How About A New Blog Post: My Thoughts

Hi all,


I know I haven't been on here lately, but it is important to me that I share my thoughts on self-discovery and awareness tonight. I am a bit of an impulsive person, and when the urge came for me to write this post, it happened sporadically; therefore, here I am.


For the past few months I have been continually searching my heart about my future. For the longest time, I thought I wanted to be a pilot; however, I realized that it is not in my playing cards. Many people make fun of those who want to deal with art. Before I continue, I want to praise the artist, the scientist, and anybody in between. We are all connected by humanity and should respect our different paths. Personally, my happiness, my joy, comes from two places: writing and music. When those two become mixed into one, goodness, I can float on air it seems.


Anyway, before I ramble on too much, I'd like to share my feelings from this past week, when many people are facing difficulty with a time fo change. In a perfect world, we would all be comfortable with each other in understanding of different beliefs and personalities, backgrounds and faiths, etc. As a Christian, I wish to love on all people. Sometimes, that is hard to do so, when many people are questioning the world, but their own hearts.


Hello, I've been questioning myself for a long time. My thoughts were filled with flying, proving myself that I could do so, I could be a Jackie Cochran or whatever. But that is simply not me. I don't want to hide my feelings about what I should do. I am okay with not having to make a decision on my life career in the next moment. And I absolutely appreciate it when we are all honest with each other and encourage our friends and family members that it is okay to have doubts, because that is part of discovering who we really are.


Even the most beautiful paintings in the world have little mistakes.


My wish for the world is peace, but I know this cannot be fulfilled without the love of Christ. Many people today scoff at the idea of a Creator who loves each and every living creature on this Earth. You heard me: God loves the prisoner in his cell, the little orphan waiting for a parent, the struggling millionaire who hides his or her feelings in his heart. Searching is okay; it is perfectly acceptable. God didn't make anybody to be the same as somebody else, except the Lord Jesus Christ.


My personal opinion is that we should never condemn anybody else, but rather, share the message of Christ with our worst enemy. In the past few weeks, I have encountered vicious racism, ignorance, and fear. Not everyone is a Christian, and I'm not expecting everyone who reads this to seek God; but I do wish people would respect every person who walks by. That means everyone, even the worst person you can imagine.


Besides that side-tangent, I realized that I am excited for the future, for the people I'm going to meet, the children I hope to have (or adopt), the man I may marry. Maybe that's not in my playing cards, but if it isn't, okay. I'll be fine with a few guinea pigs and my closest friends by my side. Self-discovery isn't possible without help from those we really care about.

ONLY FROM THE HEART CAN YOU TOUCH THE SKY.

 

Diving In

Hi all,

Winter is in full abound for some of you; for where I come from, a snowflake will cause mass hysteria, if one even shows up this year. Anyhow, I decided to write tonight about what I've been feeling inside my heart -- besides all that gushy blood.

This past Thursday was Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. I did not hear one article or mention about this until the next day, and this bugs me. Every single time I turn on the TV, media is flashing everywhere: tickers advertising gruesome murders or commercials blaring randomness. I checked many news outlets, and for whatever reason, I couldn't find one mention of his actual birthday. I'm hoping it won't be like this on Monday, when we actually celebrate MLK's legacy, because this guy is an American hero.

I watched a video this afternoon from the lovely Ms. Jessica Chastain as she was handed the Critics' Choice MVP Award, and I have to say I really liked her acceptance speech. I'll upload a link of her video, which promoted future diversity in film. It got me thinking: When do I ever see Asians onscreen? When do I ever see African Americans onscreen in major roles (save Will Smith or Madea)? Or Hispanics? What about the future of women in the film industry? Emily Blunt made this point in her acceptance speech for Best Action Actress at the same awards show. Enough with the damsel in distress, let's see the heroine (not her actual words, but a paraphrase).

