Ducklings Jump from Nest 50 Feet in the Air and it's Relation to the Human Experience!

While watching this clip and writing Booke's Book...I had a thought: We often see the struggles of nature and relate this to making them strong. As the baby ducks used their tiny claws to climb upwards at the beckoning call of their mother...I thought of our human struggle. Too often we may look at challenges or struggles as a negative, when (in most cases) it makes us stronger...we learn, grow, and adapt. Usually, we have an opportunity to then teach the lessons learned from our trials to others.

A scared and weary baby duck may choose to stay in its nest; however, if it doesn't eventually push itself, the outcome is grim. Life prompts us to take action...how we respond is our reward. My cousin Brooke Ellefsen, who is currently battling stage IV lung cancer, told me, "When she and Cody got married, their motto became: If we are not moving forward, then we are moving backward!"

the journey of life isn't always about how smooth the ride is, but how well you adjust to the bumps, delays, inconveniences, breakdowns, and frustration. I think in many ways, the journey is the point...the destination is simply a bonus to all your endurance!

Leave the nest and explore your world, even at the expense of heartache and pain. I'm a sucker for acronyms and JOY can stand for...Just Over Yonder...which means...go and explore because you never know what mystery you might discover, the friends you'll find, or memories that'll be made.

Climb, then jump like the little baby duck...I think you'll find that most likely you'll bounce, no matter the metaphorical fall:)

GRAVITY! 10-28-17 (THE JOURNEY OF BROOKE'S BOOK)

GRAVITY

     "GRAVITY!" Take a moment and think about what that word means to you...

      Was it in the literal, laws of the universe sense, or did you wander into the metaphorical aspect of the word (as in: "I don't think you understand the 'gravity' of the situation)...there is no wrong way of thinking about gravity...it is a truth which is always consistent. Isaac Newton, who was born on Christmas Day is 1642, was quoted as saying, "To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me." (THE SCIENCE BOOK: BIG IDEAS SIMPLY EXPLAINED. pg:67©2014 DK www.dk.com)

      Although I do not know the exact date he quoted that, the tone of his words bring hope to me. If an individual who discovered, comprehended, and then taught us of something that affects everything in the universe... felt like a child playing on a beach, then what am I? To answer that honestly is difficult...I guess I would place myself somewhere in the category of...my parents are still dating!...(I'm not born yet is what I mean as I compare myself to Newton's quote)

     Another facet of his quote that I like is how he say's..."vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me." It encompasses his ideology as a scientist, wherein those truths are undiscovered, but I can find them. Isaac Newton was also quoted as saying, "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (http://www.azquotes.com/quote/213687)

     Although I have been keeping the contents of the book I am writing for Brooke and her family secret until it is ready to be published; there is one small part I would like to talk about, which points to "standing upon the shoulders of giants" or in other words, "learning from previous generations". One of the older characters in the book is teaching a younger character some lessons they have learned...at this point I'm going to blank out the names because I'm still writing and editing the book. Putting this into context, they are sitting outside a small forest, waiting for another character to come and pick them up. They spent the morning training for a specific purpose: (this ------- represents a characters name/he/she/him/her being taken out of the story)

“Jeepers creepers ---------,” said -------- while running --- messy hands over --- mud-caked hair. “You’re really testing my intellectual limits today, aren’t ya!”

“You’re a smart kid, and testing simply confirms your smartness!” --- winked at -------.

“I really hope I can be as knowledgeable as ----- and -------- someday,” --- stated.

“To be honest, you’re further along than we were at your age. The information available at your generations fingertips is astounding.”

As I was writing this it caused me to ponder on how truly much we know and still don't know. There are vast amounts of information available at the touch of a button...It's daunting to think about...some might even have "Information FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out). We are truly blessed to live in a time when we can witness scientific, medical, and electronic advancements on what seems like a daily basis. Libraries are brimming with books, countless electronic pages of content bloat the world wide web, and a multitude of educational shows broadcast 24/7. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. "Good" if we (1) Learn from what has already been gained. (2) Expand upon that knowledge. (3) Use that enlightenment for the betterment of self, family, community, and world!

"Bad" if we (1) Don't learn to sift truth from lies. (2) Spend too much time on worthless, unverified, and unimportant information. (3) Fail to achieve a balance between studying and actually doing...meaning knowledge is good but don't forget to go out and participate.

I was a sociology major at the University of Minnesota. When I graduated in Aug. 2006, I wasn't sure how I wanted to apply my bachelor's degree in the job world. In a Short amount of time after graduating, in Oct. 2006 I went a different route and enrolled to become a massage therapist. After nearly another year of schooling, I received my massage diploma in Sept. 2007. With my new bodywork training, in some ways, I regretted getting my earlier bachelors. I felt that way because I discovered how much I loved massage therapy and all that previous education felt like a waste...it wasn't though. One thing I didn't realize until just a few years ago, was how valuable my sociology training would be while writing books.

