Elusive things and Infinity

I’m back! After several months of my brain rolling around at about 50% past capacity, turning it off for a week was a much-needed, long overdue occasion. 

While I was gone, I had the opportunity to stand on a balcony and gaze over the ever-moving, ever-changing ocean. I’ve always wanted to see a whale in the wild. Always. In my small mind, I keep thinking that one of these days I’m going to be in the right place at the right time and an enormous whale is going to pop up and show itself to me, posing while I snap postcard-quality pictures with my conveniently present camera. I’ve held onto this hope for years, and though I’ve crossed the ocean a number of times (and been near it, on it, close to it, etc.) I still haven’t been in that perfect place and time. Yet.

I’ve seen dolphins, sea turtles, flying fish, and crabs. Pelicans, cranes, and a bazillion other cool birds. I’ve seen alligators, too. But no whale.

It’s like this elusive thing that I just can’t reach.

But as I watched the water stretch out in all directions, broken by nothing but the horizon, I realized something. The ocean is freaking VAST. It’s infinite. There are places where it’s so deep it can’t even be measured. And no matter how many whales live in it, the chances of me being in the right spot to see one are slim. There is just so much space and one single whale is such a small thing comparatively. I mean, yes, I understand that there are known places to go whale-watching. But even then there’s no guarantee. It’s still about timing. And that timing isn’t just up to me.

But I know that if I keep looking, one day I’ll get to see my whale. And if I don’t, at least I’ll know I never gave up trying.

I think that’s true with a lot of our life goals. The world is vast. In many ways it’s infinite. Dreams are sometimes elusive things that feel out of reach. But we will never know how infinite we are until we unfurl our sails and make for the horizon.  

Maybe we’ll find a whale, and maybe we won’t. Maybe we’ll find something else entirely. Like, I don’t know, a new continent that will be lauded as the promised land and named after us. The point is we have opportunities and choices and chances. Enough to fill an entire ocean. It’s up to us to decide if we have the courage to sail.

What is something you’ve always wanted to see/do/try? 

What Would You Give Up?

Last week I had some stress. I’m not going to go into details, but let’s just say that someone I trusted—someone I loved—chose to sacrifice their relationship with me in order to (they hoped) get ahead in a business venture. Unfortunately for them, and me as well, the sacrifice probably won’t get them very far. If anywhere.

But the relationship will never be the same, if it is ever mended.

The whole situation has made me pause and think. I know that desperate people often do desperate things, but when it comes right down to it, what would I be willing to sacrifice in order to succeed?

The truth is I’m not sure what I would sacrifice. It would totally depend on the situation. However, I know for sure a few things I would NEVER sacrifice.

1. People. No matter what happens, how badly I want something, how desperate I am to get it, people will always be more important than things, than money, than my personal success. Always.

2. Friendship. Because it’s more important than any career will ever be.

3. Personal beliefs. Everyone has lines they refuse to cross. I have mine too. They’re probably different than those belonging to other people, and that’s okay. That’s what makes us unique.

4. Things that are important to my immediate family. For instance, last spring I skipped out of a semi-formal awards dinner (which was part of a big local writer’s conference) to go home and help get my daughter ready for prom. It’s about priorities.

5. My sense of self. If becoming a well-known national author means I have to look, act, or pretend to be someone other than who I really am, I’m out. As it happens, I like me. And other than firming up, trimming down, and smoothing out a few troublesome areas, I have no plans to change who I am or what I stand for.

What about you? What would you NEVER sacrifice?

A Never Surrender Story

(This one is a little longer than my usual posts—sorry!)

For over a month, I’ve been planning this post. Originally, I was going to write (once again) about myself. About how I keep submitting and querying and how I’ll never give up, no matter how many rejections I get and blah, blah, blah.

But I changed my mind.

Today’s post isn’t going to be about me. It’s about other people in my life. People I believe in, and who inspire me. People I know will someday have the world at their feet if they continue to persevere. That person could be you. Or someone you know. Or someone you’re related to. (But don’t ask if it is, because I’m not telling.)

