©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved
The phrase "wrote it and lost it" is not unique to anyone that writes. Every writer has had that moment when the words just flowed out of them. At the time, it feels like more than a novel, your magnum opus is pouring out of you and this is the best thing you have ever written. Then all of a sudden the words are gone. At first, I blamed the computer gremlin--I know that monster had something to do with this. But the computer gremlin was sleeping that day--it was I who pushed the "DO NOT SAVE" option and one thousand words were deleted. Still I had to find somebody to blame, so I blamed my husband even though he was at work and had nothing to do with this nonsense. Finally, I blamed the devil, rebuked him and broke out in song, "Yes Jesus loves me, yes Jesus loves me...cause the bible tells me so!" The words didn't come back and I didn't feel any better, so I cried--one thousand words gone, never to return. More tears, somebody help me please! I finally called my hubby, yes the same person I blamed for this catastrophe and we talked it out. His advice: When you have finished crying, go back to the manuscript and see what you can remember and what you can't remember write it in a different way. This time the blessing was bigger and better than what I imagined. I got a note from Jim Lloyd, who thinks this a great story and I doubled the word count. Lesson: Choose the save option every few minutes and the computer gremlin also known as me will never bite again. Thanks for sharing the journey with me--I will continue to sip on ink and write it. This is Tuesday talk.
©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved
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Live fast, and then die--nobody wants to live life in the slow line. But everybody knows sometimes there is a price to pay for moving too fast; life in the fast line is spruced up and embellished. When moving too fast, you miss some things along the way. Sometimes we focus too much on all the things happening in the other line; it will not inspire us to move faster and do more. Don't be bamboozled and find yourself playing "catch me if you can" with people that don't know where they're going. The other line always seems to be moving faster when you are not in it. Please don't get so busy keeping up that you forget to really live; in real life things don't always move really fast. The significant things happening in our lives right will not happen in hours, days or months--it is going to take time and you've got to let that baby grow before you give birth to it. Ask any woman who has ever given birth and she will tell you, at some time during the process you want that baby in your arms and out of your womb. But if you hurry the process the baby doesn't fully develop. Right there with you my friends, let's take ourselves out of the fast line and give the seeds of our endeavors time to grow. This is Tuesday talk. ©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved I am a Gullah woman from the sea islands of Charleston, South Carolina and I really am in love with people. But I also know there are so many other sides of me and everybody that knows me may not experience all sides of me. One friend I met ten years ago here in south Florida dropped by my house to meet my husband, mom and children. She said to my husband: "Do you know she flirts with everybody?" Hubby: "The woman talks to everybody, I've gotten used to it." But the truth is I am not that one-dimensional. I have days when I don’t want to talk to anybody and that can include my family. I have days when I encounter people who are trying to hustle or hurt me and/or my family and I have to open a can of...you know what. I have had a day when the bus driver almost ran over me and my kid and I wasn't nice at all; matter of fact, I was angry and cruel. Also, when playing racquetball, I am a fierce competitor, you better back up your trash talking or you will get a beat down. The truth is: nobody is always nice and that includes me too. I also have times when I am deeply pensive--lost in thought, and I can become consumed with the injustices of the world. There are also times when just the lyrics of a simple song will deeply penetrate my heart and I cry. My name is Theda Okona and I have learned to embrace every part of me--that includes the shadow too. Two things are needed to make a shadow. The first is light and the second is something that blocks the light; together these two things make us who we are; so thankful today that God sees my light and my shadow and still loves me. This is Tuesday talk. ©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved King Solomon got the opportunity of a lifetime; God asked him, "What do you want?" I call it the Old Testament story of a man winning the lottery ticket. In my mind's eye, God knocks on the door and he answers. Solomon and God have the conversation of a lifetime; God lets him get everything off his chest and then God asked: "What do you want?" If God asked Solomon certainly God has asked you and me the same question. I am sure Solomon pondered the question before answering and probably thought of all he had to deal with in real life. You and I too are like Solomon; what happens in real life matters. Sometimes everyday life is comprised of: my mom just had a heart attack; I am 8,000 miles away from home and can't be with her because I will lose my job and won't be able to support my disabled twins. Every day life happens and someone shouts to God, "I found the woman of my dreams but she is married with five children and her husband has been in a coma for the last year and a half." Where is the wisdom, the insight and the understanding when we need it? I have come to understand that wisdom is not trying harder or knowing more--it is a quiet surrender to just listening and trusting more. Wisdom doesn't mean I have all the answers but I talk to God because God can handle it. This is Tuesday talk. ©2014 Theda Okona All Rights Reserved |
Blogger Bio:Theda Okona is a former storyteller and co-host for an internet radio broadcast. She lives to be inspired. Adjunct Professor at Miami Dade College, Writer, Speaker, Vocalist and Author of Clouds of Grace--she has a Master of Arts in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English. Archives
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