I will admit, I'm still finding my style and voice with respect to the craft of writing; however, I love employing science, information, knowledge, the human experience, nature and any other truths...then finding a fun way to utilize that to tell a story. It's an amazing rush to study something until you begin to understand the principles of it, then use your imagination to incorporate (and even expand upon) it into a book! The following is a small example from "BROOKE'S BOOK" (this is not the actual name of the book, it is what I'm calling this journey). The following is a continuation of dialogue between two characters in the book...the older is instructing the younger on how the human body generates electricity...they are still sitting on the edge of the forest waiting for their ride (again, I've taken out the names until it is published; this ------- represents a characters name/he/she/him/her being taken out of the story)

"...Did you know the body produces electricity?”

“You mean, like real electricity?”

“Yes, like real electricity,” --- nudged ------. “Unless you’ve discovered fake electricity.”

“You’re funny ------,” --- responded as they both laughed.

“It’s true and I’ll give you an example,” ---------- started explaining. “Think about the electronic tablet you use nearly every day to read and play games on.”

“Oh man, I love that thing,” said ------ as --- reminisced. “Maybe we could FaceTime -------- and ------- when we get back.”

“That would be great, let’s do that,” --- responded with a smile. “Have you ever thought about how you were able to touch the screen and either flip pages or control the movements?”

“Uhhh...I don’t know, I guess I just thought it was my finger,”

“Well, you’re right, it is your finger,” --- --------- responded as --- was leading --- to think deeper. “But, what is it about your finger that allows you to do that?”

“I have no idea...I guess it’s because I push hard on the screen?”

“On some touchscreens, it does depend on how hard you push. For instance, when you’re at the grocery store and pay using a debit card...that screen registers how hard you push as it has sensors underneath. When it comes to your tablet, it’s not like that. So, what else do you think might be the answer?”

“Hmmm,” ------- said out loud as --- thought hard. “I don’t know the answer ----------.”

“That’s alright,” --- reassured ---. “Just a little bit ago I told you that the body produces electricity.”

“Oh yeah, duh, I remember that now,” said ------ as --- felt --- should have been able to recall that.

“No worries kiddo,” --- continued to teach ---. “We’re not going to always recollect everything. There’s a lot to learn and even super smart people need to study and educate themselves. Plus, even if you do comprehend something, you may forget, so you’ll need to go back and re-learn it.”

“Reassuring but daunting,” said ------- as --- pointed at --- ----------.

--- laughed at -------- statement and said, “Life can be overwhelming at times. Think of a captain navigating a boat in the ocean. There are so many things they need to know and be aware of as the seas are quite intimidating. However, if he or she is prepared, the more equipped they will be when tackling obstacles and weathering storms as they happen.”

------- pondered the wise words of --- elder for a moment, when --- proclaimed, “Oh, oh, I think I understand. Last summer we visited my aunt and uncle up in Washington. We stayed at this cabin at this really cool lake. One day, me and one of my cousins took a rowboat out. When we were away from shore we thought it would be cool to drop the anchor, which was this heavy cement block attached to a chain...”

(We pick the up the explanation of electricity in the body after a small example story from the younger character...)

“Thanks for sharing that story,” --- said. “That was a perfect example. Now, can you think back to what I was saying about our bodies?”

“Yes!” --- exclaimed with confidence. “Our bodies produce electricity.”

“You’re right,” --- responded. “It’s the reason you’re able to control the movements on that tablet or your ----------'s smartphone. When you tap your finger on the screen it registers an electrical charge through your skin.”

“-----------,” -------- said as --- acted out two small explosions near --- head with --- hands. “Mind...blown!”

“Pretty cool, huh,” --- said.

“But...how does the body produce electricity?” --- sincerely asked. “Do we collect it from static electricity shocks or something?”

“No, but that’s a good question and those pesky shocks can be quite annoying at times,”

“I know, sometime’s ------ and I have shocking contests. We’ll walk around the room with our socks on and then see who can chicken out first.”

“Oh my,” --- chuckled. “You two are an interesting pair. That must be quite the sight to see.”

“Yeah, but we don’t have that contest too often...neither of us likes getting shocked! Now that I think about it, no one really wins. It’s just about who quits first.”

“That’s an interesting observation you just made.”

“Huh, I guess I do keep learning stuff all the time.”

Getting back to the earlier conversation, --- -------- asked, “Since we don’t absorb electricity from those shocks, how else do you think we might produce electricity?”

