Life – Page 3 – Writer, Author, Speaker

Flip

The calendar doesn't care. Its pages flip. The new day comes into view. If it's a plain daily calendar, it's not much fun. The best calendars are those big monthly calendars with images that take your breath away. The ones that make you smile, even sigh at how beautiful they are. Some are sweeping vistas of romantic places. Some are such unique animals that you question if they really exist. Calendars do this on purpose, so you don't have to suffer as much with your life's passing. I have a favorite calendar. It's from Paper Source, and I buy one...

Authors and Writing,Life,Poetry

Piano Hands

Looking down, my hands are young. Little nails. Little fingers. Skipping on the keys. Smooth, dainty skin. I am six. From farther up I'm looking down at my hands upon the keys. Bigger reach, longer nails. A little polish Dancing on the keys. Taut, youthful skin. I am sixteen. Looking down, my hands are shopworn. They play the music that comes through me. My fingers waltz on the keys now. Drying, aging skin. I am fifty. My gaze descends to my hands resting on the keys. As I lift and lower, music emerges, But alas, my fingers lumber on the...

Authors and Writing,Life

I Wish You Enough

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.  I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.  I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting. I wish you enough pain so even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.  I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.  I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye. Note: this poem and others can be found in my...

Authors and Writing,Choices,Fear,Life

Give Your Self to the Wind

. . . AND RECEIVE THE GIFT OF LOVE How do you give your self (it's two words, on purpose) to the wind? Finish your stuff, I tell you. And be willing to be vulnerable! When you finish, though, you are very likely to fail. In fact, you can really suck! Your art, your book, your music, your crocheted or knitted piece, or even your book report for school, if you're still in school -- can really be awful. But, finishing it is important. We could fail. We can get an "F" or we can have no one buy our...

Authors and Writing,Fear,Finishing,Life,Publishing

Book Launch Party

It's coming up in January! Here's the information. Please come if you can. Love to see you there! Here are a couple of reviews! Here are the links: Outskirts Press Amazon Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. Thanks for checking it out.

Authors and Writing,Chances,Life,Publishing

Book Giveaway!

Would you like to read my book, GIVING MY SELF TO THE WIND? If so, you can win it for FREE! Starts in a few days, and goes for a few weeks. Just in time for the New Year. Goodreads Book Giveaway Giving My Self to the Wind by Kathryn Atkins Giveaway ends December 20, 2017. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter Giveaway Give YOUR self to the wind . . . and receive the gift of love. GOOD LUCK! [caption id="attachment_479" align="alignnone" width="225"] The Author[/caption]

Authors and Writing,Bucket Lists,Fear,Hacking,Life,Living

Published!

This published book, Giving My Self to the Wind, is a way to say ‘I was here.’ I stole that idea from Thomas Kail, the director of Hamilton. I hope he doesn't mind if I borrow it because it's true. A headstone doesn’t do it, and I cannot hold my kids responsible for substantiating my existence. My 298-page (!) book opens with a quote by Gustave Flaubert that also explains why I wrote and published Giving My Self to the Wind (GMSTTW): “The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.” Isn’t that why most people write? The collection's title...

Life,Living

HIbernate to Old, Please

How I wish I could hibernate for the next thirty years — no make that twenty — so I could suddenly wake up feeling old and being okay with it. Gray hair: check. Wrinkles everywhere: check. White eyelashes: check. Liver spots (ugh): check. I’m all here, but I’m calm in my old age and not fighting to be a young old person coloring my hair, wearing ingénue clothes, working at breakneck speed to keep up with a race for new technology that I cannot win. [caption id="attachment_2146" align="alignleft" width="223"] THE PATH[/caption] And there I would be, coming out into the...

Life

Messy Drawers

This is a terrifying time of year for me. In order to get ‘the holiday thing’ done, I now find myself faced with bedroom, kitchen, and office drawers that make me want to throw up. They symbolize my disorganization by distraction as I dart to the next task without closure on the last. During the year when I have a moment, I’ll madly clean out a drawer and either throw things away or whisk them to their proper place. Afterward, I am smug and smitten with my new pristine storage area, and beam every time I open the drawer to...

Life,Living

Flamenco Recital

Con El Alma Dance Recital The night before a recital. Flamenco practice done. The dancers are ready. Their hair in buns. Their feet are sore From practicing every night. Excited and happy, Their goal is to delight. Filled with elation. Full of anticipation. Feeling exhilaration. There’s never a temptation To back away. No way, no way. Attack. Stay. Dance. Sway. Sweat ‘til you’re wet. Don’t forget. Don’t forget! Smile. Grimace. Spin. Keep the beat. More heart. More heart. Feel the passion! Meet your art. The newbies in awe Watch the seasoned dancers dance. With hope, with work, We may have...