What I've been thinking is this: Is it not cool enough for a lady to be portrayed as a "damsel in distress" in today's world? With this push for political correctness, I've noticed the trend for people to say things and then be almost persecuted for it. So I will say I understand Emily Blunt's point absolutely; I love a great woman figure in movies. I don't always enjoy the damsel in distress character in any story. But I think we are forgetting that big, massive quote that everyone always says: It's okay to be who you are.

It is okay for a woman to be portrayed onscreen as needing a male to help her out in certain things; men and women are different, we all know that. I wish film, novels, etc. would own up to this: There are certain things women can't do, and there are certain things guys can't do. Example: Women can't destroy an army of men by themselves, and men can't have babies vaginally. I mean, duh, right? Well, where's the balance in all of this?

I want to go to see a flick in which truth is evident. I want to see a heroine onscreen who doesn't make me cringe. I don't want to see a male hero defeat a group of armed men who are trained-but-terrible-shots either. There is a big line between reality and fiction. The reality is that we are all different individuals, and I crave learning about other people. I want to see others pour out their hearts, from all backgrounds and feelings, so I can improve my own life.

Experience is critical. As an American I know that I tend to be selfish and forget the troubles of the world. When I do see different ethnic backgrounds in people, I freak out and think, "I want to hear him or her talk! I want to hear his or her story! Ooh, I want to touch that hair!"

I believe that God created us all different and equal. We're all flawed individuals, and it is important we embrace others. It makes me sad to think that just a few decades ago, race issues were insane in the South and elsewhere. But it is so obvious, there are problems today just as flammable. And while I desire peace, while I desire reality, I know that none of it is possible unless we band together and accept each other. None of this can happen without God's influence. 

Peace. We crave it, but deep down, I think we all know it is truly impossible. We are too dark inside, too messed up. But that doesn't mean we can't try. We are improving steadily; look at the past history of slavery in the world. Look at past emperors. I have much to be thankful for, and I am looking forward to all of the people out there whom I will meet and know in the future. Just think, there are souls out there you will see and touch and listen to in the future. How will you respond? Treat everyone with kindness. A smile is a thousand rays brighter than indifference. Speak up, if you want, or write; do whatever makes you happy, make a difference in someone's life. Society says this a lot: Make a difference. But it really doesn't matter if that difference changes one person's attitude or a million. Do it for you, too. Do it for the glory of God. Be you. Be unique. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

:) (Link to Jessica Chastain's acceptance speech).

New Year, New Who?

Hi, it's me again. I am surprised I have kept up with this blog for as long as I have, so hopefully it will continue to be a thing I do. I really enjoy writing on this platform, and it's pretty neat being able to say whatever the Zeus I want! :)

So at a meeting this past week, I was asked a question that I knew the answer to instantly. "Would you rather have beauty, self-knowledge, power, or true love? Okay, so I am a romantic if you didn't know. I adore romance novels and stories. Over the past few years, I've accumulated enough silly love stories in my brain to achieve a PhD in the subject. This is a rough attempt at a joke... But I really do like love, the driving force of the world. Why would it be the main message of literally every song on the planet? Why would it be a part of every book I've ever read, big or small? Love may be the most overused word in the English language, but I think that it is the most important. Love is awesome. Now I've gone off on a tirade about hearts and butterflies and rainbows, but love isn't any of those things. It is placing someone's needs above your own, caring about another without excess.

So, to answer the question above, I immediately said to my group, "True love." Beauty is fleeting, we've all heard that; self-knowledge is something to be discovered over one's life; and power destroys from inside. I've always dreamt of my future--with family attached. That instant connection, maybe; or perhaps I'll fall for someone over time. I've always liked to think my future husband is out there, hopefully not doing LSD or driving drunk, but he's out there. That is enough for me.