“Ok...let’s see...if it doesn’t come from outside, then it’s gotta be from the inside.” deduced ---------.

“Great answer,” --- said. “Now, what would generate electricity on the inside of our bodies?”

“Jeepers creepers --------,” said ------ while running --- messy hands over --- mud-caked hair. “You’re really testing my intellectual limits today, aren’t ya!”

“You’re a smart kid, and testing simply confirms your smartness!” --- winked at -------.

“I really hope I can be as knowledgeable as ------ and -------- someday,” --- stated.

“To be honest, you’re further along than we were at your age. The information available at your generations fingertips is astounding.”

------- grinned as --- thought out loud, “What would generate electricity in our bodies? What...what...what...it wouldn’t be our hearts, they pump blood and I’m certain they run their functions off the electrical signals. Oh ---------…”

“What?”

“Am I onto something when I say electrical signals?”

“Yes, definitely!”

---------- continued to ponder verbally, “So, the electricity would need to be very small in size. It would also need to be able to travel to every part of my body. Ok, so what could possibly generate electricity and cover the entire inside of my body.”

“Keep going,” --- ------------ urged. “I think you’re going to figure this out.”

--------- stood up while pacing for a moment, until --- stopped, pointed at --- ----------, and declared, “ATOMS! It has to be atoms...because, now I remember something. Everything is made up of atoms and, um...let’s see, atoms have things called prototrons, nevatrons, and...and...electricaltrons! Electricaltrons have the word electrical in them, hence electricity flows from them.”

--- bowed with a dramatic arm roll as --- ----------- told ---, “Impressive...impressive indeed. You are right when you said atoms had to do with generating electricity in the body; however, you were just slightly off on prototrons, nevatrons, and...what was the last one?”

“Electricaltrons…”

“Right, electricaltrons. It is actually, protons, neutrons, and electrons,” --- lovingly corrected --- ---------. “Atoms are made up of those three. Protons contain a positive charge, neutrons are neutral as they are the nucleus of the atom, and electrons have a negative charge. Atoms either become negative or positive. It is this shifting imbalance which allows electrons to travel from atom to atom. That is what generates electricity as the negative charge or electron flows.”

“Um, yep, I definitely think I’ll need to go back to that one and re-memorize it.”

“Well, I think it’s amazing you were able to recall all of that information, then use it to come to that conclusion. Your ----------- and -------- would always tell people that you don’t need to be perfect to make a difference. Your information wasn’t perfect, but you were still able to make a difference by solving my questions.”

“Whoa, I like that phrase you just said...you don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. That could help a lot of people.”

“I’d encourage you to tell as many people as you can. We all make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t make a difference.”

-end example from the book-

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Back to my blog-

I think...just like GRAVITY, everything we do has an impact! This impact might only be in our "personal universe" or "reality", nevertheless, the impact of our actions are as real and true as gravity. Even if it's a decision that only impacts me, it still is a force, ramification, repercussion, and influence. Several years ago, there was a phrase I made up to help motivate me: My Life In One Day. It meant...the choice I'm making right now, will ripple affect my future. When making notes on my calendar I would write the acronym: "MLIOD" at the top...I knew it stood for My Life In One Day. Sometimes I would change it up and write the saying in (my poorly broken) Spanish...Mi Vida En Una Dia...MVEUD. That way if anyone happened to see my calendar, they would probably just think it was a reminder of an appointment or something. I used to have fake sayings prepared in the event anyone did happen to ask me.

The other day I decided to get out and take a drive. I've been struggling at a transition point in the book...it is a major transition point and it's been difficult to express it in the story...or at least properly convey it. It affects so many characters and storylines that I want to be careful yet creative, entertaining as well as impactful. I was contemplating how I could do this...then I realized the "gravity" of what I was doing. Ever since I was a kid I've created characters with my imagination; however, since Thanksgiving of 2012, I truly became serious about building and developing characters to write into my books.

You have to try and understand this from my point of view...practically every day since November of 2012, I've developed, polished, refined, imagined, created, and built these characters. In my line of work as a massage therapist, I have many, many silent, meditative hours when I can think and ponder on the events, people, animals, and creatures in my cerebral macrocosm. A quick, rough estimate, so you can have a base...on the computer and in my head, I've either written or started writing at least 15 or so different book series (these book series individually allow for dozens upon dozens, dare I even say hundreds of evolving storylines) and I have around 50 main/major characters (person, animal, or creature).

One thing I will do, especially when I'm working, and I don't have access to a computer; I will imagine the character or scene like I just watched a movie. Take a moment and try it for yourself...remember a scene from your favorite movie...now, you don't literally see it in front of you...but you can visualize it in your mind's eye; just like a memory.

