I’m Moving to My Sister’s Basement II

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Last time I showed you the theater lobby. Tonight, it’s time for a little adult refreshment.

Now that we’re all refreshed, it’s time to see the theater.

My kids love this room! Spongebob Squarepants looks really great on this screen. Too bad I’m not that great a photographer.

My son told me they brought the monkey into the theater to sober him up.

I couldn’t resist showing off the new painting in the living room!

I hope you liked the brief tour of my sister’s basement. Be sure to see the rest here.

What about you? What are some of your favorite spaces? Do you have any pics you could share? Leave me a comment here!

I’m Moving To My Sister’s Basement

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Over the weekend, I had an awesome Mother’s Day brunch at my sister’s place.  She’s an excellent cook, but besides that, she has a pretty amazing basement.  I took some pictures to give you an idea of why if I had to live in someone’e basement, this is the one I’d pick.

The theater lobby

The lobby of the theater has a leather couch facing a HDTV. There is a treadmill next to the couch, which is a pretty good idea for movie theater lobbies in general. Think of the workouts you could work in while waiting for your favorite blockbuster to start!

There are classic movie posters on all the walls.  I have a copy of this one at home but it looks much better here.

This is the concession stand which is opposite the entrace to the theater.  The popcorn machine works too!

I think the snack bar prices need to be adjusted, don’t you?

That’s just a sample of what’s down there.  Next time I’ll take you inside the theater itself as well as the fully stocked bar.

How about you? Would you move in here if you could? Are there places you know that would make great little hideaways? Leave me a comment and/or send pics to patti@pattibagadion.com!

Shame on Me? Not Anymore.

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I’ll start off by saying I love Pace and Kyeli. They offer pragmatic advice on writing and life, sprinkled with real-life examples and heartfelt lessons learned – and learning. A question from one of their recent newsletters took on the idea of shame and it knocked me back a little:

Take a moment to connect with yourself, Patti. What are you ashamed of – and how is it hurting you?

Shame is a powerful word. Over the years, I’ve become an expert in self-flagellation and have a fairly poor self image to show for it. Why would I drag myself out in the open yet again so I could castigate myself in public?

The answer is I wouldn’t.  And I won’t.

Shame is a Judgment

Do I regret things I’ve done or said? Sure, who doesn’t, but regret is a disparate concept.  If I were to tell you I was ashamed of something, for me that is like pouring gasoline on an emotional fire, reinforcing a poor self image. It’s telling both my internal and external critics, “Yes, I agree with you – I am a atrocious person. Shame on me!” There is judgment in that statement, just as there is in anything I say I’m ashamed of doing or saying. I survived an abusive relationship from a long time ago. A poor self image was the name of the game then. Judging myself is just echoing that other voice I could never silence.  It’s just like ”shoulding” on myself. I’d be comparing myself unfavorably to the ubiquitous “them.” To me, that’s pointless and doesn’t do me any good.

Shame Tears Me Down

There are things I’m terrified to admit, but just because I don’t go around broadcasting them doesn’t mean there is shame there. Embarrassment perhaps but not shame. For me, the real challenge is to go from embarrassment to acceptance. That is part of self-improvement in my opinion and one of the key steps in transforming a poor self image into a positive self image. Judging myself is not part of the equation – at all. It can’t be. The words I use when I talk to myself are important. Why would I waste my thoughts on ones that tear me down unnecessarily?

Make no mistake – I’m not perfect at this. My struggles are as challenging for me as yours are for you. In this, there is no shame. A poor self image is tough to shake for many of us. I don’t claim to more proficient at it than anyone else.

So, what am I ashamed of? I can’t think of anything. And that’s okay.

What about you? Does shame have a place in your life?

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Time to Love Your Writing More: 5 Easy Ways You Can Do It

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Writing Can Be Fun

If there’s one thing I know, it’s if something isn’t fun, I won’t do it.  Sometimes in the busyness of life, in the process of trying to get things done – or, if the truth is told, running away from them as fast as I can – writing becomes just one more thing I have to do. It can be tempting to say “I just don’t have time!” Over the years, I’ve stumbled onto a few ways  to breathe new life into my writing sessions and keep them from becoming a chore I don’t look forward to. When the magic seems to have faded, these help me bring it back. Maybe they’ll do something for you too.

  1. Change the scenery. Go to a favorite coffee shop, cafe or park. (Try that last one in good weather. Soggy pages or iPads aren’t much fun.) When I came up with the idea for this post, I was treating myself to a nice steak and lobster dinner at a nearby restaurant.  Judge for yourself whether the setting helped or not!
  2. Get a new pen in a favorite color. This one might sound silly but in the age of laptops, it really works. When I’m out, I like to fill my little Moleskine. The splash of color adds a little whimsy to the session.
  3. Take breaks when you need to. There’s something to be said for word sprints where you write like crazy for an hour or so, but I’ve never been able to go much longer than that without a stopping to get myself a nice, cold glass of iced tea or a quick walk around the block. Take time for you too!
  4. Make a day of it. When I can, it helps to take a half or whole day and just write my brains out!  I have a session or two in the morning and a couple more in the afternoon, with lots of pampering in-between. Some great stuff usually comes out of these self-guided retreats, but as SARK is fond of saying, every time you write, something valuable will occur!
  5. Add a little music. Sometimes I need complete silence. Other times, I put on some not-too-hard rock or instrumental jazz to accompany my musings. You might have to try it several times both ways to see what works for you.

When I discover some more, I’ll add them to the list. What about you? What helps you love your writing time?

Photo by Marc Faladeau

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