If You Believe in Magic...

Christmas is a time of year marked by fantasy and magic, an entire season which centers largely on the notion that a red-suited giftgiver embarks on an annual quest to reward the well-behaved children of the world by piloting a reindeer-powered sleigh through the skies in the wee hours before dawn.

When we're little, we're all too prone to committing ourselves without shame or reserve to this fanciful notion. Unencumbered by the weight of responsiblity and heartache that inevitably accompanies age, we see the world as a realm of limitless possibilities, a place where anything is possible and the existence of Santa Claus is just another example of how incredible life truly is.

As the years go by, we realize that our Christmas memories are based on a fantasy, and this truth - coupled with our continuing understanding that the world is a lot more complicated than we had previously thought - causes us to accept that the magic that we so clung to in our childhood is nothing more than a mirage, a beautiful lie designed to coddle youngsters and protect them from the harsh reality.

It may be undeniable that... yes, Santa Claus is a mythical figure, one now used mostly for the commercialization of the holiday. However, I still firmly believe in the existence of magic.

Hold on, let me qualify that. Please don't think that I'm ready to quit my day job and sign up at Hogwart's or anything like that. Rather, during this holiday season, it occurred to me that there is much in the world that can be considered magical. But only if you believe in it and open your eyes.

Whether it's the kindness of a stranger, laughter with family and friends or the embrace of someone you love, magic is all around us. How else do you explain the indelible, intangible and inexplicable bonds that bring people together?

How about the moment when inspiration strikes and your conscious mind plucks a great idea seemingly out of thin air? Or a long, meaningful conversation with someone who genuinely "gets" you? Connection, friendship, creativity, even love... these are all everyday examples of magic at work.

But just as little ones must have faith that Santa exists, one must keep vigilant and consciously acknowledge the magic that happens around you each and every day. They may not be amazing, death-defying feats the likes of which Harry Houdini or David Copperfield have aspired, but there is no denying that - although the world can be bleak, unfair and even downright cruel - there is much to be amazed by.

Too often, adults are weighed down by all the darker aspects of the world that they become cynical and therefore blinded to the magic of everyday life. It is times like these that we need to reach back into the recesses of our heart and mind and recall those days long since past when we still believed in the existence of magic.

Because, when it comes right down to it, each and every day presents more magic than all the children of the world could ever imagined. And none of it involves Jolly Old Saint Nick.

Happy writing (and living),

Rob

The Art of Being Silly

I know what you must be thinking. Who is this nut ^ and what insane asylum did he escape from?

No one can fault your curiosity... I mean, seriously, look at him. Maybe it's just my second medium-sized cup of raspberry iced tea talking, but it certainly doesn't seem to me like he has any knowledge of the martial arts.

Although, in all honesty, the abundance of crazy in his eyes DOES make me concerned about what kind of shenanigans would occur were we to bump into each in a darkened alley somewhere.

Oh, wait... hold on. I think I get it now. He must be joking. Hahaha... silly Robbie. Whew, really thought he'd lost it there for a second.

But I guess it's not entirely my fault for hesitating to let myself in on the joke. It seems that society isn't as readily accepting as some of us would like to the kind of random silliness exhibited in the above photo.

Far too often, people take themselves way too seriously, refusing to succumb to their inner goofball for fear of being viewed as "weird" or "unusual." But I say "to hell with all that noise!"

Turn on your TV and watch the news for a half-hour... 20 minutes... even 90 seconds, and you'll see the world is way too serious already. Really, what harm is there in spicing things up a little?!?

If laughter really is the best medicine, why not keep yourself and those around you laughing all year round? Imagine the money you'd save on doctor's visits!!!

Okay, maybe you're concerned that people wouldn't "get" your sense of humor, and I can understand that. I totally do, trust me.

A lot of humor admittedly is based on your perspective. The better you know someone, the more at ease you'll feel to let your wackiness out of its cage and the more likely that person is to not only understand where you're coming from but actually appreciate your unique sense of humor.

That's why you have to adjust your Joke-o-Meter accordingly, given your company and circumstance. For example, you don't want to go ahead and bust out some truly goofy dance moves in the middle of a business meeting. Well, not if you value your job. You wouldn't even want to bust out a "that's what she said" retort on a first date. It's just not practical.

However, luckily for you and I, there's no limit to the kinds of humor out there. Sarcasm, pratfalls, innuendos, knock-knock jokes... whatever your preference is, there's sure to be a viable humor mode for any and all times and places.

They say that life is what you make it. So why not make it awesome? Trust me, your long-neglected silly side will thank you, and you'll surely feel a whole lot better about the world and your place in it.

So live a little... and put on a silly face.