After the visualization, I build them or it from that point. I will ask myself, "What are aspects of their personality?" Then I will imagine them doing that...for example...are they a jokester? So I see them telling jokes, playing pranks, or being silly. I create a scene...they are in class and start passing a note to a friend while the teachers back is turned, as it eventually makes the round to its destination and the note reaches its target, my character coughs loudly so the teacher will turn around and the other person will be caught with the note in their hand. He or she laughs as their friend is getting scolded for passing notes in class.

After I've done that, it stays with me like a memory, then when I go to write on my computer, I can use that as a reference, almost as if I was there with them...and that is what takes me back to gravity and why I've been in a writing quandary. All of my characters are figments of an imagination, a personal creation of wandering thoughts, and implementations of an exclusive quasi-reality.

Now, I'm writing a fictional story, which not only incorporates my own peculiar creations but infuses real people into a fantasy world. Gravity (in the non-physics aspect) is a gentle word to describe the responsibility and seriousness I feel while writing Brooke's book. I'm interacting make-believe and mythical creations with dear members of my family. If I do this right and properly, it will be incredible, fun, and impacting...but it must be done from my heart, with purpose, attention, regard, consideration, prudence, sagacity, and vigilance.

That is why, for me, at this time of storyline transition, when I'm marrying years of fictitious universe building into situational reality...it has become formidable. What once was a waterfall of narration has become a trickle of telling. The good thing...I expected this to happen...that's why I gave myself 90 days...if I can focus, it's enough time to write a minimum 50,000-word book, which I would feel comfortable publishing (at my current skill level). I gave myself 90 days because I would be forced to be better...I would be obligated to manhandle the struggles and pitfalls of a writer. 90 days to write a book, I prayed and still pray would be enough time for Brooke to enjoy the fruits of this book with her family and friends!

The following explanation of gravity can be found on the website:

https://www.thoughtco.com/newtons-law-of-gravity-2698878

GRAVITATIONAL FORCES

Newton eventually came to the conclusion that, in fact, the apple and the moon were influenced by the same force.

He named that force gravitation (or gravity) after the Latin word gravitas which literally translates into "heaviness" or "weight."

In the Principia, Newton defined the force of gravity in the following way (translated from the Latin):

Every particle of matter in the universe attracts every other particle with a force that is directly proportional to the product of the masses of the particles and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

Relating this to life and relationships...we are all connected...right now, you have the ability to impact the life of another. Ever since I started this on 10-01-17, I've been encouraging others to do something special for a loved one...it truly doesn't matter what it is as long as it comes from your heart! The same force which pulls the apple down and allows the earth to dance with the moon is symbolic of our lives every day...smiling faces, kind words, helpful service, good deeds, and a positive attitude are directly proportional to the well-being of our souls...

FIND YOUR GRAVITY,

THEN USE IT FOR GOOD!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

"THE EARTH is a stage and we are its STARS!"

(PLEASE SHARE THIS BLOG, STORY, AND JOURNEY WITH OTHERS)

THANK YOU FOR READING!

©2017 SAMUEL PETERSEN

           



     

     

UPDATES FROM BROOKE AND WHY THEY INSPIRE ME! 10-24-17

Brave Like Brooke

Yesterday at 2:31am · 

One year ago today.... we were filled with so much gratitude & love! Before we even pulled in the parking lot, we saw good family friends. We had just got out of our car; I was smiling ear to ear & Cody was choking up. I was shaking my head saying don't start yet, oh babe, we're good! (I didn't want to start crying and we really wanted this to be a day of JOY)! We wish everyone could feel or know how loved they truly are, though we don't want anyone to experience cancer. Thank you so much to the many friends, family, sports teams, community & even some seemingly strangers for coming together in an effort to support our family. What a blessing it was to have so many offer up their time, talents & service in our behalf. What a true gift it has been to not stress over the financial burdens that could have beset us. Instead, shed many tears of joy as we've lovingly shared about the Fund Run & Silent Auction offered in our behalf. To those friends & family members who snapped into action of what they could do to help our family. It was overwhelming in so many ways. We are eternally grateful to each of you, please know this.
We have learned so much!
It still seams surreal at times. We spent those 8 days in the hospital. Waiting, testing, waiting some more all to find out towards the end of that week that we were diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer & a hefty prognosis. It was tough, but was also accompanied with a peace. There was a feeling of what do we need to do? What can we do? Part of me felt like what do we need to do to take care of this? My husband with a medical background was more under the heavy feeling of what can we do??? We can't do anything. It is a terminal cancer by nature. We do believe in miracles. We have prayed & hoped for a miracle. As we know, many of you have with us. We at times feel like we are doing what we can to buy as much time in this life as we can together. Other times we are hoping for a miracle of total healing. The best place to be in where we keep that eternal perspective. Where we trust that our Heavenly Father is there. He hears our prayers. He also knows what we don't know & wants what is best for us. We have met a few people who have had family members that had a similar cancer but tested for a different gene typing. They were able to be somewhat active as I am until the cancer took them. If that is the case; we still feel blessed to be able to live life at this time.
I sat with our 6 year old 2 days ago after she had asked questions about herself, questions about me, questions about us, then questions about her again. She was trying to make sense of it all & where things fit in her world, what it meant for her. She crossed the room and sat with me for 15-20 minutes as we cried. Telling me she didn't want me to go any where. That she always wanted me with her. I've told her several times; I always will be! If I'm not with you right here, I will be with you in spirit and right here in your heart. I explained to her, some Mommys don't get to tell their kiddos goodbye, explain what they believe or answer questions & love on them because their death may be more sudden. We get the chance to do that & for that we are blessed. Our little guy just got carried down by Cody, because he wanted to be by me and fell asleep in our bed. We enjoy these sweet moments. There are still moments I need to work on. More than I would like to count. But, I will work on those. We are counting blessings.
Cody & I were talking and we cannot believe how fast the year has gone by. We pray there are many more. We don't know what the God has in store for us. We are trusting in His plan. We are grateful for those things we are learning and even more so for those things we know to be true. We know that families can be together forever.
We are grateful for each of you. We hope you know how much we love & appreciate you!

