You probably don’t want to hear this, but LIFE ISN’T EASY.

There, I said it. And YES, the preface to today’s music lesson is somewhat of a rant.

Life may not be easy, but you don’t have to just settle for what comes your way, or even settle for what you have now. But you do have to WORK for what you want in life. And many times you have to work HARD.

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I don’t want to get into a religious argument with anyone, but those people who quote the Bible when things are tough, saying, “God will provide.” are only half right.

What happened to the second half of that passage? The half that was drilled into my brain at Sunday School, church, school (I went to a parochial school for kindergarten through third grade.), at home, and in my extended family.

“God helps those who help themselves.”

Stop sitting on the couch and sniveling about what other people have – get off your ass and DO SOMETHING.

 

FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT.

I’m not talking about a fist fight or an argument with someone. What I am talking about is standing up for yourself, doing what needs to be done to better your life and working hard at it.

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Need an example?

I read a Facebook post this morning about someone who had their first novel with a publisher, a second one on the desk of their editor, and a third one in progress on their desk. I could bemoan this person’s success: one novel with a publisher, one with an editor, and a third being worked on. After all, I am a writer. I have several of rough drafts and half written rough drafts lying around my writing studio. I could believe, as some people do, that someone will just come knocking on my door and want one of those drafts. But that requires lying to myself.

It was, however, enough of a push. It was enough to find me saying, “If I had been WORKING on my drafts and sending out queries, I might have some kind of book deal.” But I haven’t been WORKING.

 

MY FIGHT SONG

Don’t tell me to stop because I have something to say. Whether it is in the form of a novel or a piece of non-fiction, I will write it. I will send it out as many times as it takes for my writing to get published. (After all, the initial volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul was rejected 144 times. The Help by Kathryn Stockett was rejected 60 times. The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson was rejected by 31 publishers. And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street by Dr. Seuss was rejected 27 times.)

I can’t get rejected if I don’t send it out, but I can’t get it published if I don’t send it out.

READ – WRITE – EDIT – PROOFREAD – QUERY – SUBMIT – REPEAT!

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Need another example?

Two weeks ago, after a doctor appointment, I got a robo-call from CVS

pharmacy. My prescription was ready.

“Ah, I don’t have any prescription medications,” I said to the pharmacist when I called to inquire.

“This was called in by your doctor, yesterday.”

Too late in the day to call the doctor’s office that day, I called first thing the next morning and wanted to talk to “someone.”

“I was just about to call you,” the nurse said to me. “In addition to changing your lifestyle and exercising more, Dr. ___ wants you to begin taking this statin drug for your cholesterol.”

I was less than nice to the nurse over the phone, but when I heard about the prescription from the pharmacy before I heard from the doctor, I was, shall we say, pissed. “And if I refuse?”

Dead silence on the other end. “I’ll let her know.”

“And find out when she wants me to come back in: one month, three months, or the scheduled six month visit.” I have not received a call back, so I am assuming that it is the six months.

Instead of agreeing to take a drug, I called my chiropractor. She has suggested a drastic change in my diet (Paleo specific) in addition to exercise.

This came on the heels of my husband’s doctor appointment. The doctor didn’t like his A1C (diabetic) numbers and suggested insulin.

MY FIGHT SONG

Don’t just tell me to take some prescribed medication before you look at my current lifestyle, at what I am doing, and at what I am not doing! Work with me first to change my eating habits and exercise routine. Then, if that doesn’t work, DISCUSS with me my options rather than just TELLING me to do something or take something.

READ (both labels and literature) – BAKE – EAT WHAT IS ON THE PALEO DIET – EXERCISE

Have the last two weeks been easy? NOT. It is taking a lot of reading and thinking about what I put into my body. I am not Paleo to the strictest sense of the lifestyle, but I’m working on it. I must say that eliminating the grains and processed foods has been easier than I thought, and my ankle, knee, and hip joints are not aching like they had been. I have more energy and more focus. I don’t know if it is eliminating grain or preservatives that is helping or maybe both, but I do like how I am feeling.

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A final example!

When I taught pre-school swimming, I would occasionally run across thelittle swimmer who overly scared, especially of the deep end of the pool.

I gave those little swimmers a “fight song.” Remember the story “The Little Engine That Could”? I had those scared swimmers repeat the phrase “I think I can” over and over as we went down the pool.

They were always amazed when they got to the shallow end that they had made it. Amazed and proud of themselves as they told their parents that they had swum in the deep end of the pool.

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What is your fight? What empowers you to fight for what you what? What is your fight song?

This is one of my FIGHT SONGS.

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Thanks for reading.

AND

As you move through your day-to-day activities and responsibilities, please remember to

Live Life –

Keep Things Simple –

Look for the Positive –

AND

Smile.

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