Happy writing, you goofy bastards! ;)

-Rob

Wheres does the time go?

When I was a little boy, I used to fantasize about what my adult life would be like. Driving my own car, having my own place and one day starting a family with someone special... it was all a part of some grand scheme that I had for my life, and though I am inching ever closer towards happiness, I think back to that spirited, out-of-control little boy I once was and he looks back at me, bemused and curious.

Truth be told, I literally thought it would all come so easy, that my future would simply fall into place like the oddly-shapen blocks in a game of Tetris. But life doesn't work like that, the older, wiser version of myself now realizes.

I thought I would have everything all figured out by now, much like most people do, I presume. Yet, here I sit midway through my 27th year on this planet, and I am still at a loss for answers. Although I now know more than ever what I want in life, I have no clue what awaits me in the future.

2010 a.k.a. The Year of Robbie (as I've referred to it sporadically) has been a monumental triumph for my personal and professional development. It was a year marked by several milestones, and as much as I wish I had a crystal ball or even a time-travelling Delorean to tip me off to what I can expect in 2011 and beyond, no such luck.

And - much to my surprise - therein lies perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned in the past 12 months.

I spent much of my childhood and adolescence quietly planning away my future. In fact, I spent so much time plotting exactly what and when I would reach each objective that I forgot one crucial step: actually making things happen.

I've written about the importance of being pro-active in previous Table posts so I'll steer clear of that topic, but the real epiphany here is that... even though I may not have all the answers, I have come to accept that not everything is in my control.

Life takes time to bring you what you want. You just have to stay the course and remain faithful that you won't miss the opportunities life presents to you. Over the trials, tribulations and successes the past year has brought me, I think I'm finally beginning to understand.

I may not be where I thought I would be when I was a kid - and hell, I still have a pile of regrets stirring within me - but maybe... just maybe... I'm exactly where I need to be.

After all, without all my past experiences, I wouldn't be the man I am today. I may not have all the answers in life or know exactly what the future holds, but I feel like I'm more equipped than ever to handle whatever life brings my way.

Armed with the knowledge of what I want and what I'm looking for, all I need to do now is go after it, knowing that with time and patience, I will make my dreams a reality. It's all up to me.

Happy writing... and Happy New Year!

-Rob

You have to do it for YOU!

Some people are baffled by the fact that they are never able to see anything through to completion. The workout plan they abandon after just a couple of weeks, the graduate degree they never claimed and... yes, the creative writing project they have yet to finish. We've all been guilty of getting ourselves all geared up to engage in a brand-new endeavor and then wind up scratching our heads trying to figure out what went wrong, how we were able to lose focus and end up back to the drawing board on a never-ending cycle of start-and-stop that leaves us chasing our tails but never really being able to check that objective off our to-do list.

The most commom excuse I've heard - and I've used this one quite often myself - is that "Life got in the way." While it's true that circumstances sometimes delay the pursuit of our personal goals, the fact is that a very small percentage of us face the extenuating circumstances that truly excuse long-term lack of productivity. More likely, the issue isn't the opportunity, it's lack of motivation.

Let's be honest: The problem isn't that we don't have time to do get things done. The problem is that we lack the motivation to make the time and effort to progress. Every day should, ideally, bring you one baby step closer to your ultimate goal, but this requires time away from distractions and a sharp enough focus to block out all of life's little inconveniences.

The question of motivation then arises... And you must ask yourself, "WHY am I really doing this?" Although the underlying purpose of this blog is to help provide advice and guidance for writers struggling to make it in a world where everyone and their mother thinks they have the chops to have their voices be heard, this question can really be applied to all aspects of life.

It seems to me that, in today's celebrity-obsessed world of social networking sites and reality television, so many people out there do things and then obnoxiously announce the details of their lives not out of a sense of accomplishment or aim towards self-improvement but out of some superficial pursuit of fame. It's almost as if some people are filling their time with activities specifically so that they can have something to share with the masses.

While tools such as Twitter and Facebook can be useful in keeping in touch with distant friends and relatives, they have also perpetuated the worldwide trend favoring celebrity over personal growth. It's the same reason that a little part of me shudders at the thought that nonsensical entertainment like "Jackass 3D" sits atop the box office and crapfests such as "Jersey Shore" and basically anything else that airs on MTV these days are lauded by an entire generation of teens and twenty-somethings.

Maybe this is just a sign that I'm truly becoming too old to fully grasp the next generation's "perception over reality" mindset, but to me, it just seems as if so many people have chosen to live as a caricature rather than as themselves, following their own dreams and goals in life. No one's real. No one's authentic. No one... is doing it for themselves because they are all so focused on creating an "image," on letting others define who they are and who they should be.