(The following is written by Samuel Petersen)

My cousin, Brooke Ellefsen's words are powerful! As I am writing this book and finding ways to envelop her family's personality, traits, and characteristics into this story...I am impressed with her wisdom. The essence of her and her family is a beacon for all of us to follow. Implementing real people into a fictional story has been challenging, yet exciting. I know that I am doing this to honor the legacy Brooke and Cody have built. I am at a major transition point in the storyline and I have struggled over the past week and a half to express that properly. 

At these moments, I have been buoyed by the strength of others, especially Brooke and her family. In a moment of internal turmoil with the book and my purpose in writing it, Brooke sent me a series of family pictures in a text...no words were written...just the pictures. It was past midnight and I was staring at my screen. The blinking cursor was awaiting the tap of my finger...blank pages beckoning to be filled with creativity and expression in a structured form. A ticking clock reminding me of time I cannot spare...a deadline blossoming like a sunrise on the horizon. Never in my life, have I written so much in such a short amount of time. Ten hours might as well be a blink as I think, ponder, imagine, type, research, create, re-read, structure, contemplate, edit, hope, believe, trust, push through, and discover the value of life.

Those pictures she sent were pixelated morsels of inspiration in an articulacy vexing time. This book is a marathon, not a sprint! Every day I write I win a battle; however, a war is made up of many battles. Over the past week, I've lost a few battles, but that doesn't mean I won't win the war. It was near the end of July 2017 when I felt prompted to write a book for my cousin. That was only the initial idea...from that moment a lot has happened. I sent her a copy of one of my manuscripts and then I asked her permission to do this. If I didn't have her blessing, I wasn't going to proceed. Let me be as clear as I can...I'm not someone who puts themselves out there! In my small world, I get noticed because I'm 6'10, but often it is forced upon me as I have learned to embrace it.

I am only doing this because I felt it on a spiritual level! I only pursued this because I felt that it was something I was supposed to do! Once the vision burrowed into my mind, there was no turning back. Don't get me wrong, I love writing and trying to help others, but offering to write a book for a loved one battling cancer was definitely going out of my comfort zone. As I reflect, there are several reasons for my decision...

1) Brooke is a beloved family member and she always brings joy to those around her. I wanted to try and do something to honor her legacy...what better way than becoming a character in a book.

2) Cancer is cruel! At some point, we all die and that is a fact; however, when cancer threatens to take the life of a young, spirited, amazing individual, WE NEED TO FIND A CURE! Through, loose, personal empirical research, it seems like more young women, who have never smoked, are being diagnosed with lung cancer...WHY? Is it radon? Is it environmental? What can we do? During my writing, I wanted to take time to understand...

3) Literacy is crucial to the success of the next generation! I was blessed with the opportunity to speak to a group of Fourth graders last June (2016). That event inspired me in ways I have not fully realized or comprehended. I saw the power of imagination and the ability to express yourself. As I did an experiment with milk, food coloring, and dish soap...as I read to them, as my friend, artist, and illustrator Kyle Larson spoke to them about art...as we participated in fun literacy activities, I saw them light up with the joy of learning. As they connected their imagination and creativity, with the ability of personal expression, it was truly magical.

4) Don't be afraid to do something special for someone! Use your talent to bless the life of another. It can be scary to share it...but take a leap of faith and just do it...regardless of the outcome.