However, true love is not just with a significant other. There's familial love, too. My sister is the most important person in my life, and I'd do anything for her. I cannot go a day without hearing her voice. Now this doesn't mean we don't fight and/or attack each other, but we have a bond no one else can understand. You, dear reader, have these bonds too. Think of yourself as a random element (chemistry, haha) that has a special attraction to another element. We come together as random pieces to form a giant masterpiece.

My parents are just as important to me. They raised me, and I mean, I came out of my mama's womb (hello, the woman deserves a trophy) and I've always been a homebody. My family would do anything for me, and I know I am very fortunate to have those who care. We must be more appreciative of whom we have in our lives, even those we want to smack, and those we want to like us.

Here's a sad thought: We're dying by the minute. Not to get too melancholy, but this is heavy. I'm not saying this excuses every mistake we make, but it does show that we need to live. Whole-heartedly. Instead of stressing out about every single thing on our duty list, we need to be reminded that we only get one shot on this planet. Live. Have fun. Find your true love, whether it's a man, a woman, or sleep. (Another attempt at a cheap joke.)

Please, please, do not think I am saying that doing anything you want is acceptable. It isn't. However, my resolution of 2015 (which I didn't think of until this very moment) is to be okay with myself. So what if I make a mistake, fall down the stairs twenty-seven times, or mess up when standing up in front of an audience. Here's to the memories we'll make this year, you and I both. Our journeys may coincide, and they may not. But that is okay: Live.

To wrap this up, make this year about your feelings. Speak up, put on your armor, and feel happy to be you. There will always be people who judge you, and people who want to be your friend. It is up to you to live your life in the way you choose to do so. And don't get caught up in appearances, my friend. Love is blindness. Here is an excellent short film I found on YouTube by California-based director Jonah Feingold. Enjoy, and when you're done, come back to this article.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tco0Heuv0io

Be yourself this year. Go out, have some fun, and be thankful for the time you're allotted. I will work on my inner spirit and try to search for my true love. But we're all in this together, on our awesome home planet called Earth.

--A Constant Improvement aka K

Our entire universe is right here. Everything we do, everyone we love, every single moment we have. (Unless you're a super awesome astronaut.) Namaste.

Catching Up With Mis Novelas

Happy New Year 2015! Wow. To think fifteen years ago was the twentieth-century is mind-blowing. I hope this year we can witness some great moments in history and voices can be heard loudly. In the meantime...

So as you may know, I am a writer and words are my passion. Blogging is fun, but fiction writing is where it's at for this child. Thank Zeus for Word on my PC, where I spend a lot of time; however, lately, with schooling and a hectic schedule, I am running very behind. This is not a regular blog post; it is an update on my novels.

THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE PORTRAIT OF FRIENDSHIP SERIES: I am at work on this one. It is lovely, and I love Reesey Sanchez (whom you might know from Roses in December and Breezes in April). Reesey is the most down-to-earth chica on this planet, and her story is really simple and sweet. While my intent was to release it by March as a one year anniversary present from the publication of Roses, this will not happen. Unfortunately, the earliest possible time I can publish Reesey's novel is in the summertime of this year, 2015. To dedicate my full attention to the growth of the story, this is the earliest release. However, I think it will be a good conclusion to this trilogy.

WHAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER: I won't lie. I took off some time from my book on Reesey to devote some thought into a deeper, stripped down novel that I am about to work on right now. It is the darkest piece I've worked on, and I'm not sure if I will release it, but if I do, I'm also aiming for a summer release. This story is so traumatic compared to what I've worked on in the past that the nerves alone may prevent me from publishing it. However, I love the blacker genres of literature, as Gillian Flynn is one of my main influences in contemporary writing. I could write a book on how much I love Gillian Flynn as a writer, but that is for another time.

