Lately so many people have been asking me about writing. Do I love it, is it fulfilling, would I write another book.  So I decided to blog to you today on writing. I love and dislike writing. It depends on when I’m doing it, for what purpose I am doing it and what mood I am in when I am doing it.

I love writing when I am writing about something that I am passionate about, which is most of the time, since I write mostly about teenage issues. I love writing when I am giving back to the world with any words that will make life easier for the reader, no matter who it is.  I love writing when I have a long time frame to write in, so I can relax and let my words come from my heart and not from a place of what I need to do next. I love writing when my space around me is still and quiet.

So, when I dislike writing it is the opposite of when I love it.  I don’t like writing when I dislike what I’m writing about, I’m writing about something that has no impact on the world,  when I’m on deadline and I don’t leave myself enough time, and my space is full of confusion and chaos.  One would think that knowing this information would make it easy to always love writing.  Not the case!  I don’t always have control of my environment, I have a partner and I have 2 dogs, one being a  yellow Lab.  If anyone knows anything about yellow Lab’s, they know it’s like having a two-year-old, with attention deficit disorder for 11-15 years.

Your mood directly affects what is written, so it’s not like you have to be in a perfect mood to write, just realize that being angry will look different on paper than being happy.  Either way is okay, it really depends on the content of what you are writing.  For me, I usually have to be in a content place to write about issues directly related to teens and to help the parents of teens. 

If you are writing, or you are planning to start a book or any other writing, my suggestions to you would be:

• Take a few writing classes
• Figure out what you want to write about
• When you are writing, check in with how you feel
• Dedicate a specific space that you feel good in to write, that is quiet and calm
• Try to give yourself enough time to write to give those create juices time to flow
  
• Try to write everyday, even if it’s for an hour everyday

  To answer the other questions; yes I love writing most of the time, yes it is very fulfilling, and yes I will write other books.  I would love to know what you think about writing or if have any questions about writing, please comment.  Happy writing

   

It seems that the 14-year decline in babies born to teens is coming to an end.  The teen birth rate jumped quite a bit in 2006.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Arizona’s teen birth rate remains above the National Average. It seems that higher birth rates were reported in 26 states across the country. Other States with high birth rates include New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The National average is up by 3.5%.

Why with all of the sex education, is teen pregnancy on the rise?  My belief is that sex is such a casual affair, I’ve said it before, it is as casual as “Let’s go get a Latte”.  Sex has become cool, and as long as it’s cool, teens are going to want to have it.

Sex is everywhere, commercials, to sell cars, the programs on TV, and in our schools.  The programs on TV are getting more and more explicit including the programs about teens. Sex isn’t treated as sacred as it use to be. If we had sex in junior high or high school, we wouldn’t tell anyone because we would be labeled something that wasn’t so nice.

So what can we do as parents to help our teens understand the significance of having sex?  The first thing I always say is; talk to your teen, do a pro’s and con’s list, together. Try not to react during this process, just listen and help add things to the list. Then look at the list and ask them what they think. Ask them what they think the repercussions of having sex is.  The more you talk to your kids about everything, the clearer they become on the issues at hand.

I think asking your daughter if she had a teen daughter would she want her daughter to be participating in casual sex?  I would have to say, her answer would be NO. We have to help our teens understand that sex isn’t casual, no matter what the media says.

If you have any other ideas for parents on helping their teens with this issue, please let me know.

Wow, another year gone, it’s amazing.  Another year goes and another comes and if I don’t stop and look at what has happened in the past year, I just go on to the next. Just another year, no big deal…

I sat after a great meal with friends and my partner and we wrote down everything we wanted to pat ourselves on the back for in 2008.  After we wrote them down, we shared them with each other, and witnessed each others as well.  What an experience it was to participate in each others successes.  We all were so excited to verbalize our successes and hear about each others triumphs.

Then we proceeded to write our goals for 2009 and share them.  It just made them real to us, especially because we were sharing them out loud.  Try this with your family or friends. If you have teens, invite their friends over and guide them through this, it is very empowering.  If you want to take it a step further have them do a vision board after, about what they would like to create in the year to come.

I do this in my groups with teens and it’s amazing how things start manifesting in their lives. It really is exciting.  You get to see what you wanted and if you made it happen or not.

I am excited about another year and all of the exciting options I have laid out for myself.  The years go by fast, so don’t stall. I wrote my on a pretty piece of paper and actually decorated it. Have fun, bring in the New Year with all of your wonderful intentions.

If you have any other ideas, I would love to hear about them.