The Girl Who Never Gave Up

There once was a girl who yearned to swim. When she was little, her parents introduced her to water, and she taught herself to stay afloat. Later in life, she visited nearby pools and lakes, where she learned how to backstroke, and breaststroke and butterfly.


One day, she saw a picture of the ocean, with its endless expanse of crystal blue, and knew that someday she would go there to swim and live forever. That same day, a friend told her about sharks, barracudas, swordfish, and a whole lot of other scary creatures who could swallow her whole should she ever encounter one.

And the girl was afraid.

That friend told her that these creatures swam faster than any person, that their teeth were sharper than the blade of any knife, and that they were experts at hide and seek.

And the girl, however much she longed to swim, pictured the ocean as a dark, frightening thing. A place where no self-respecting, independent young lady should visit. But her desire to go there, to bask in that never-ending stretch of water, would not die, no matter how hard she fought the idea.

In the back of her mind, she began to plan. Twice a day, and often more, she practiced swimming. In pools. In rivers. In lakes. She learned to scuba dive, and studied books about creatures of the sea. She joined the swim team, and though she competed well, swam better than many other swimmers, was eventually cut from the team because she refused to stay within the dividing lines.

Then something terrible happened. Her beta fish—a most trusted, loyal companion—died. His final wish was that she not flush him—as most people would have done—but instead, to release his body to the sea. So on that day, when she was more alone than she’d ever been, the girl faced her greatest fear, and also experienced her greatest dream. She saw the ocean. And after she’d released her fish, she dove in herself.

The fresh, cool water invigorated her senses, reawakening the hope that fear had tried to extinguish. She swam and swam and swam until she encountered a shark. The shark opened its enormous mouth, and the girl cried, “Please, don’t eat me!” And swam with all her might.

The shark gave chase, snapping a powerful jaw full of razor-sharp teeth. But the girl was faster, and eventually, she got away. When she made it back to shore, she crawled up on the sand, realizing something about her was different. The ocean had changed her.

Not only was she no longer afraid of the ocean, she wanted to stay in it. Live in it. No amount of scary creatures could keep her from this place, this thing, that she loved. After many, many years, and hours and hours of swimming, conditioning, practicing, she experienced the biggest miracle of her life.

She grew gills and a fin. And with a shout of, “Never surrender!” the girl swam away, never remembering that she’d been cut from the swim team or that she’d been afraid of the ocean or that someone had convinced her that her dream was impossible.

And guess what? She lived happily ever after.

(If you think that story was cheesy, then most likely, it was meant for you. Also, there are a bazillion more cheesy stories where that came from, but I try to keep them out of my “real” writing. Usually. Most of the time. I swear!)

**Click here to read the rest of the Never Surrender blogs or find other blog fest participants**

A Little Inspiration, A little Information

First, the information:

Two of my good friends are launching books this week.
Ronda Hinrichson will be signing her debut book Missing Thursday, October 22nd at the Reflections of Utah bookstore @ 47 South Main Street, Brigham City, UT from 5-7:00.

This is a long anticipated release, so if you're anywhere near Brigham City, run on over and be one of the first to get your copy and have it signed by the author--who's name is actually lit up in lights on the marquis.

Heather Justesen will be signing her debut book The Ball's In Her Court Saturday at the Filmore City Library, in Filmore Utah from 10-1:00.  

Again, a much anticipated book. I already have my copy--signed by the author, naturally--and am excited to get reading it this week. So if you're anywhere near Filmore, same deal. Go get your copy, get it signed. Be ahead of the crowd.

If you are not one of the lucky people who can make it on Thursday or Saturday don't despair. I hear both of these ladies will be signing together at the Barnes and Noble in Sandy, UT on November 7th. (Details to come when I have them.)

Also, Frank Cole, author of the Hashbrown Winters series will be signing at the library in Pleasant Grove on Thursday evening, and since the library closes at 7:00, I'm thinking that one will be early--like five-ish. (Don't quote me, I'm not positive.) His book has been out for a month or so, but this will be a great chance to say hey to Frank if you live in Utah County.

Okay, now that I have you running all over the state of Utah (sorry out-of-towners) here is some inspiration for the week.  This is not your average shampoo commercial, and so worth watching.  Bottom line? NEVER GIVE UP.

Nuff said.