Inspiration

One thing that inspires people in a given field is the admiration produced by the work of colleagues in that very field. I don't consider myself a full-fledged writer quite yet, but I see myself with the drive and desire to go that route, which is why I took great pleasure this weekend in reading the work of a peer and good friend of mine. Her name is Morgan Smith and she writes for the Texas Tribune. Now, I may not be an expert in Texas politics or jurisprudence, but I know good writing when I see it, and in Morgan's case it's excellent! I encourage anyone interested in politics, law, Texas, or just plain well-written articles to check out Morgan's work.

The Pen is Mightier

Sometimes it's much more satisfying to write with pen and paper than on the computer. I often feel more connected to what I'm writing and the physical manifestation of the words when I'm scribbling on a pad of paper. It's fulfilling to see the transformation that takes place--concepts and words in the mind's eye that travel across synapses in the brain, down the arm to the hand, transferred to the pen clutched between the fingers, and finally onto the blank page, with signature twists, curls, and shapes that only handwritten words manifest. Writing on a computer is undoubtedly faster and more time-efficient, and I always recognize the words on the screen as my own, but there's no denying the sense of gratification that comes from seeing one's own inimitable words on paper.

Real Simple

I was recently introduced to a magazine I had never heard of called Real Simple. I like what I've seen of it so far. It contains creative uses for common household items, time-saving tips, essays and creative writing, a wealth of quick recipes including savory vegetarian dishes, and fashion and beauty tips. One particularly interesting article included 25 ways to boost your energy level, such as eating grapefruit in the morning, doing intervals of intense and moderate exercise, dimming the lights an hour or half hour before going to bed for more restful sleep, and more. So far I liked what this magazine has to offer. My hope is that throughout its issues it doesn't transform into helpful hints for Suzie Homemaker, but for now it seems more helpful than not. Perhaps I'll get a subscription at some point and report back.

Quotations galore Cuco Blog y Mas

My husband recently posted a few quotes on his blog, Cuco Blog y Mas, and I feel obliged to borrow a couple of them and add a few from my own searching. Sometimes quotes can be dull cliches, worn out from overuse. Find the right quotes, though, and they're just the inspiration, chuckle, or mental appetizer you were looking for. I have a feeling there will be more quote-related postings to come in the future on Mosaic of the Mind...

"'A man,'" replied Confucius, 'does not seek to see himself in running water, but in still water. For only what is itself still can instill stillness into others.'"

-Confucius

"Tomorrow's life is too late. Live today."

-Marcus Valerius Marcial

A few that I found today:

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."

-Oscar Wilde

"Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking."

-Kahlil Gibran

"Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history."

-Plato

"The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances."

-Atisha

A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.

-English proverb

"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children."

-Kahlil Gibran

"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."

-Oscar Wilde

"Clocks slay time... time is dead as long as it is being clicked off by little wheels; only when the clock stops does time come to life."

-William Faulkner

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."

-Oscar Wilde

"And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."

-William Shakespeare

"Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity."

-Kahlil Gibran

Summer Nostalgia

As summer swiftly approaches, I'm constantly reminded of one of my fondest memories: curling up in a chair, the hum of the air conditioning unit a constant companion, and doing summer reading. Summer reading to me is not exactly reminiscent of the required school reading for the hottest months of the year, although I suppose that is a portion of what many consider "summer reading." When I think of summer reading, I think of trips to the library with my mom, picking out a stack of books to take home (usually of the fantasy, scifi, and general fiction genres), and devouring them with a voracious literary appetite.

As an adult, it seems like at every turn there's something that needs tending to (and I say this as an adult without kids yet): an appointment to go to, a chore to be finished, a movie to be watched, a walk to be taken, and so on and so forth. Long gone are the days of leisurely trips to the library and weeks on end spent as a bookworm and (occasional TV-head). Perhaps that will be my new goal for June, July and August: grab hold of the summer reading nostalgia and transform it into a literary extravaganza!

The Art of Resume Writing

Having rewritten my CV a few times over, I lent what little expertise I have to my husband to help him revamp his resume as he prepares to enter the job market once again. And then it hit me--the true essence of crafting a CV. Resume writing: "How to Toot Your Own Horn without Being Ridiculously Obvious About It."

Resumes are humorous to me. Useful, clearly, but also humorous. Of course prospective employers want to know all about my fabulous skills, experiences, awards, degrees, blah blah blah. In Latin America, it's even customary to put a personal objective and colorful, positive adjectives that describe you. Obviously resumes are necessary in this day in age, and it's reasonable to expect that they be accompanied by an interview--after all, CVs are just a piece of paper. Still, sometimes I can't help feeling like resumes are a bit of a joke. Who wouldn't paint a stunning picture of themselves on their CV (while still sticking to the truth, of course)? One CV I came in contact with for some research I was doing was a whopping 62 pages! That's academia for ya. Some people don't even bother adhering to their actual work experience, although I don't happen to know any of those people personally.