OTHER IDEAS: I have so many ideas swirling around in my head, but there is no time to work on anything at present. However, I am starting this new year with a new mindset. I used to crank out three books per year; that won't be happening now. I want to give you the best I can write, and that requires diligence and lots of editing, which I haven't worked on as much in other stories. So, to give you the best I can, it will take me longer to write and release novels. However, I will still inform you here on any other decisions. For the books I have taken down from Smashwords due to editing issues, I hope to re-publish them soon, but as I have mentioned (gah), there is not enough time in the daytime to do so.

Thank you for reading this (boring) article. I will update you more as soon ASAP.

-Kate

An Opinion on Opinions

I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread, not because of relationship trouble (haha, forever alone as some say) or anything specific, but because I am so wrapped up in my own life that I've forgotten to check up on others. Hear me out, friends -- I'm not specifically meaning that I am ignoring human beings, but I have become a little egocentric, just because of my busyness!

My heart broke after watching this fellow link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQdgMgyP2tE. Please watch before continuing this post.

Anyway, as you've probably seen now, this video is crucial. For Christians, it means that Jesus isn't welcome on big-ticket media outlets, at least for CNN. For those of you who believe in Allah or Zeus or fairy dust, it also means that freedom of speech is also being taken from us.

Benjamin Watson, a black football NFL player whom I'd never heard of before seeing this YouTube video, stood up for a cause. His faith in God led him to write a Facebook post on his beliefs of the Ferguson, MO, issue that has been infecting the populace like a rampant disease. I loved hearing him proclaiming his beliefs -- which I share -- and I rejoiced at his proclamation of "Sin, not skin!" that drives wedges between personal and social relationships. He was invited to CNN after his Facebook post went viral, and, on air, this brave man spoke up in defense of his savior, bringing the gospel to countless viewers. 

During his spiel, the CNN anchor looked bored and uninterested in her subject. And in a few seconds, Mr. Watson's feed was cut from the screen, and a green wall replaced his being.
What I'd like to point out is that, like the CNN anchor mentioned, possibly it was that Benjamin lost connection with the receivers. But I find it very coincidental that he was just getting to the good meat of Romans-like dish called GOSPEL when he vanished.

If this is true -- if he was cut because of his profession of faith -- what does this mean for the United States? We have blessed freedom, far greater than most, despite this one incident, but if (and like the media doesn't already do this) people are being cut from viewing because of professions like this, where is our freedom going exactly?

Now I'll be honest: If an atheist went on TV, promoting his opinions, I'd be a little miffed, but it is a part of the Bill of Rights. I listen to you, you listen to me. What happened to "unbiased?" We already know that it's kind of...impossible. Fox, CNN, even Yahoo, everybody's biased, but that means people have opinions. There is an upside to everything, just like there is a downside.

But I am fearful that if Christians can't air opinions on Christ, other religions cannot be aired either, and then who wins? No one. Let us say and think. Let us grow in mind and spirit. Let us evangelize. Let us grow into our own butterflies. Because we won't be silenced. Eventually, there will be a burst of sound.

--K

Black Friday: My Experience

Okay, so I've never really been into the whole shopping hoopla. Even as a girl, I'm more interested in being lazy than shopping -- and that is an honest fact. But I do enjoy buying things sometimes, especially when a "deal" is going on. So I went Black Friday shopping this morning/afternoon, and here are some of the key elements I took away from my adventure.

JUST BECAUSE IT IS A "DEAL" DOES NOT MAKE IT ONE.
So I was one of those people who bought a billion things today, when I never buy anything in the regular week. I purchased a few sweaters, an iPhone case, and a bunch of things from Tuesday Morning. (If you haven't been to Tuesday Morning, go! Super cheap, super awesome.) Every time I saw something that lit up my eyes, I gasped to my mom, "Oh my gosh, look at this bargain! It was $60, and I'm getting it for $20!" My mom smiled and said, "The store's still making their money."

It is very true. The stores are giving a deal -- on a jacked-up price that gave them what, a 200% profit from the original price of an item? Come on, it is ridiculous. The advertisements are smart, but I understood what was happening. Even though I got the sweater for a cheaper price, the store was still making a profit, or they wouldn't have made that price cut in the first place. This told me that if I was getting a sweater for $20 that had an original price of $60...Wow. These shops must make so much profit.

