A Lack of Progress

When was the last time someone said no to something you asked for?

It makes an interesting contrast for characters. I responded with something that I hadn't expected. Outrage is an emotion that could carry me to do a lot of things.

Most of the time I write it out. I allow some poor character to try to do all the great things that I'd like to do, like burning bridges and cursing storms. Ever find yourself to be too polite to say the things in your mind?

No is often a barrier to make a character reach harder. Failure is the only option to make them grow. Sometimes, though, I wish people didn't have so much to learn.

So if you're wondering - I felt like I was stuck in the 1950s this week. And I'm breaking out of that mold. I'm now twisting some poor character into that spot to break her out in all the ways I can think of that I couldn't actually do in person. Should be an interesting evening for me.

As for you - next time you hear the word no, what do you do? Is your first reaction the only response? Or is there more to it?

Turning Life Upside Down

Ever wonder what it takes to drive someone to those depths? What it is that will make someone reach past all the barriers of what's comfortable and normal for what might be better?

In general, it isn't an easy decision, or a quick one.

Is it from that moment when he hit you and you blacked out a moment, and you wondered if the next blow would be the last?

Is it another time, when you realized you just weren't able to be yourself (around her) at home?

When we talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we don't think about little day-to-day changes. We often talk about greater ideals, like whether we can carry firearms or the right to choose. But it is no less important to think about the daily grind: your job, your partner and family, and your friends.

Take another look. Most of these can be changed. Your horrible monster-in-law might have to be endured during holidays, but she might cause enough trouble that she's not worth it. That husband might have been something else, but a person is not defined by one choice. It's a combination of many little things that form a puzzle. That dead-end job that saps your energy and your time needs to be replaced.

Of course, I write this at a time when I consider going back to a career I once hated. Times change, and occasionally one must go to the dark side in order to find the light.

What's your temptation? Is the dark side worth pursuing in order to get past the current rut? Why do we only view the black and the white, the dark and the light, and never the infamous shades of gray that life truly is?

Deep thoughts for the new year. May your own road be well-lit.