Expiration Dates

You see them everywhere- on cans of food, on milk, on Tylenol bottles, and even on car seats. Have you ever stopped to look at what they hold?

To expire means, To come to an end; terminate; cease. Put an actual date on such a term, and it's a blatant warning! I see them in a different way. I am more challenged by them. I don't mean that I deliberately make a box of instant rice just because it's going to "go bad" tomorrow, but I do see an opportunity to allow my imagination run wild, and for an availability for growth.

The Imagination Side
I see a date on a can of tuna. It might say, "3/18/15". My first thought is, Sheeeesh! Tuna lasts a long flippin' time!
But almost immediately I think, Wow. That's the day before Renn turns 8. I wonder what kinds of things we'll be talking about that day?  I realize how strange this concept might be, but asking questions that provoke complex thinking, are my favorite: Where will we be when this can of chili is officially inedible? How different will our lives be? What challenges will we be facing?

I once wrote down a date from a can of green beans, when I was 16. The date was "3/12/05". I distinctly remember writing in a letter to my friend, "I wonder what I'll be doing that day. Do you ever think about these things? I mean, what if it's  some huge important day in your life, and you're getting a glimpse into it's importance??"
My friend simply wrote back, "Why do you focus on weird things? No wonder you're failing this class!"

Turns out, 3/12/05 was a big day. It was my wedding day.

I might be weird, but I know I don't focus on the fact that things end. I day dream about what's to come. I try my best to be a live-in-the-moment type, but when I see a future date, the possibilities are endless.

The Growth Side
Are there other reasons to pay attention to those "Sell by" scribblings on the tops and bottoms of your all-important necessities?
I guess the date on the milk in your refrigerator should get a consistent glance or two. That's not a fun mistake to run into in the middle of your peanut butter binge! I am notorious for ignoring the dates on Advil bottles, and condiments. For example, I can say with utmost sincerity, that we kept the same bottle of Italian dressing for 3 years. It went through- count them- 4 moves with us! I know, completely gross. But when I see a specific date, I also think about my own mortality. The great thing is, it's nothing I'm afraid of.

I believe in a God who promises that only our days on Earth have expiration dates. Those who believe in, trust in, and honor HIM, live forever. Not everyone pays attention to this incredible gift, and much like with overdue milk, they get hit with a life altering, chunky, sour slap; one that cannot be undone once they've expired. I take the date, and very much try to imagine where my relationship with God might be. IF that's my last day on Earth, will I still be holding true to HIM? How can I focus all the goals and intentions I have for now, and shape them into how He'll want them by then?

So, what's the importance of this? (Besides letting you all in on a tiny bit of the crazy I hold onto so desperately?) I think it's just, we all have our own expiration dates. I'm lucky enough to know and understand that it's merely my earthly expiration. I know that I will live forever... In Heaven. But, the expiration dates that we see on a daily basis pass by without thought. They come and go, and we either consume, use, or throw away our products in time, simply to save ourselves a headache. What if we paid more attention to them? Would we challenge ourselves to have some forethought? Would we second guess the lifestyle we're living?

I know we all read them at one point or another each day. I challenge you to picture yourself on that exact date.

What do you see?

What's on my mind... right now.

I have heard time and time again that the Children's Book market is a rough place. It's not so much lonesome, as it is painfully hard to swallow. You tend to get rejected often; That's the cold, hard truth. But I guess the benefit is that you make friends along the way. I am a member of a neat community called, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and through them have found many, MANY other people in my situation:

Tons o' stories, and no one to publish 'em.

So, what to do? Apparently, you JUST. KEEP. WRITING. You soak up ideas while you sit and watch your kids play at the park, you draw inspiration from every living and non living creature you see around you, and you get reallyreally good at predicting postage as you send out yet another manuscript. I also hear you should get into a critique group so your self esteem doesn't plummet. So, that's on the schedule for next week. I'm looking forward to having unbiased ideas about what I am doing, and where my stories are going. Most often I hear that my stories are "really good." or that I have a "real talent". I'm waiting for someone to just look me in the eyes and say, "Sheesh, Bethany. Not a fan."

Just so you are aware, I have a difficult time calling myself an author, or even a writer, just yet. It's just like while one is going through their Doctorate program, they don't say they are  "Dr. So-in-so". They haven't been given those (what I'd imagine are) beautifully peaceful and relaxing initials at the end of their name!

So goes it for me, I think.

While I do, in fact, write children's stories, I am not an author because I haven't been published. And yet, I want to cringe and retreat to a dark, abandoned cave somewhere, anytime I tell someone I am "trying to make it in the Children's Book world." YUCK! The looks I get are so painfully audible... Like, "Aww, sure you are hunny." even though what comes out of their mouths are, "Well, good for you!"

Bleh. Gag. Moving on.

Today's goal? Positivity, whilst looking for a publisher who will take un-agented, first-time writers, OR an agent who'll take on an unpublished, never heard of, first-time writer! It CAN be done! And, as I have now heard from fellow "authors", it takes up to sixty or seventy rejections before you get an acceptance letter; I'm at a mere sixteen. Besides, how many rejections did the amazing Dr. Seuss get? Or even J.K. Rowling? (I heard even Scholastic told her Harry Potter was a waste of time or something. Ha!) Think about that- someone passed them up! Can you imagine how silly those people feel now??

So, with that, I press forward in this unconventional, painstaking, reaffirming, but tremendously wonderful path I have taken. One day, my grandchildren will hold one of my story picture books. They'll giggle at it's sillyness, and marvel in the fact that their grandma wrote it. For now, I will keep creating characters and story lines.

JUST. KEEP. WRITING. 

Well, here I am.

To tell you the truth, I didn't actually know the purpose for having a Blog until last night. I had always honestly thought that "Bloggers" were people who got paid to write about specific topics, or were people who loved themselves entirely too much and felt they had to share their love with the world. However, through various emails regarding how to get my name out into the world, I came to one (apparently) obvious conclusion: I needed to start a Blog.

So, here I am...?

What do we discuss? Politics? Umm... No. I can promise that I won't be covering that end of the writing spectrum. I don't fancy arguing with highly opinionated people too much. Do I share about my 2 year-old's potty training adventures? Hmm... Maybe. That's sure to get a good laugh, or a few "Been there, done that." comments. But maybe, I'll just write, and see what happens. I don't feel that I am particularly interesting, but one never knows, I guess.

Please know that I am going to be focusing on my Children's stories. I do have a lot of wonderful people who know me, personally, that may desire to comment about the ridiculous things I have amounted to doing in my daily life. But, this will be used for my one-day "professional" (HA!) career. So, be nice!

Love to you all, and here's hoping this launches me into something, somewhere. For now, I am off to fight the kids over the television...

More to come!