So what else do you do? Now everyone chats about this and talks about that. As business owners we all wear 73.2 different hats (I think that 74 is right around the corner)
So what else do you do? What other hobbies do you have and enjoy? Do you mix and mingle your personal talents or do you keep them hidden and secure?
I do a lot of online marketing and writing, but write personally as well. One of the reasons I started blogging many years ago is that I am interested in many fields and like to combine my artistic skills whenever possible (writing, photography, graphics, etc)
One of my "other" sites is a poetry blog that I have on and off promoted over the years. I have also maintained graphic blogs and stores selling my graphic design work.
I find the act of writing out questions I have asked my friends to be very illuminating as an experience, often presenting me with personal and professional questions that I would not have encountered myself.
Here is one I wrote today.
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Wounds of War, a declaration of being unfit.
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(This was written for a friend, who shall remain nameless.)
In a private conversation, I declared that I was unfit for duty. I told my friend that I could no longer wear a badge of honor. Somehow, I found that the shadow of bravery crept over my soul, and fell upon the silent ears of those who were defined valiant, or criminal.
I was not a hero. I was not even someone who cast forth a reflection worth seeing. The way I found myself, was a haunting memory of distant declarations, words that could never be understood by someone as simple as myself. Yet the wound I felt, brutalized my soul more than any harm could.
I saw myself as having fallen, upon the fine, sharp sword of victory. My chest was covered with fine treasures of respectful ignorance, yet my hands and body were as unclean as I have ever felt. I do not know how to cleanse my life of such indiscriminate stains.
I return home, to a family who loves, friends who adore, and none of them understand. I am not the person they love, no, I am the person they fear in distant nights. The hand of god holding the life of innocence, of illicit personal ending. My choice, to disbelieve, that my hands act with ignorant cruelty.
I sit with those I love and wonder, how many brethren no longer sit at a table I emptied? That as I, a human soul, cared for disregard so deeply that I acted, again and again, I acted. To take away that which was not mine. I was the fool played as both pawn and king, to which I gave away control.
I am asking for redemption, begging for a sweet mercy I never gave, trying to forget the moments of unsettled fear as I closed my eyes, and forced myself to hear screams that will never go away. Simply, I am not fit for duty.
http://www.trueloveofcoffee.com
So what else do you do?
What else do I do:
I love to read...true crime (Ann Rule) and horror (Stephen King).
I have an abnormal obsession with lampwork beads and dabble at making my own jewelry.
The Mr. I and both have our own Harleys and there is nothing better than going on a ride!
Birds: We have feeders out in our yard...and I love to sit and watch all the different kinds of birds.
I love to sew ..things (stuffed animales, dolls, curtains etc.) not clothes!
What a question, Barry. It seems that we all have little "compartments" of our lives, places we don't necessarily show everyone. I'm surprised to see poetry coming from you, but in a way, I'm not. It must be a very good friend, the one you wrote the poem above for, because you seemed to know (and communicate) exactly what was going on inside.
In my off-time, if there is such a thing, I tend toward quiet pursuits: reading (most biographies) and doing my own writing. I belong to a writers' critique group here on the island and we meet twice a month to share our work. I'm writing a memoir about growing up in a small logging town in the Pacific Northwest (toying with the idea of turning it into a novel so I can get creative...love to make things up!).
Oh gosh... time off, what's that?
No seriously, outside of growing my business here's some things I like to do / currently do.
With all the mayham of owning your own business, I would agree... you have to stop and enjoy yourself once in awhile.....
How do you folks do this?! I have 2 cats and 1 dog. That's my free time. Oh yes, I also read mysteries, subscribe to the symphony and ballet and am an avid fan of the WNBA. Go Storm!
Barry, I really enjoyed your piece... Sad but real...
My free time is my sanity. I have to say that I've found it necessary to force an outlet... Make time for myself...
One weekends I love to get away. When I was younger my family and I would go for drives... no purpose, no destination... Often times I will do this... i find it really relaxing to just get in the truck and go! I also, love, love, love to go camping, backpacking and really anything outdoors! This is my time to smell the roses, enjoy nature's beauty.
I love this question!
Among other thing, I salsa dance, cook, bake, spend time with friends and family, and do a little gaming. Yes, gaming. My inner geek is shining through!
Judy - What logging town did you grow up in? (Pardon my dangling preposition!)
Valerie,
It was Aberdeen (Grays Harbor County), which is about 18 miles from Westport.
spiritual studies/practice
playing with my cat
partying with burners, goth/fetish culturalists at clubs, raves and private parties
visiting with wonderful friends and loving family having amazing conversation
developing plans for world domination
counseling and being counseled
prayer groups
occasional trips to moab, texas, the playa and ski trips
i go to the moon with jeff sometimes (eddie izzard reference)
somtimes... I actually check email and do some stuff with this online computer type thingie
bodywork, cranio sacral studies and classes
I'm taking a tele class on applying the law of attraction
developing my future business of consultation, teaching, speaking and
world domination... :)
Bless you Barry. You are one among many not a rare, tortured soul. So many men and women returning from war feel the way you do. Now, because of stop-loss, they are forced to head back there and "stand with invaders" in a country that wants them out. Hello Vietnam! As Yogi Berra would say, "It's Deja Vu all over again!."
As far as the ways I keep hope alive:
I know how to REJUVENATE, yes?
Plus, I love to write and help people publish what they write through the art and practice of SELF-PUBLISHING. See my WANT TO GET PUBLISHED? Link: http://www.lifedesignunlimited.citymax.com/page/page/4705152.htm
Be well!
Hi Barry, very intense poem. After serving three tours in Vietnam, I can relate to all the feelings and emotions in that story. Fortunately, I am better now, for I serve the masses in a lot of variables. I have been known as the professional volunteer as one of my passions has been soccer. Coaching, reffing, administering and all the fun stuff that goes with watching the kids grow. I built a wood shop on the back of my property and periodically will go and make clocks, or refinish furniture and get my hands around some wood.
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