I know I will not only finish this book, but it will be amazing! I'm confident it will be something Brooke and her family can cherish for generations to come. I'm not a polished, accomplished author by any stretch of the imagination. With Brooke's Book, I am pushing myself to untested limits. The reason I'm confident in the face of my neophyte...because this emanates from my soul. A passion polished by heart and accomplished through love. It is the quintessence of me and what I feel inside! Like a volcano erupting, I could not bottle in the crux of my life.

I want to thank Brooke and her family for allowing me to do this for them! 

I must get back to the book...stay tuned for more updates...

Thank you for joining in this journey and remember to do something special for someone you love!

Samuel Petersen

http://www.ellefsens.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Brave-Like-Brooke-202274863566449/

https://www.facebook.com/theearthstars

https://twitter.com/theearthstars

#brookesbook  #dosomethingspecial  #90daystowriteabook #readwrite #theearthstars #findthecure 

      

TASTE OUT YOUR IMAGINATION: THE JOURNEY OF BROOKE'S BOOK! 10-11-17

     Harnessing imagination is like releasing your inner weird!
Over the last several years as I've practiced writing books, I've come to a conclusion: "THE SUCCESS OF ANY OUTCOME IS BASED OFF THE RECIPE!" The outcome of this adventure is to successfully write a book for my cousin, Brooke, as I hope to HONOR HER LEGACY!

     The day I started this journey I was visiting my mother in Rochester, MN. I was asking her advice on how I should approach certain topics. As we talked, the focus was on the evolving purpose of this book and what I hope to accomplish. I told her that over the years, as I've developed characters, storylines, and planned out book series in my head; I want to use those to bring joy to others.

     In respect to Brooke and her family, I hoped to not only bring joy but immortalize people very special to me. I know immortalize might be an extreme word as I'm not a Rowling or a King. There is power in words. When enough words are put together and structured in a way as to elicit emotion...well, that is what gives words their power. You don't have to be a master linguist to employ the influence of artistic narration! It's about utilizing a RECIPE. Recipes can be followed or created. In my personal opinion, both are completely acceptable. 

     In reference to any artistic endeavor, it is necessary to find your own voice and style...but that does not mean you cannot follow a recipe laid out by a trailblazer. It also does not mean you don't have the ability to create and follow your own recipe. Who say's you can't mix the two either. Creating art and sharing it with others also means you have to be comfortable with looking like a fool. Any time you express yourself and then make that available to others in a public format, be prepared for discomfort.

      Don't let discomfort discourage you, let it drive you! I've often told people, I don't care if a million people dislike what I write...I'm not writing it for them...I'm writing it, not only for me but that one person who finds it beautiful and touching. It doesn't bother me if only a handful of people read what comes from my heart. It doesn't stop me if I'm the only one whose eyes befall what has been imagined. 

     One of the most important things I ever read was a small notebook, wherein my grandmother kept a makeshift diary. I never knew my mom's mom and dad...Bonny and Dwaine Solie. I have a few fading memories of my grandmother as they both passed from cancer when I was still a young child. One day, when I was about 16 or so, I was searching for something in our basement, when I came across the notebook in a box. I sat down and started reading it. The item I was searching for previously became a distant memory. 

     I couldn't believe it...actual words from my grandmother who passed away before I was even 8 years old. One might have thought I was reading the great Amercian novel...I was reading the amazing grandmother diary. It was so simple too...it wasn't a book or even a story for that matter. My grandma wrote about what she made for dinner that day. Her entries talked about what Jill (my mom), Kevin (uncle), Peter (uncle), and Mary (aunt) did that day. She penciled in the various activities her family participated in. It was so real and true. I started to tear up...well, ok, I'll be honest and just tell you...I cried...literally started weeping after flipping through a few pages...just don't tell anyone though!

      Something that a deceased relative wrote so many years ago brought a 16-year-old kid to tears. When she wrote that, she probably didn't think, "This is super important and is going to change peoples lives." Well, grandma, it did. Ever since I was a kid, I've kept a journal...I didn't really know why, I just felt it was important. There is no way Bonny Solie could have known the impact her simple words would have on a kid as he dug through old boxes in his parent's basement.

