writer

Citrus Spray for Writing

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Many times, writing can be a tedious and time-consuming job that can leave you almost asleep at the keyboard, after many hours.  Even when you take short breaks, and pour the coffee to no end, this may happen.  For when I feel in a Zombie state, I have a quick remedy that seems to work for me – Citrus spray.  I spray it around the room, and a few minutes later, I feel focused and even re-energized.  I used Pure Citrus, and eco-friendly and natural brand.  It also comes in a mix of vanilla with citrus or lavender with citrus, but the main citrus aroma seems to overwhelm the vanilla and lavender scents, so you mostly smell the citrus.  It works for me, it may work for you too.  Just sharing this simple trick.

Shakespeare a Day 18

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“Can honour set-to a leg?  No.  Or an arm?  No.  Or take away the grief of a wound?  No.  Honour hath no skill in surgery, then?  No.  What is honour?  A word.  What is that word honour?  Air.” – King Henry IV, Part I

It is what it is.  A matter of the soul? the spirit? of love of the country? of the human condition?

Shakespeare a Day 17

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“This above all; to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” – Hamlet

True words, as it is hard to be false to the world when we are true to ourselves.  When we experience many back stabs in the course of our lives, we might tend to become a bit skeptical about trusting people; however, this is not the way to live fully, as it denies the essence of Love.  By being true to yourself and putting out the best of you, the ball ends up on the other’s court – even when you experience deceit, you are at peace with yourself.  In this world, the good and the bad coexists, and sometimes, wolves wear sheep’s attire – the only weapon against that is the satisfaction of being true to yourself.

Shakespeare a Day 15

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“That death’s unnatural that kills for loving.” – Othello, the Moor of Venice

Love, such a short and simple word, and so much goes into it.  Most things we do during our days on Earth we do for Love – for love of someone, of something, for love of money, for love of success, for love of the planet, of its people, for love of material things … Whether that Love is right or wrong, in our minds, we do it just for Love.  Crimes of passion are said to be committed out of Love – love that has sickened and crossed the line towards death.  Even the denial of oneself for the pleasing of the loved one, is out of love.  All is done in the name of Love.  Love is pure, a higher essence; in our humanity, or twisted humanity, we corrupt it.

Today, think of it – what do you love?  why do you love?

Shakespeare a Day 14

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“Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge had stomach for them all.” – Othello, The Moor of Venice

This line is full of emotion, vengeance and anger – both strong and powerful emotions that can take over the best of our humanity.  It only takes a moment for those emotions to undo the best in us.  As humans, we experience a ray of feelings and emotions that can shape our behavior; the real power rests in how we deal with them.

My favorite authors are the ones that can tell a good story but also let me feel the emotions through the words in the page.

Shakespeare a Day 13

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“O Wonder!  How many goodly creatures are there here!  How beauteous mankind is!  O brave new world, that has such people in’t.” – The Tempest

We are wonders of creation.  We are capable of the most sublime and beautiful art, but also of the most hideous acts of cruelty.  This is what differentiate us and set us apart from other creatures here on Earth.  Yes, we can be “goodly creatures” and “beauteous” – and it would certainly take a new world order.

Shakespeare a Day 12

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“Lust is but a bloody fire, kindled with unchaste desire, fed in heart, whose flames aspire as thoughts do blow them, higher and higher.  – The Merry Wives of Windsor

Whether we are talking about love, lust, or something else, what is in our thoughts feed our hearts.  If you think it much, it is deposited in your heart and becomes part of you, of what you believe, of who you are.  It shapes you, your immediate surroundings, and eventually your reality.

Shakespeare a Day 6

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Portia

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“The quality of mercy is not strain’d, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven, upon the place beneath: it is twice bless’d; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” (The Merchant of Venice)

Mercy – The definition of mercy according to the American Heritage Dictionary

  • Compassionate treatment of an offender, enemy, etc; clemency.
  • A disposition to be kind and forgiving.
  • A fortunate occurrence.

Are we merciful with ourselves or do we beat ourselves up with self-criticism about our lives and work?  Whether we are the ones who take or give, mercy knows no difference.  However, it is up to us to look inside and understand the part that takes and the part that gives, and upon that understanding we might be able then, to be more merciful to ourselves.  It is then, that Creativity  will flow.

Shakespeare a Day 2

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“Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! Rage! Blow!” – King Lear

This is the perfect quotation to illustrate the power of words, descriptive and emotional.  It lets you feel the type of rage and anger; you can picture the face turning red, ready to blow up in all kinds of verbal display, steamed up!

I love writing that brings up emotion.  Hope you enjoy today’s quotation.

Shakespeare a Day 1

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For the next few days I will post one quote from Shakespeare’s plays daily.  For the first quote I have selected probably the most quoted of all.

“To be or not to be, that is the question…”

At one point or another, we have asked the same question ourselves.  In our search for identity, for belonging, for our life’s purpose, there are many things that we must be, or not, and in the end, only we have the answer(s).  To be , to have the courage to follow our path and do what we know we have to do.  Or to give into our fears and not to be, and never answer the question.  In the end, it is all up to us.