While a CV will certainly highlight skills that one has developed over time, or critical work experience for a particular position, who's to say that the person produces quality work? Will they work well with the rest of their coworkers? What idiosyncrasies do they possess? What "weaknesses" will hold them back in their day-to-day activities and overall productivity?

While it's ever so fun to focus on everyone's positive qualities that they bring to the table, it's often essential to understand people's weaker points or areas that need improvement to identify a truly strong candidate for a job and a particular work environment. This is where interviews do come in handy, admittedly, but let's keep in mind that those are only a total of a couple of hours at most, even if there are multiple rounds of interviews. I suppose first impressions, instincts, vibes, and the like come into play here, in addition to how the job candidate performed overall in the interview. I recall that in my job interview for my current position, the HR worker interviewing me did ask me directly to name a few of my strengths and weaknesses. Even that's a mind game--you have to avoid the "I work too hard" suck-up weaknesses, as well as the other extreme of admitting the "I'm impatient and make tons careless mistakes" or the "I drink on the job" types of glaring flaws.

In the end, resumes will continue to be a collection of everyone's best qualities and every single skill ever cultivated in the teeniest tiniest way, and I will continue to snicker at all of us singing our own praise. Hey, maybe we even deserve it!

Something Worth a Thousand Words + More Words

One of the most satisfying parts of creating this blog and its daily entries is the selection of the accompanying image for each post. Admittedly, this blog is mostly for the purpose of shaking the dust off of these fingers and penning ideas, regardless of whether or not they're invaluable additions to the wide world of writing. Upon embarking on this blogging journey, I never would have expected that part of the exhilaration of blogging would be the partnering of text with visual imagery. At first, I hadn't even considered including pictures or photos with posts. However, after publishing and scoping out my first entry, the blog had this bare, bereft look to it. I immediately took action to rectify the situation and thereafter have thoroughly enjoyed finding just the right image to sit atop the text and make the connection from sight to idea.

Sometimes I like to go back and look through the books I repeatedly pored over as a child. Part of the magic of many children's books is the fact that pictures or photos can be paired with the story without fear of dumbing down the quality of the storytelling. I'm certainly not arguing for adult literature with watercolor art on every opposite page. But it's hard not to feel nostalgic about books with images, and it's hard not to notice that visual stimulation is something the eyes and mind crave, but not just in the form of TV shows and movies.

Although some people might scoff at the idea of including pictures along with a novel created for serious consideration, suggesting that truly wonderful and competent literature can stand on its own two feet (which it usually can), past authors haven't shied away from giving this juxtaposition a try. The very next books on my reading list, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll, include what appear to be black and white ink drawings interspersed throughout the story. I have no doubt that those pictures will only add to the reading pleasure I anticipate deriving from Carroll's writing, rather than detract from the experience.

Carefully placed illustrations can enhance the bliss of reading high quality writing, and simultaneously tickle multiple corners of the mind. The only drawback is that the mind is quick to latch onto visual images, and once a picture is introduced, it may be difficult to shed that from the mind's eye and develop one's own mental imagery while reading. Even though I've made the decision to include pictures in this blog, maybe I wouldn't do the same with a novel in order to let readers' minds run free without constraint. Part of the art of combining words and pictures is knowing when and how to do so to maximize the audience's enjoyment of your work.

"Your wrong, my grammar is just fine!"

Besides the shocking amount of trolls roaming from forum to forum and getting their jollies on the internets, the other thing that never ceases to amaze me is people's inability to spell simple words and utilize elementary grammatical rules. I understand that spelling and grammar are not everyone's number one priority or strong suit, but every time I see someone write things like "Your totally right," I have to shake my head, sigh, and ask myself, "Don't people who consider themselves intelligent under normal circumstances want to appear that way on paper as well?" Or is the idea just to squirt out ideas as fast as possible onto the internet, no matter how mangled they are after their treacherous journey from the brain to the screen?

Maybe in this day and age I'm just a grammatical snob. Not that I'm above judgment either: it wasn't so long ago that my dad was getting on my case about using the word "literally" incorrectly. "Dad, I literally had a fit after I heard they were going out." Did I "literally" have a fit? No, I did not. Is that even a real life quote or example? Nope. The point is no one is perfect. Duh. The majority of us are also not brain surgeons or Stephen Hawking. But does it take so much effort to squeeze an apostrophe in once in awhile, or if you did manage to graduate high school, at least learn how to spell words that any 5th grader should know? I know, I'm so harsh, but it would greatly improve my reading pleasure.