     Words carry weight; an almost undefinable essence which can shape the hearts of others. It is at that moment when I read my grandmother's words, where I turn to for inspiration. It doesn't matter if only one person finds the words I've written to be of value. I write because it is my passion. I ponder on it nearly every day. When I made up my mind to learn how to write books, I developed the recipe analogy for my artistic endeavors. The following is an evolving list of how I approach writing:

1) Always be true to yourself, but be willing to expand your truth!
2) Suffer the opportunities! Embrace every moment you have to be creative. Understand that you may have to force those moments and it may feel like you are suffering. You may be tired and exhausted, so compromise with the worn-out version of you and go to a fast-food place and write for an hour or two after work; because if you go home you know your not going to do it (Netflix, tv, food, dishes, cleaning, tv, sleep, Netflix, tv, movies, tv shows, Netflix, sleep, etc...). I often like the energy of a public place as I write, it keeps me energized and focused, yet allows my mind to wander when it needs to.
3) Carry around a Harry Potter book with you and use it as a reference for Grammar! NEVER PLAGIARIZE, ONLY GRAMMARIZE! I struggle every day with grammar. It does not come easy to me. When I was in the heart of trying to write books, I had a teacher edit a 180-page book I had written. My world was crushed when I was shown how bad I was at grammar...All of the sudden vs. All of a sudden (the correct version), dialogue punctuation, one space after a period (I grew up with two-spaces after a period, but one-space is the trend, although two-spaces is acceptable. I actually find one-space to be more efficient when I write...I know...my mind was blown too). I determined that if any book would be written correctly it would be a Harry Potter book (plus J.K. Rowling is one of my heroes). So I went to a thrift store and bought: HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS. It was only two bucks and it was the one which was in the best condition. To this very moment, I have it every time I write. I study commas, punctuation, dialogue grammar, and anything else I can learn about the English language with respect to writing it. It also inspires me as I think about all she went through to get where she is at in the authoring world. 
4) Synonyms save scenes! When I'm writing a particular scene in a book, I seek after synonyms. When I go back and read something I wrote years ago, one of the many errors I run into is overuse of a particular word. For example, if you are writing a scene about a drone, it becomes tiresome if you use drone over and over, learn to be creative...drone can become, unmanned aircraft, mechanical pest, aerial spy, pesky electric insect, computerized buzzard, airship, tiny helicopter, wireless pilot machine, etc... Every time you write a scene, remember the value of synonyms...it is like adding spice to a literary dish.
5) Research is your friend! The moment I took writing serious, I already had my bachelors in sociology and research is a massive aspect of that degree. I found that as I was creating plots, building storylines and developing characters, research was vital. Let's say I wanted to incorporate a sustainable energy gym into a storyline. I had to look up what the equipment would be, how it is incorporated, and the benefits. Then I had to use that knowledge to portray my character as knowledge or learning about that topic and how to integrate that into a fun, energetic, and lively chapter. You want your reader to at least believe you have the knowledge behind what you are saying...think of doing research as "being a jack of all trades but master of none." You don't have to understand everything, but it helps to be accurate and understanding. In one of my books I published, two characters, Daisy and Manny, (they are a flower and an apple, who have been chosen by Mother Nature to fight against a dark force trying to take over on Earth Day in the year 2020) are racing through downtown Minneapolis. To be accurate I did research on streets, shops, and aspects of downtown. I used names such as Nicollet and Hennepin, to describe the streets they were heading down. I had to understand where they were going and why. Another simple aspect of research is it allows you to stretch out a scene in a creative way. Instead of just saying he got a bunch of mosquito bites...describe the process of mosquito bites and how they inject their saliva, which has an anticoagulant and proteins. The proteins are a foreign substance, which then alerts our immune system. In response it sends histamine, allowing white blood cells to gather. However, this causes the area to become inflamed and itchy. Then you can describe how to combat an itchy mosquito bite. So, you can turn one sentence into a page or two of pertinent information. Please don't underestimate the value of research.
6) Utilize Alpha and Beta readers! Find people you trust and allow them to read your unpublished manuscripts. If you have a HIGH CONCEPT idea, don't be frivolous with it. Find a few Alpha-readers, meaning people who understand literature and can give you valuable, helpful, and constructive criticism and feedback. Incorporate a few Beta-readers...people you trust who are in your potential field, genre or age range. Are you writing for children, young adults, or adults? Is it a mystery, biography, romance, adventure, science fiction, etc...Be open to being crushed...especially if you are new...it's ok to get offended and defensive, just don't lash out when someone corrects you, especially if it is not based in fact...art is subjective...always remember that; one person will love it and another will hate it. Regardless...fall back on the whole "being true to yourself" thing. Use the Alpha and Beta readers, because it will help you become a better writer/author.
7) Constantly e-mail copies to yourself and a trusted companion! Unless you're writing on a chrome book, which has google docs and is constantly saving your work in the cloud, always email yourself copies of your work. This does at least two things, A) If your computer crashes, you will have the latest draft of your work available B) It helps you copyright your work. Once you publish something in a public format it automatically becomes copyright protected. Sending e-mails to yourself and a trusted companion shows you were doing the work in case someone were to make a copyright complaint against you. Plus, as an added measure, make sure you always use the "©" copyright symbol with the date behind it...© 2017. This won't always stop someone from potentially infringing on your copyright, but it will make them think twice. Even if you have a really great photograph and you put it up on Facebook, it doesn't hurt to put the copyright logo and a date in the bottom, it just helps to protect your intellectual rights.
If you are using Word, go to insert and under symbols you will find the "c" with a circle around it, which is the copyright logo.
8) Taste out your imagination! I made a YouTube video illustrating that point...feel free to check it out...   