And I'm not going to allow myself to sit atop some equine pedestal and claiming that I have all the answers or cling to some delusion of superiority. I'm just a guy like anyone else, and while I too often find myself sharing my daily exploits on Facebook, the difference is that the rationale behind it all is one of the utmost sincerity. I don't put on some facade to try and gain the attention of those around me.

Here's the thing: For so many years in my past, I have felt socially awkward and lacked the confidence that who I am inside is truly enough. So I trapped myself in my own skin, afraid of the criticisms people would hurl in my direction and how those insults would only cause further damage to my sense of self. And because I didn't trust myself and my ability to handle myself, I let numerous opportunities, personal and professional, slip past me.

However, times have changed. Now - and especially in the last couple of years - I have become increasingly comfortable in my own skin and have systematically taken steps to progress in all areas of my life. I have continually met and actually exceeded my professional goals and have kept busy in a number of "extracurricular" activities. I have steadily developed my own personal social network and moved into my very own living space for the first time. I have also reclaimed my desire to progress with my creative writing and get into better physical shape. And most importantly, I'm no longer afraid to share who I am with the people around me. Or, at least, I'm becoming more and more open with being exactly who I am inside.

And all the little quirky things about myself that I once tried to keep hidden away... the fact that I like to do impressions and voices, that I really enjoy singing and actually can carry a tune, that I possess a vast and random assortment of entertainment knowledge and that I have a wry and playful sense of humor... I am now free to share with the people I know personally, with my Facebook "friends," with each and every person I meet.

So if I happen to post sometime online about myself, it's not in some vain attempt to gain recognition or to try and win anybody over. It's simply an example of me being me and embracing the fact that I no longer feel a need to remain locked away in my shell. I don't have anything to prove to anybody, and quite frankly, if they can't handle me being exactly who I am inside, then it's a pointless endeavor for me to create a customized version of myself simply to please someone else.

I've said this before, but let me reiterate. Unlike a lot of people who focus entirely on the moment, I see the big picture. I view my life as a journey, and while I may regret certain segments of the past and worry about what awaits me in the future, the fact of the matter is that the present is all about me doing what I need to do for me to get my life in order.

Somewhere in today's fame-centric world, people forgot that the only one you really need to win over is yourself. If you possess that sense of purpose, that understanding of and love for yourself and your place in the world, that pride in the fact that you are working to become the very best person you possibly can be, that's all that matters. Everything else will simply fall into place from there.

Happy writing (and living),
Rob

A Freelance Writer is a One Man Band

You Are on Your Own in More Ways Than One
this was originally posted at TheFamousAshleyGrant.com

A common misconception about freelance writing is that it is glamorous and fabulous with work coming in all the time and everything moves swiftly and smoothly. Are you ready for the hard truth? It ain’t all cherries and roses!

As a freelance writer you are a one man band. Below is a list of just a few hats you will wear.

Hustler
Everyday you will be pimping yourself out to new clients. You have to call, email and practically harass everyone you know to get work. Once you are lucky enough to get work, you have to convince these people they still need you.

Bookkeeper and Accountant
You are now responsible for sending invoices, paying bills, following up on payments. You also get to have the task of making sure supplies are stocked up.

Time Manager
You have to run the whole show and decide what will fill each hour you work. When will you go to lunch? What time can the meeting with a potential client fill? How long can the meeting last?

Radell Hunter said, “Learning to manage our time is an important way to reduce stress in our lives.” View her top ten time management tips HERE


Secretary
There is no one else to answer the phone, check email, send the faxes, doing research etc… All these tasks that can be delegated to others now fall on you. However, there is the option of getting a virtual assistant. The catch is making sure that they won’t cost you more than you are making.

Ferrero Stella said, “Virtual assistant offer you all the facilities, which you can avail from an office-based personal assistants. Their tasks range from appointment scheduling to internet research to offer you an ease in completion of your numerous tasks.” Read her story on How to Select a Cost Effective Virtual Assistant HERE


Photographer
In many cases you will end up having to take your own pictures. For some people just the thought of using a camera for professional use is a scary thought. Hiring a photographer can get pricey and depending on your pay for an assignment it might not be practical.

Photo editor
Now that the photos were taken by you, you have to edit them to make sure they are print ready.

Writer
Once you finally get an interview or a subject to write about, it’s time to write the article you hope to be paid for.

Copy Editor
Don’t forget once the article is written it has to be checked for spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure the word count requirement is met too.

I’m sure there are a lot more hats I haven’t listed here, but all these hats are what keep freelance writing so interesting. If freelance writing is something you are considering pursuing, it is important to think about all of the factors involved. Sometimes it can make the decision of whether or not to pursue it as a full time job an easy one.