My Zio sent me this video a few days ago.
Everyone should watch it.
Put an end to bullying and find the BEAUTY in your life.
Tag Archives: Addiction
The Cat is Out of the Bag (or Spilling the Beans).
“It was this unchecked romanticism that evolved into an adult skill to challenge sadness with words and a belief that what you experience isn’t what is simply handed to you.” - An Extraordinary Theory of Objects
I have an intense fear of failure, a fear that my writing will be less than extraordinary. I fear that I haven’t seen enough of the world, I haven’t had enough adventures. I read about other writers and bloggers, other women who have similar dreams and I wonder if I should be doing what they are. I have read so many similar accounts about writers that I wonder if the only way to be a real one is if you pack up and move to New York City. I sometimes get so wrapped up in the world of other people that I don’t know how to live fully in my own — and that is truly scary.
I know that each writer must forge their own path, must find their own story (even if it’s simply ordinary) but sometimes it’s difficult to overlook what everyone else around me is doing and accomplishing.
It seems that I must listen to my heart, now more than ever, and let it lead my thoughts as well as my actions.
Otherwise I will never be brave enough to find my own story.
This is my wish for 2013.
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Love Always
Vanessa Xo
over or under – I just want to feel whelmed
Uninspired. Underwhelmed. Not unhappy, just a little blah…
What a silly thing to complain about, being underwhelmed with life. I guess I’m a little crazy: I like to be busy, I enjoy feeling stressed, I like a little drama in my life, and I like to be dazzled sometimes. When I don’t feel any of those things, I feel like I’m wasting time, as though I SHOULD be busy doing something, enjoying something, or getting upset over something. I mean I just want to feel whelmed, not over or under, just whelmed. When something is happening in my life or when way too much is going on in my life I find that I want to write, to take pictures, to keep moving – right now I feel the opposite.
I AM trying to stay positive though, trying to be that the-glass-is-half-full kinda gal. I also find ways to keep busy i.e. cleaning, painting my nails, working out, gift-wrapping, reading — notice how I didn’t include writing? With all of this “spare time” on my hands, with all of these wasted hours, I should be working on my next novel. I don’t. I haven’t. Why? Because I don’t feel inspired. Today I came across this…
…exactly what I needed to see. And so, I’ve pulled up a chair and I’m ready to add a little inspiration to my life. I’m ready to add a little sparkle, a little chaos, some self-imposed stress, and even a few deadlines.
Call me crazy but I’m making it happen.
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Love Always
Vanessa Xo
Challenge ACCEPTED.
Vanessa Grillone@VanessaGrilloneI work at four o’clock. I wonder if I can finish the @MindyKaling book before then…
7:58 AM – 25 Nov 12 ·
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I literally just finished Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). I think that if I were a few years older and a comedy writer Mindy and I could totally be friends besties.
What I love about this book is that it is less about Mindy being an awesome comedy writer, successful actress, producer, and sometimes director, and more about what it took to get there. She talks about her all-time lows, her breakups, her writing, and even has a chapter set for her funeral arrangements. I won’t put this book on my Top 5 Books That Changed My Life List BUT I did thoroughly enjoy her thoughts, honesty, advice, and insights into a world that I was unfamiliar with – comedy writing.
Here are my five favourite moments/thoughts/chapters in her book:
- Advice for girls who want a career like hers: ”(1) learn a provocative dance and put it on YouTube; (2) convince your parents to move to Orlando and homeschool you until you get cast on a kids’ show, or do what I did, which is (3) stay in school and be a respectful and hardworking wallflower, and go to an accredited non-online university,” (page 31).
- The entire chapter entitled Best Friends Rights and Responsibilities
- Her plea to reboot A League of Their Own: “…I would only reboot this movie if I can play the Rosie O’Donnell part…” (page 123). Actually the entire chapter on the franchises she would like to reboot.
- The entire chapter entitled How I Write
- Mindy’s memorization of the good-bye scene from The Sound of Music. In fact I loved everything about her chapter entitled Good-Bye.
For someone who didn’t get addicted to this book, I liked a lot of things about it. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about it – the only reason I purchased it is because I love her new show.
Mindy, you cured my Friday night migraine and you made my Sunday relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks for the laughs, the stories, and the advice (on boys, friends, life, and writing).
Your story has inspired me to keep going, keep writing, and not sweat the setbacks because they all lead somewhere.
–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo
‘Time Enough to Last’ – Shout out to all of my book-lovers!
Ever wish you had all the time in the world to read (or do whatever it is that you love to do) My dad brought to my attention an episode of The Twilight Zone which “follows Henry Bemis through the post apocalyptic world, touching on such social issues as anti-intellectualism, the dangers of reliance upon technology, and the difference between aloneness (solitude) and loneliness”. Completely alone in the world, Henry finds comfort in finding the public library. He takes hours and hours to set up the books he is going to read and in which order he will read them and then this happens…
My heart absolutely broke for this man. Imagine, finally getting everything thing you’ve ever wanted, all the time in the world to read every single book that you love and your glasses break. It made me think about how lucky I am to be able to read, to write, to see (with a sweet pair of prescription glasses or contact lenses), and to spend my free time doing the things that I love to do.
I know it’s silly but books are a huge part of my life, the written word is the essence of my being. I plan on spending my life creating books, writing them, and reading them – which is why I’m searching for internships and jobs in publishing. I love discussing books with people, I love being able to lend books to people, and I love writing things that people like to read.