Today they may not have made the most profit off an item, but the masses and hordes of humans inside make up for it. They don't need to mark their prices so high on this day, because so many people inside buying gobs of items will make this one of the best selling days of the year.

HUMANS ENTER SOCIETY...
I've noticed that with Christmas less than a month away, the streets are more crowded and people are out and about, buying things and sipping their coffees. Today was a pure example of this: Crowded lines, crowded dressing rooms, crowded aisles... It was insane. Now I didn't get to the store when it first opened -- as I need my beauty sleep -- but when I did arrive, it was packed. There were Indians speaking their native tongue, teenage girls instructing moms what to wear, and clueless dads trying to keep up with the little kids. It was actually an awesome event to witness.

In the normal times of the year, I wouldn't be exposed to the culture. I wouldn't see how everyone interacts with each other, since many people where I'm from stay to themselves usually. And I expected the chaos, and I expected rudeness, but it was actually pretty mellow. What I saw today was maybe not the best example of human bonding, but people were talking and searching for the best buy.

In fact I was surprised by how nice some people were. Don't get me wrong -- others were very rude, smacking gum and speaking on their phones with the intensity of Bigfoot, but a lot of people were genuinely friendly and excited about the holidays. However, I did find a twenty-five-year-old buying lingerie with her grandma present a little terrifying. Maybe I am that behind in the world, or maybe I'm just a dork, I don't know, but people were definitely comfortable.

'TIS THE SEASON.
I think every worker today was wearing red. And I saw about twenty of them, all in a six-hour period. Christmas music was playing at every store, and I think this really excited a lot of youth, elderly, and adults. As I left Target, a dad was singing to his kids and pushing them really fast in a cart, much to their delight.

Today -- and yesterday -- really marks the holiday spirit. Now there is no excuse: It's time to whip out the hot chocolate and let our ears bleed from Mariah Carey's Christmas songs. It is actually in style to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" and I'm thrilled. Not because I'm extremely buzzed about the time, but because this month comes around once in a year, and it is time to let loose, eat a lot, and be thankful of all we have.

Probably tomorrow I'll be wishing it were summer. But for today, enjoy the winter weather, and Christmas is just around the corner.

Turkey Day (Gobble Gobble)

It's that time of year again -- Thanksgiving -- and as I write this I hear a band blaring from the Macy's Parade. There were many floats -- from one promoting female engineers to Snoopy -- and along came various singers and, and, advertisements. But oh well, I'll be a little less snarky today and realize: Christmas is literally less than a month away!

So hold on to your hats, the repetitive music and red bows and Christmas lights are now in season, and it's time to put up the tree. That is one of my favorite things about the season: Christmas lights. But first, let's not get carried away by Christmas chatter so we can focus on Thanksgiving.

Our country is a land of immigration. We always have been, always will be. I'm pretty sure I have some ancestors who arrived around the same time as our favorite topic -- the Pilgrims -- but that doesn't really matter. Thanksgiving is a symbol of how far we've come. Think about the first Thanksgiving ever, back in the 1600s with the Indians and the English separatists, and imagine the weather, how cold it would be outside.

We have so much to be thankful for. I'm sitting inside, wrapped in a blanket, about to have some delicious turkey, deviled eggs, stuffing, and more. Meanwhile there are people less fortunate in other countries who are wondering about their next meal. We should help these souls, no doubt, and be reminded that despite all the ills and stress of our lives, we've got freedom and turkey. That sounds pretty American to me.

Enjoy your festive day, don't become a balloon, and stay warm.

--K

P.S. For those of you from elsewhere -- eat away too! This day isn't just American. Everyone around the world has so much to be proud of and thankful for!

Be thankful for your country and your freedom!