It simply means...you will never know what your imagination is capable of until you try it out. Treat it like a recipe...follow one or create your own, it doesn't matter. When I made this video I implemented things I had learned over the years...even a phenomenon I call "ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE" I've written hundreds of poems, several books, created little movies, and one thing I've noticed is the accidentally on purpose thing. In this video I did, I was just testing out angles and background. I had an idea of what I wanted to do but didn't know exactly how to do it yet. When I was making it, I used a star in the animation part...I accidentally did that on purpose. I was so focused on getting the animation done I hadn't planned out the fact that my website was "THE EARTH STARS" I just happened to use a star for the video. But, that star helped illiterate my website, mostly, probably in a subliminal way, but when I realized it, I was like, "Oh, cool, that worked out nicely." I know so many people have the potential to create beautiful works of art and express themselves in a way that will inspire others and fill the world with joy.

     That's what I've got so far for advice...or at least the things that I incorporate while writing. 

     Brooke's legacy is her family...her children...the places she has traveled and those she has influenced...this book I am writing is only trying to honor the legacy she has built. 

     If you hold back out of fear, then others will never know the talent you possess inside. Join this journey and do something special for a loved one!

"THE EARTH is a stage and we are its STARS!"

© 2017 

YOU ARE CANON IN D AND THE CHOIR IS YOUR ADVENTURES! 10-07-18

     Think of this video in a different way...YOU are Pachelbel's Canon in D and the choir is the journeys/adventures you embark on! The canon of your life will be enhanced by adding songs! 

     Sometimes it's easy to forget to go on an adventure...eventually, an adventure or two will naturally find you, even if you want them to or not. When I was coming up with a blog/website name, I wanted to epitomize or encompass many things into one. I have so many varied interests, it is hard for me to narrow it down. I often do not have one favorite genre, medium, or like. I find enjoyment and beauty in all types and things.

     It's perfectly alright to dislike something...senses play a lot into that...I will often get flack for not liking onions...which I put into some of my stories...one of my main characters definitely does not like them! The trouble with onions is that they are such a decisive vegetable! Unless they are boiled into oblivion, (my preferred way) you will know when they are in food. Ok, sorry for my onion digression...getting back to the blog/website name...THE EARTH STARS...it stands for: THE EARTH is a stage and we are its STARS!

     There are so many amazing aspects to humanity and life on this earth....sure we can be weird, mean, cruel, and downright nasty at times, but that's not the majority of us...I truly believe that. All of us fall short and make mistakes, but, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

      As I've lived my life and instances/obstacles/opportunities have risen, I try to meet those moments as if I'm an actor on a stage, hence the earth is a stage and we are its stars. If you approach life from that point of view, it can sort of "take the edge off" the anxious moments. When you become overwhelmed, nervous, upset, sad, disappointed...think of yourself as an actor on the greatest stage ever...EARTH! And guess what..you are its STAR! It's all about how you approach the moment.

     Our personal existence is made up of scenes...Asking that penny-pinching boss for a raise! Finding out if your crush is crushing on you! Your car breaking down on the way to work! Which bills to pay and which bills can ride?!?! 

     I know from personal experience...when I've approached life like they were scenes in a movie, it helped me move past the difficult times. It has forced me to find my next adventure. What happens, is that you start to discover yourself planning events, creating scenarios, and motivating yourself to move. Try to imagine a director motivating an actor as they create an amazingly artistic scene...only, you're the director and actor! The art, well, that's up to you! 

     Over the years, when we go out to eat at Chinese restaurants, we enjoy seeing who gets the most appropriate fortune from their cookie (although they seem more like "advice cookies" rather than fortune cookies). When we get home we will put them in a container...just for fun, no real purpose...however, recently I pulled out some of them and I'm using them for motivation as I write this book! I will do the best I can in writing this book for Brooke and her family. I am mustering all of my experience, training, and imagination as I fight to write something that will honor her legacy. I continue to invite everyone to join in this journey...do something special for someone and do it sooner rather than later...like now...today even! Let your creativity shine as you bless the lives of others!

"THE EARTH is a stage and we are its STARS!"

©2017 SAMUEL PETERSEN