Wednesday 13 March 2013

Don't be Chicken.


Years ago I asked my five-year-old which had come first, the chicken or the egg? He had taken some time to answer me, his face reflecting the intensity of this thoughts. Eventually he exclaimed with great assurance that it was surely the egg that had come first. I was amused by how seriously he had taken the question, and I asked him why he was so certain. He answered without hesitation that it must have been the egg, as the chicken would have been far too busy crossing the road.

It struck me this week that perhaps I was becoming that chicken – far too consumed with menial tasks that I was completely missing the bigger picture.

It is so easy to allow things, people, situations (for me – a children’s birthday party), even technology (think Facebook), to distract you from your writing. Not to say that relationships and commitments in life are not important– but if you find yourself like me recently, where days, and then weeks go past and your work in progress hasn't really progressed, then it’s time to investigate the reason why, and prioritise the necessary tasks from the distractions. Without this self-evaluation, it can be easy to waste time.

My challenge? - not to morph into the chicken that never gets across the road, but instead, to be the egg, hatching into a lifetime of ‘firsts’.

Rose Dee is the author of the three book 'Resolution Series' and co-author of 'The Greenfield Legacy' 
Visit Rose at: http://rosedee.com/

19 comments:

  1. That's a great thought Rose. I'd say more, but I'd better get off Facebook and start writing :)

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    2. Me too, Nola. Facebook can be addictive - For me there are so many uplifting things posted on my feed, and I want to read them all. But then time ticks by and I've done nothing. Must set myself a time limit I think. :)

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  2. Loved the analogy Rose. Thank you. Oh, not to be that chicken scurrying fast across that road, not achieving anything but instead becoming an egg that produces the perfect omelette? :)

    I do agree that it is only too easy to be caught up in the busyness of life's little round so we don't make the time to be productive.

    Here's hoping that all of us writers will be hatching many exciting adventurous plots just like the hatching of those beautiful golden eggs! :)
    Thanks Rose for your thoughts,
    Anusha

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    1. Absolutely, Anusha - here's to hatching new ideas.

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  3. How funny, and how typical of a child to think of an answer like that. Their though processes are so different to ours and they often come out with some amazing - if wacky - logic.

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    1. Lyn, I am constantly amazed by how my son thinks. So often you hear that children are smarter than we think, and I know that certainly is the case.

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  4. Time to stop being chickens! It is easy to understand why distractions such as birthday parties, not to mention Face Book, make it so easy.

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    1. That's right, Paula. My problem is that I get all carried away with creativity. Everyone loved the Lego themed birthday party, but I really didn't need to make EVERYTHING look like Lego. Lol. I could have saved time and made just a few things themed.

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  5. What a cute wee boy!
    Slap on the hand...leave Facebook!
    Thanks Rose

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    1. Slap my hand too, Catherine. No doubt that, as authors, we all have to do the Facebook thing at least once a day, but when it's getting more time than a working manuscript it's time to disconnect the internet cord and flee from the temptation to check the feed. :)

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  6. Loved your son's answer! Brilliant thinking.
    I was just driving the kids to school this morning and telling myself I needed to buckle down and make the most of my designated writing times instead of pottering and proscrastinating. If I use my writing time well then I find I am better able to commit to the relationships and birthady parties that need planning.

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    1. Me too, Penny. I also have a much better sense of well being, because I have fulfilled the one thing I love to do - to write. Sometimes it is hard to get that balance though.

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  7. HUGE G-R-O-A-N!!!!!

    You hit me where it hurts Rose, but how true.

    Encourage your son to write stories. He thinks "out of the box".

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    1. Yes, Rita, he is a storyteller. He already writes and creates his own computer games. Very boy like. :)

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  8. I had a chuckle at this story, Rose. Children are wonderful at giving us little gifts of clarity, aren't they?

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    1. They are, Lee. My boy makes me laugh and keeps me honest - what a great thing. xo

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  9. Just what I needed today, Rose. Feeling very chickenish.

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    1. Dale, I think I have several chicken moments a day. lol. Sometimes it's a struggle to get across that road - but by the grace of God we do.

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