I love books and you should too!
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Love Always
Vanessa Xo
Boo! Ahh! It’s Haunting. It’s Daunting.
I’ve come across the saying INNOVATE OR DIE several times in the past few months and it’s haunting me.
INNOVATE OR DIE! It leaves you with a lingering feeling of fear in your heart and nausea sitting in the pit of your tummy. I’ve been searching for different ways to innovate/improve the content on my blog so that My Pen, My Voice.;* doesn’t die.
Last week I was contacted by the assistant online marketer of Random House Canada and asked if I wanted to start reviewing books on my blog. You all know what I’ve said about opportunities knocking once, right? That’s the first thing I thought about after I read the email (and jumped around a little bit). The second thing I thought about, was an email I received from my Grade 12 English teacher.
“Take advantage of whatever opportunities are presented to you. It’s surprising how one thing leads to another.”
Obviously I said yes – books are my number one love after all! I just picked out two books that I’m interested in reviewing so stay tuned for that – I’m anxiously awaiting for them to land in my mailbox. For now, I’m reading an ARC of Moira Young’s Rebel Heart and I’m having trouble putting it down! So I guess I’m on the road to innovation, to change.
Here’s to improving my beloved blog and still keeping it very ME -
*raises coffee mug*
Cheers!
–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo
P.S. Suggestions on how I can INNOVATE? Leave ‘em in the comments! HAPPY FRIDAY!
doing, enjoying, trying
I love taking out my notebook and writing when people are around, it freaks them out. They look at you with suspicious eyes, showing you the true power of a pen gliding along a piece of paper, forming words and creating your voice.
This morning I took out my Sharpie and doodled on some pretty paper. My Sharpie is sometimes my voice too. I came up with this:
Doodling is a great way to find out how you’re really feeling and what’s tugging at your heartstrings. I guess that ^ is how I’m feeling about my life right now. I’m loving that I threw out my 10-year-plan. I love the fact that I’m not making a plan for the rest of my life. I wake up and enjoy the routine chaos of my day. It’s a nice break from the constant worry that an avid planner with a mild case of OCD puts on herself.
I work, I write, I relax, I read, I get ready for school, I spend time with loved ones, and I enjoy my life. If I keep doing what I’m doing then something good great wonderful will eventually happen. Until then I’ll take out my pen or Sharpie and continue to sharpen my skills and radiate my voice 
.
Hope you enjoy this sunny Sunday!
–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo
P.S. 13 days until the S.T.E.L.L.A.A. blog tour!
P.P.S. CHECK THIS OUT –> click here.
Let the countdown begin!
T-Minus 15 days until the S.T.E.L.L.A.A. BLOG TOUR!
I’ll be the third stop on their tour and as you can see the stops just keep getting better! I am completely honoured and excited to be part of this and I hope to see you back here on September 9th for my post (and every day before then ). Rumor has it that on top of reading some awesome posts and getting to know S.T.E.L.L.A.A. as an organization, there may even be a GIVEAWAY!
Oh and a special thanks to Gigo Elmoselhi for the awesome poster.
Love books. Love to learn. Get involved!
And a Happy Friday to you all!
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Love Always
Vanessa Xo
Addicted to S.
Yesterday I read this article in Chatelaine and I realized that I am addicted to stress.
"Say what?? You addicted to stress? No way Vaness!"
When I’m not busy or don’t have anything to plan or brood over I feel useless, lazy, and a little depressed. I love the feeling of being stressed because it ensures that I get things done, that I get them done efficiently, and that I am not wasting away my life. Am I crazy? Un poco nuts perhaps? Or just addicted to being anxious?
I feel alive when I’m stressed out, like I have some kind of purpose. It’s when everything is going “perfectly” and I don’t have anything to worry about or do that I feel lazy and like my life isn’t going anywhere. Does anyone agree with me out there?
I’m not saying that being addicted to stress is a good thing, or a healthy thing for that matter but if you can control your stress I don’t see the harm in it.
If fear can be used to motivate, why can’t stress?
Hope you have a good kind of stressful day!
–
Love Always
Vanessa Xo
Don’t Mind if I Do!
While cleaning tables at work today, I noticed that someone had left a section of the newspaper behind.
I flipped through said section and found that my smile grew bigger and bigger as I read the various destinations. I want need to travel. It’s settled.
Dear Wonderful Fantastic Parents of Mine,
Please don’t kick me out of your house anytime soon. You see, I plan on spending all of my money on traveling and seeing the world. I HAVE to, that newspaper was a sign, destiny, fate – whatever you want to call it. Besides if I travel the world I’ll never run out of things to write about and one day I’ll become a famous author because of it. So really I’m just doing us all a favour. It’s very beneficial, see? 
Okay, so maybe I’m getting carried away. We all know that I’m a little too money-conscious to be spending it all willy-nilly on vacations, but a girl can dream can’t she? I’ve got a few trips in mind for 2012-2013 and if I can save up enough money, finish my novel, and land a full-time job, I just might get to go on them. Those are my personal stipulations. If I can do all three of those things, I get to treat myself to a vacation or maybe a Celine bag (drool) – new obsession on the rise.
Anyways, I hope you all had a great Thursday!
T.G.I.F. Almost. :)
