The Daily Writes

My Broken Brain

by

At the CREW Convention last week, I realized that I had a hard time sitting and listening to speakers for any length of time. I found myself settling in to the uncomfortable hotel chairs, listening intently for about one minute tops, before I felt the pull to reach down and check my phone. This happened over and over until I put it together on day two, I think I may have shortened my attention span with my smart phone.

Another recent observation about new behavior that isn’t all that positive is how I use Netflix and Amazon Prime instant viewing. I am a lifelong opponent of having a TV in my bedroom. I think it can cause a variety of problems. Yet somehow, in the last few years, my husband and I have become Netflix, binge watching junkies. We crawl into bed, kiss and roll over to our selected Netflix viewing positions and watch until we pass out. This may have evolved post child as a way to grab just a bit of time for us each day. We used to get our TV watching done together on the sofa, but with a toddler this doesn’t happen.

One final symptom of my broken brain is reading. I love to read and am a fiction reader. The joy of burying myself in another world by opening the pages of a book is a long time pleasure. But lately I’ve had trouble not only picking out books, but also focusing on them. Nothing is grabbing me and after four or five books I have to concede that the problem may not be my choices, but my miniscule attention span.

I’m among the masses that are likely experiencing this problem. I’ve seen articles about studies done on how the smart phone is rewiring our brain. It doesn’t sound like we’re headed in a pleasant direction. I think I’m going to stage my own revolution. Last night we tried to go technology free in the bedroom. I realized when I woke at 1:30 am and couldn’t fall back asleep without the phone that the problem is greater than I imagined. So I will allow myself a withdrawal of some type, with the goal of being phone free in bed within the week.

And the copy of The Martian that I just picked up, I will read that in less than six months. Even better, how about I read it within the month.

This sounds frustrating already. But I’d like my ability to focus back so I’ll fight the good fight. Technology is my friend, at certain times. The rest of the time, I’m going to re-enter the real world.

 

 

 

 

In A Room Full of Women

by

The men’s restrooms have been converted to women’s.

There are massage stations outside of meeting rooms.

Everywhere I go there are smiling, friendly people ready to introduce themselves.

The collective intelligence and drive of over 1,500 women is palpable.

I am not in a bizarre, women only universe. I am attending the CREW Convention in Seattle.

When I arrived at the hotel I wasn’t sure what to expect from this convention. Being a seasoned businesswoman I’ve attended dozens of conferences, mostly in my male dominated industry. The norm is big hotels, grand ballrooms, mediocre chicken dishes and a wide range of speakers. This conference has been very different. While I’m not sure I’ve secured any new business, I have met dozens of women from across the country that are like me, driven and talented. More than one speaker has inspired me to a standing ovation. The women I’ve met will be new contacts that I’ll likely have for quite some time.

My takeaways from this week are that this is a very worthwhile group for me to be involved with. That I do like being a businesswoman and mom at the same time and I’d like to not only keep my career going, I’d like to expand it over the next few decades. And I’m going to continue to be involved in this group to hone skills, expand friendships and to be part of something positive.

My Magical Friend

by

My friend is a magical pregnancy unicorn. This phrase is lifted from “What to Expect When Expecting” movie that came out a few years ago. In it there were normal pregnant woman (bloated, tired, cranky) and then there was one woman who seemed to glide happily, aglow and peaceful throughout her entire pregnancy.

My friend isn’t quite like that but almost. If there was ever a person whose calling it is to be pregnant and be a mom, it is my friend. She has charged through all three of her pregnancies with energy and determination. As she’s added children, she’s maintained her pace and adapted them into her world. I remember a time when we were walking home from an afternoon event, in the sun, she carried her 10-pound newborn like a football, nursing him as we walked down the Embarcadero. Not only did she match my pace, she was also wearing three-inch wedges.

I am in awe of this friend. She is an earthy pregnant woman and a beautiful mother. When I was pregnant I watched her and wondered how she did it. And I absorbed some of her unstoppable energy.

The One True Vine Journal

by

I am over the moon. Excited like a kid in a candy store. This past month, the One True Vine, Journal of food, wine and life, number two, was released. The Journal is a decadent and adventurous look at the world of the One True Vine team and their cohorts.

I am honored to be part of the writing team for the Journal and am sharing a bit of the work with you.

Lotus Foods OTV Article

 

To get your very own copy click here.

A Swift Kick in the Ass

by

My writing coach is awesome. I knew from the first time I met The Sexy Grammarian (aka Kristy Lin Billuni) that she was special. She was able to listen to my dream of being a writer, talk about my fears and hopes and then distill back to me an approach that worked for my overly disciplined, creatively stifled mind.

A few weeks ago, during one of our Facetime coaching sessions, she said something that both inspired me and delivered a swift, firm kick in the ass. She said, “Tara, I have a few clients I think of as can’t fail clients. These are clients that, in my mind, will succeed. You are one of my can’t fail clients.” She went on to say, “And, it is so odd, but you are my only can’t fail client that doesn’t do what I tell them to do.”

I laughed out loud. She got me. I am notorious for dreaming big, in my head. The distance between thinking and doing is often impossibly vast, so while I am writing and working on goals, I often stall out and continue the dreaming at the same time that I cease the effort.

Her feedback was perhaps the most galvanizing experience I’ve had of late. And her words will stick with me. Nearly every day since I have been writing, even when I hate what is coming out, I am doing it. I am honored to be thought of as a can’t fail client, I don’t want to do that title a disservice. And frankly, I do well with ass kicking women, they are my favorite types of people, and Kristi delivered a very successful kick in the ass.