June Perkins rain wont psyche her2 hours ago · Like
June Perkins cmon!!2 hours ago · Like
June Perkins unreal – that was worth waking up for!!2 hours ago · LikeWhilst I cannot ever see myself as an athlete, even though I may have once had that potential I think that Sally can inspire me to do my best with my writing, photography and film making.
Of course there obviously won’t be millions of people neccessarily cheering and getting up at 4am to watch my early drafts, but that is not what’s important – it is achieving the goals and feeling that immense sense of accomplishment. The last time I truly felt this was on completing my Phd, and going to my award ceremony with my kids and friends. What a day that was! Back to this day, what a morning, like many Australians I am very proud of Sally Pearson! She has some important things to teach people in the way she conducts herself and her striving for excellence.
Sally Pearson Lessons in Achieving your Goal
1) Be focused on the task ahead.
2) Take it one event at a time and don’t get over excited until you have achieved your goal.
3) Believe in yourself, but put the work in to have that belief.
4) Make sacrifices to achieve your goal in terms of where you live, and travel.
5) Be direct and honest but don’t become doubtful.
6) Recognise what others go through, but still keep focused on your own goal and development.
(c) June Perkins
Today’s blog continues my interest in running. This morning I was inspired by watching the fastest 100 metres final ever, seven finalists ran under 10 seconds.
I don’t profess to be a professional sports writer, but there is something about Usain Bolt’s achievement that can inspire us all and something magical about today’s final that will inspire me with my daily journey back to being a runner. In my childhood I wanted to be a fast 400m or 800m runner, but I never quite got there. I have always admired those who achieve their dreams as runners, and will never forget the feeling I had when I did my personal best in a race.
With a name like Usain Bolt it seems destiny called Mr Bolt into the field of running like a lightning bolt. Today Bolt ran into the realm of legend and some commentators said, he undid the saying, ’lightening never strikes twice,’ by doing just that. He has now won two Olympic 100 metres back to back, something never done legally before except by Carl Lewis courtesy of Ben Johnson being caught for cheating.
So what makes someone want to be the fastest man in the world, and gives him the realisation that he has that capacity.
I don’t have an opportunity to interview Bolt, and right this minute I think he’d be a hard man to catch, just looking at the camera and media people lining up to have their super-fast chats.
But watching his feat this morning first thing when I woke up I wondered: what is the more in-depth story behind the man who has done so much for restoring people’s faith in athletics, a sport where some high profile people have cheated and people start to doubt natural ability. So like most people I web-surf. Not always highly reliable, but let’s see what it shows us.
One interesting biography on line, http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Bolt/Bolt_bio.html traces Bolt’s career from childhood to today and reveals that Jamaican sprinter, particularly as a teenage was a practical joker and didn’t always take his running seriously. It outlines in some detail how Bolt just didn’t initially have the focus that was going to make him a true champion. His commitment to his sport, despite his obvious natural talent, was questioned by many commentators and athletes, and he was often in the paper for nightclubbing and eating fast food (a sin for a serious athlete). Yet Jamaican athletics kept giving him those opportunities because of his obvious talent and tried to harness that talent.
This biography reveals that Bolt wanted to run the 100m in 2006, but was being groomed for the 400m and Usain made a deal with his coach, Mr Mills, said that if he could break the Jamaican 200 m record he would then let Bolt run the 100 m. To his coaches surprise Bolt did just that, the year was 2007.
Bolt always loved sport and as a youth he excelled at cricket, perhaps he could have even chosen to be a cricketer, but it was athletics where his brilliance really shone through and he was the youngest junior world gold medallist for the 200 metres at just fifteen. Can you imagine being that young and winning a medal at that level?
Bolt’s breakthrough year was 2007, and came after two years of injuries, a change of coach and pivotal moments like being given opportunities to prove himself. It seems despite his early promise his full brilliance took a bit of time to come to fruition. Now it is hard to imagine the sport without him.
Can’t wait to see how Bolt does in the 200m.
Snap shot memory of the 100m race before summary – the runners all doing their identity movements to the camera prior to the race – from beasts to eyeing the camera off and Bolt’s little set of movements that are recognisable as a mantra, the final over so fast with Bolt running FAST and the others fast but not fast enough, the elation of Bolt and the special and funny moment where the Mascot comes and gives him a gold mascot and poses for a photograph.
Five things Usain Bolt’s story teaches us:
1) Creative thinking brings success (trying different sports or distances until one brings you amazing success)
2) Teachers and coaches who persevere with talented people can be surprised and rewarded by their efforts
3) Success breeds hunger for more success but you still need to work for it
4) Natural ability needs opportunity to shine
5) Set- backs can make a person rather than break them.
(c) June Perkins
Two biographies amongst many others you can read on the talented and inspiring Bolt.
http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Bolt/Bolt_bio.html
http://www.esquire.com/features/usain-bolt-bio-0410
Other interesting articles out today
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-06/usain-bolt-aussie-connection-street-artist/4179168?section=sa
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/news/bolt-wins-100m-gold-205555217.html
I am in the process of finding my running identity again. As a child I loved to run. As an adolescent I loved to run. Whenever I needed a break, to think, to be by myself, I ran. Sometimes I wanted to be like the great 800 metre runners, or cross-country specialists. I was competitive for a while, but somewhere along the way I stopped running and I don’t really know why.
I studied, read, and went to the gym and aerobics with a friend whilst at university. Soon I was on an exercise bike and walking around the block. Then I was chasing after my kids, playing with them, studying still. There never seemed to be time to run, except after the kids, and yet the heart beat of a runner was still somewhere inside of me. I went to Yoga and did find that relaxing, but I never really took to it like my childhood love of running.
The last ten days I have been dreaming about running, and then getting up and actually doing it. I have started slowly, and made certain discoveries. Some of them are that my clothes are too loose, and I think I am bigger than I am when I buy clothes, my self-image is not so positive in this regard. Now I have shorts that fit properly when I run, no more hitching up my clothes in fear they will fall away. I need to wear my shoes or I just find my shins hurt too much. I always used to love running barefoot. I have very light running shoes though and they are almost as good. I run in them.
I know I love to run!
I am not running to lose weight, that would be a nice side effect, I am running because I love running. I love the feeling of being able to pick up the pace when I want to. Today I ran until I got the stitch. I pushed myself – to that tree, now that fence line, just to the corner, I said to myself ‘walk but only for a little way June, then run again.’ Then meeting up with my kids playing in a playground nearby, I raced them, yes to the fence, I nearly caught up – and I could feel the running bug truly set in.
Finally after my ten days of toying with running I am starting to feel the beginning of a habit, a memory of running as it was when I was younger. I don’t run to win, I run to think, to feel close to nature around me, and to just enjoy the control of my movement.
June Paisa Perkins